Paola Zurita is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt. She is also known as “Zerita”. Her notable career includes being the founder of the Fotonastics wrestling school in Siquipo, Brazil. While she started training in Jiu Jitsu at the age of 14, her first experience was being enlisted by the Brazilian Navy to become a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu wrestling champion. She earned a silver medal at the later Olympics in 1996.
Currently, she is a partner and teacher at her very own fitness center named after her. In 2021, she authored the book, The Martial Arts Life Sense. In it, she shares her journey from being a talented athlete, to teaching BJJ at a high school, to becoming a teacher and martial arts expert. In it, she shares her expertise with different women in the martial arts realm about nutrition, size issues, height and gender. She discusses these topics in a very positive and straightforward manner. In addition, she also offers a DVD series entitled, “The Art of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu: Discover the Secrets of a World-Class Fighter”.
In conclusion, one must consider the fact that in our day and age, being shorter does not necessarily make you weak. There are many great performers who are very tall and who are not even five feet in height! However, one should not be discouraged by their height if they truly have a desire to be a world class martial artist. With Paola’s knowledge and guidance, you can attain a high level of success in your chosen sport or martial art.