Hidden Gems: Meet Silvana Shamuon of SilvanaKicks INC.

Today we’d like to introduce you to Silvana Shamuon.

Hi Silvana, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My 27-year career in martial arts encompasses extensive competitive experience in both traditional tournaments and international sport martial arts events.

My accomplishments include two Guinness World Records in speed kicking, multiple World Championships across various disciplines, directorship of the International Congress of Martial Arts for the Canadian National Martial Arts Team, and induction into the Universal Black Belt Hall of Fame.

My ultimate goal is to bring up the next generation of Martial Arts with respect, integrity and the ability to be confident in their own skin. Although I am a high level athlete and coach, I pride myself on being able to teach ALL students. I aspire to be a strong female role model in the Martial Arts for my students. To have a voice and utilize it in a way that stands up for those who aren’t able to do it themselves. To show my female students that we can be present and respected in male-dominated sports.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The life of a female leader in a male dominated field is not an easy one. 25 years ago the absence of separate divisions, coupled with a lack of respect and the prevalence of highly competitive men, created a difficult environment. Fortunately, my older sister helped pave the way for females. Fighting her male counterparts (literally), and standing up for females in the sport. With this continued strength, I continue to be the voice of females in the sport as well as continue to fight for equality within it.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
I’ve been training martial arts for 27 years where I have had the opportunities to learn from the best of the best. Little did I know, I would become one myself. I begun my social media to showcase and really highlight females in martial arts because it’s something I’m obviously extremely passionate about. With this came its own challenges – internet coaches with their own opinions. But it also grew a community of people who wanted to learn from me and respected my point of view. I started a YouTube channel for those who wanted to learn martial arts the right way. There is so much misinformation out there that can really hurt people, I wanted to be someone people could depend on – just like my in person students. That grew into showcasing my actual training sessions and struggles – being true to myself. From that came a huge online presence of almost 3 million subscribers/followers across my platforms. Simply put, people love what I teach because its informative and they can tell that I truly care and am honest.

Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
Finding the right mentor is an extremely important tool for growth and development. Someone who has the knowledge, knows how to teach it but also inspires you to grow past even their knowledge. I was blessed with the opportunity I had, which was that my dad was and still is my mentor. He coached me from day 1 and continues to till this day. To have someone you can trust and will support you in your dreams and aspirations but who can also guide you to them.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.silvanakicks.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/silvanakicks
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@silvanakicks
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@silvanakicks

Image Credits
BoBlade Media