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

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June 25, 2018

 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.

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“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. 

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

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