Shelby Fujii (front row, center) poses during a class at the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu School in Gardnerville. Fujii became one of the first female Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belts in Carson Valley.
Shelby Fujii, co-owner and head female instructor at West Coast Martial Arts/Machado Jiu-Jitsu in Gardnerville, recently earned her black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
According to a press release, Fujii received the award in Dallas, Texas, from Coral Belt Hall of Famer Shihan Carlos Machado and 9th Dan Grandmaster instructor George Fujii.
Fujii-san is 50 years old, a mother of four and grandmother to seven grandchildren. She has been training and teaching mixed martial arts and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu full time for almost 20 years. Despite years of battling autoimmune diseases and injuries, she has trained consistently and achieved her goal of becoming a black belt professor, despite surgeries and health issues. On average, it takes a minimum of 10 years to earn a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, followed by several more years of continuous training and teaching to earn a professor degree.
Over the past 20 years, Fujii has taught and continues to teach hundreds of students. She is loved by students, children, teens, women and men alike. She has also taught many children with disabilities free of charge in Carson Valley area schools, as well as families and Marines at the Mountain Combat Training Camp near Coalville.
Fujii also coaches the Gardnerville Team Fujii Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, which has had great success with all seven athletes winning first place gold medals at the most recent tournament in the spring of 2024.
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is arguably the toughest martial art to rank in. Fujii runs her school in Gardnerville with her husband, George Fujii, who is also a black belt. Shelby has traveled all over the United States to train to achieve her goals. Shelby has competed many times over the years, performing well in tough matches. Shelby is also a Master Instructor Black Belt 5th Degree in Mixed Martial Arts under Black Belt Hall of Fame Grandmaster Instructor Ernie Reyes Sr. in San Jose, California.
Fujii teaches at West Coast Martial Arts/Machado Jiu Jitsu, including special women-only Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and self-defense programs every week at the Gardnerville school, 1328 N. Hwy 395. The school caters to kids, teens and women of all ages. For more information, call 775-782-8343 or email Shelbie@westcoastgardnerville.com.
