Vanessa tells Awakening, “I began practicing martial arts at the age of 16. I wanted to train martial arts purely for the self-defense element, and at the time I also wanted to take dance classes, which is why Capoeira appealed to me so much, with it often being practiced accompanied to music. It was during my travels in Italy (to a Capoeira summer camp in the middle of the mountains of Tuscany) that somebody was demonstrating traditional Ju Jitsu – I went to a class just a few days after I arrived home. Traditional Ju Jitsu introduced me to other disciplines, one being Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Well, I caught the BJJ bug, committed myself from then on, and lived happily ever after!”
Vanessa English’s Bio
Vanessa English is a female Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner from Kings Lynn, Norfolk, UK.
She received her Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Purple Belt in 2012, and her Brown Belt in 2013. On June 7th 2015, Vanessa was awarded her Black Belt by Victor Estima.
Achievements
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Titles
2015 - JAN | IBJJF European Open Championship, Portugal | Brown Belt, Featherweight Gold
2014 - OCT | IBJJF London International Open, England, UK | Brown Belt, Featherweight Gold
2014 - JAN | IBJJF European Open Championship, Portugal | Brown Belt, Open Weight Bronze
2014 - JAN | IBJJF European Open Championship, Portugal | Brown Belt, Light-Featherweight Gold
2013 - OCT | IBJJF London International Open No Gi, England, UK | Brown Belt, Open Weight Silver
2013 - OCT | IBJJF London International Open No Gi, England, UK | Brown Belt, Light-Featherweight Gold
2013 - OCT | IBJJF London International Open, England, UK | Brown Belt, Open Weight Silver
2013 - OCT | IBJJF London International Open, England, UK | Brown Belt, Light-Featherweight Gold
2013 - JUN | IBJJF European Open No Gi Italy | Purple Belt, Light-Featherweight Gold
2013 - JUN | IBJJF Rome International Open, Italy | Purple Belt, Light-Featherweight Gold
2013 - MAY | IBJJF World Jiu Jitsu Championships, USA | Purple Belt, Light-Featherweight Gold
2013 - JAN | IBJJF European Open Championship, Portugal | Purple Belt, Light-Featherweight Gold
2012 - NOV | English Open, England, UK | Purple Belt, Absolute Gold
2012 - NOV | English Open, England, UK | Purple Belt, Featherweight Silver
2012 - OCT | IBJJF European NoGi Championship | Purple Belt, Absolute Bronze
2012 - OCT | IBJJF European NoGi Championship | Purple Belt, Featherweight Silver
2012 - OCT | IBJJF London International Open, England, UK | Purple Belt, Featherweight Bronze
2012 - APR | British Open, UK | Purple Belt, Absolute Bronze
2012 - APR | British Open, UK | Purple Belt, Featherweight Gold
2012 - MAR | UK Abu Dhabi Pro Trials, UK | Blue Belt, Absolute Silver
2012 - MAR | UK Abu Dhabi Pro Trials, UK | Blue Belt, -63kg Gold
2011 - NOV | English Open, England, UK | Blue Belt, Absolute Gold
2011 - NOV | English Open, England, UK | Blue Belt, Featherweight Gold
2011 - NOV | Swedish Open, Sweden | Blue Belt, Absolute Silver
2011 - NOV | Swedish Open, Sweden | Blue Belt, Featherweight Gold
2011 - OCT | British Open NoGi, UK | Open Belt, Open Weight Gold
2011 - OCT | British Open NoGi, UK | Intermediate, Featherweight Gold
2011 - SEP | ADCC Competitor
2011 - JUN | IBJJF World Championships | Blue Belt, Featherweight Bronze
2011 - APR | British Open, UK | Blue Belt, Absolute Bronze
2011 - APR | British Open, UK | Blue Belt, Featherweight Gold
2011 - FEB | Hereford Open, England, UK | Blue Belt, Featherweight Gold
2010 - DEC | Hereford Open, England, UK | White Belt, Open Weight Gold
2010 - NOV | Ground Control | Open Belt, Open Weight Bronze
2010 - OCT | Welsh Open NoGi, Wales, UK | Open Belt, Open Weight Gold
2010 - SEP | British Open NoGi, UK | Beginner, Open Weight Gold
2010 - SEP | Hereford Open, England, UK | White Belt, Open Weight Gold
2010 - MAR | British Open, UK | White Belt, Absolute Bronze
2010 - MAR | British Open, UK | White Belt, Featherweight Gold
2010 - MAR | London Open, England, UK | White Belt, Absolute Gold
2010 - MAR | London Open, England, UK | White Belt, Featherweight Gold
2010 - FEB | Bristol Open, England, UK | White Belt, Absolute Gold
2010 - FEB | Bristol Open, England, UK | White Belt, Featherweight Gold
2010 - FEB | Hereford Open, England, UK | White Belt, Open Weight Bronze
Media Appearances
Vanessa has appeared on the Martial Arts Show on Stroud Fm 107.9 and was on the front cover of Combat Magazine promoting The Martial Arts Show Live. Vanessa also sings in a Derby band called Cold Shot.
