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Howard Student Makes History As First African American International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation World Champion

Howard Student Makes History As First African American International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation World Champion

 Photo via: Howard University  

Rising Howard University senior, Shane Jamil Hill-Taylor, recently earned a great honor culminating 14 years of hard work and disciplined training. He was recently crowned the fifth International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) World Champion, thus making him the first African American to earn the title. 

On June 4th, Hill-Taylor placed his opponent, former IBJJF World Champion Leonardo Saggioro, into a hold that he could not escape in order to be crowned the new champion.

"To be the 2018 Brazil Jiu-Jitsu Champion at the Black Belt level and to be the first African-American to achieve that title is pretty crazy honestly, I have been working for this for 14 years; it’s the reflection of a lot of hard work and a lot of struggles," says Hill-Taylor.

With college graduation on the horizon, Hill-Taylor continues to train hard and compete with his sites set on more competition travel and increasing awareness and presence of Jiu-Jitsu in his chosen community. He has also broken multiple records in the past and has earned a variety of medals for his prowess in Jiu-Jitsu.

Hill-Taylor’s life motto is: "Hard work will always beat talent when talent refuses to work hard." His next challenge will be competing in the SPYDER Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Championship quarterfinals in Korea next month. He will complete his last semester at Howard in the fall and graduate in December 2018. 

Congratulations, Shane on making history and blazing your own trail!