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Blind College Student Overcomes Adversity Through Competing In BJJ – And Winning

Blind College Student Overcomes Adversity Through Competing In BJJ – And Winning

Life is certainly very hard, but there’s always a light on the horizon for those willing to work for it. This is what 24 year old Michelle Jorgensen proved through her recent competitive success.

Jorgensen was born with a rare eye disease called Persistent Fetal Vaculature (PFV) which rendered her almost completely blind. Yet this isn’t stopping Michelle from training both bjj and muay thai.

Michelle recently won a competition – Super Cup Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Championships. Our colleagues over at jiujitsutimes had the pleasure of talking to her instructor about it and here’s how he put it:

“Michelle is a work horse and deserves to be recognized for the hard work she puts in,” McHugh wrote in a document he sent to the Jiu-Jitsu Times. “She’s a full-time student, volunteers at a variety of charities and still attends more practises consistently per week than anyone else. Michelle with her outgoing personality brings big energy to the club and is already planning on competing in June in Richmond.”

Another source revealed she is a full time psych student with just a year of bjj under her belt.

A full-time student studying psychology at UBC Okanagan, Michelle walked into the Alliance Jiu-Jitsu Academy just 12 months ago to attend a women’s only self-defense seminar, taught by Alliance owner and head instructor Sean McHugh.

“I’m happy to do my best to help anyone who wants to learn,” said instuctor Sean McHugh to lakecountrycalendar. “Michelle can see just enough to get the techniques of the day and we’ll of course we help with the details.”