At 51 years old, standing just 4'9" and weighing under 100 pounds, Vicky Kim is showing that jiu-jitsu isn't just for the young, strong, or physically gifted.

In this episode of the Small Man Jiu Jitsu Podcast, I sit down with Vicky, a purple belt from Culture Academy in Southern California, to talk about her journey from Brazil to the United States, her unconventional beginnings in jiu-jitsu, and her passion for encouraging more women to step onto the mats.

Vicky first discovered jiu-jitsu in 1996 while attending college in São Paulo, Brazil. She was fascinated by the students practicing techniques and having fun, but the cost of training was beyond what she could afford.

After moving to the United States in 2001 and learning English from scratch, she finally began training in 2013. Her first academy wasn't what most people would expect. It was a small UFC gym where students trained inside a boxing ring. When her instructor eventually left, she followed him to a friend's garage, where she continued training and earned her blue belt in 2017.

Eventually, Vicky wanted more opportunities to train with women and people closer to her size. That led her to larger academies and a community that has become an important part of her life.

We talk about the challenges of training as a smaller practitioner, the importance of technique over strength, and how jiu-jitsu has helped Vicky become more confident and assertive outside the academy.

Vicky also shares her experience competing at the Masters Worlds, where she moved up a weight division and earned third place. For her, the friendships and connections she made were just as meaningful as the competition itself.

Today, she's using Instagram, including Spanish-language videos, to encourage women of all ages to try jiu-jitsu. She wants them to understand that they don't have to be strong, athletic, or experienced to begin.

What I enjoyed most about our conversation was how much Vicky values the people. Her story reminds us that jiu-jitsu is about more than techniques, belts, or medals. It's about confidence, friendships, personal growth, and finding a community that supports you.

Her advice to anyone thinking about starting is simple: Don't overthink it. Just start.

Connect with Vicky Kim

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pequenina_jitz/

Academy: Culture Academy, Southern California

About the Small Man Jiu Jitsu Podcast

Sharing the stories, experiences, and life lessons of people connected through Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Everyone has a story worth hearing.

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