NFL
By: Joe Cardoso
We are BACK!! I am excited to share the story of another amazing human who is working hard to reach goals and help others along the way. To say this is an impressive resume would be an understatement. We travel to Canada Toronto to be exact and get to know a Guinness World Records holder, and World Champion. She has represented her country as a member of the Canadian National Martial Arts Team and as the captain. In addition to representing her country, she also works as a sifu (or teacher) to help develop the next generation of martial artists. Let’s get to know Silvana Shamuon!
Joe Cardoso: How did you discover and fall in love with martial arts?
Silvana Shamuon: I was born into Martial Arts. My 2 older siblings and dad were all in Martial Arts before I was born and so by the time I was able to walk, I was already kicking. As I got older I developed a passion and drive to do better and be better. And now I live and breathe it.
JC: What helped you push through those rough times when you first started?
SS: I started when I was 4 so training was all I knew. When my dad – who also happens to be my coach, said it was time to train, it was time to train.
However, into my teenage years, it became challenging. Picking between hanging out with friends or training was the hardest decisions of my life at the time…. Thankfully, I had my parents to push me to make the long-term decisions I couldn’t make on my own.
I attribute my parents to being the rock that held my Martial Arts career together and made it flourish. Since that was the time that created the base of becoming a force to be reckoned with.
JC: Being a woman in a male-dominated sport isn’t easy. Who helped you get past some of the haters?
SS: My sister. My sister has always been my biggest role model. She’s 6 years older than me, naturally talented, and worked harder than anyone I ever knew. For context, she qualified for the Olympics by age 14! Having her by my side helped me remember why there are haters, how to ignore them, and how to stay on track regardless of how mean they are. In our sport, honor, integrity, and respect are everything.
So if someone is hating, they aren’t a part of our sport. With this mindset, I’ve continued the momentum by teaching and mentoring the next generation of female martial artists. I will continue to do this in hopes that one day, people will not automatically think of Martial Arts as a “man’s sport”.
JC: How was your first tournament?
Honestly, I have no idea! I was 4 and all I remember is wanting the trophy my sister got. But in all seriousness, starting tournaments that young helped me develop the competitive edge that helped me throughout my entire life.
JC: When did you realize that is what I wanted to do as a career?
SS: I think I have always known, but have always been too nervous to jump into it. When I took that final step out of the corporate world fully into Martial Arts was one of the best moments of my life.
JC: How has social media helped you along the journey?
SS: Social media helped me realize I’ve made the right choice for my career. The feeling I got the first time a Martial Arts tutorial went viral on my YouTube and I had people from all around the world thanking me and telling me how I motivated and inspired them. Social media has helped me get my message out and be the female role model I always aspire to be on a global level. It’s a constant reminder that if I put the time in, I can grow this sport that I love.
JC: When partnering up with brands what do you look for?
SS: The bands I partner up with need to be one that aligns with my values. I need to believe in the product and the brand. Without this, I lose the trust of my audience and lose myself. I’m a firm believer in Authenticity and like to see that in the brands I work with.
JC: How important is it to you to be a strong female role model for other women?
SS: This is one of the most important things in my life. To the point where it consumes me at times. From a young age, I have been on the World stage. Although being in the spotlight has its ups and downs, I truly love to be the person other people look up to. But being a female, and having other females looking up to me or inspiring them, that’s the next level. Having such an incredible female role model myself, I know what impact it can have on a young impressionable girl.
JC: Without giving it all away, what are some things you want to get done before the end of 2024?
SS: I’ll just say, you’ll be seeing more accolades on my wall soon.
JC: Who is Silvana?
SS: She’s a daughter, a sister, a friend and a teacher. The voice of reason in a crowd, the laughter in the room, and the gentle kindness when it matters most. She’s small but mighty, delicate but strong. And carries the fire and determination to achieve anything she wants to. But the humility to know that in the end accomplishment and accolades are nothing without family.
With a super busy schedule, I want to thank Silvana and her team for making the time. Can not wait to see what is next for her along this exciting journey as she continues to level up and inspire. Follow her on social media and keep up with her:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/silvanakicks/?hl=en
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@silvanakicks?lang=en
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SilvanaKicks
