But the Forres woman found herself at the cutting edge of success just seven months after her first training session in the sword handling craft haedong kumdo.
Grigor, a student of De-Vry Korean Martial Arts – one of only a few schools in the UK teaching haedong kumdo– won a gold medal in her first tournament.
She said: "I dare say I could have won a few gold medals for the packed lunches I've made when we've been at tournaments, so to win this is incredible.
"I've watched my husband and my sons training for years, and even though I went to all the competitions, I never had the inclination to take part myself.
"I'd always been fascinated by things like the samurai and the history of it, and when the classes started at DKMA it was something that really appealed to me.
"It took me a while to pluck up the courage to join the class, and stepping on to the mats for the first time was the biggest hurdle. But as soon as I started, I knew this was for me."
Haedong kumdo originates in Korea and involves the use of a single edged sword. Students initially get to grips with basics of the art using a mok gum – a wooden sword – and later advance to work with a live blade.
As well as learning forms – a floor routine using the weapon to perform different techniques – and sparring, students also develop their accuracy with paper cutting and candle snuffing techniques.
The international competition, which also had divisions for tang soo do, was held in Holland and also saw the rest of the Grigor family join her on the medal podium.
Husband, Jimmy, gained a third place in tang soo do sparring, while sons Kyle (10) and Jamie (6), picked up golds in sparring and forms respectively.
Grigor (37) said: "When they said that I had won, I couldn't believe. All I wanted to do was to get up there and prove to myself that I could do it in front of all those people and get through my form.
"I'm a green belt now, and I'm really determined to go all the way and get my black belt. Haedong kumdo is one of those things that once you start, you want to keep improving and getting better.
"The classes are great. There are people of all ages and backgrounds and everyone is very welcoming. It also keeps you fit and I've been amazed at how much it has toned me up."
Other DKMA students also performed well at the tournament, which included teams from all over Europe, South Africa and the United States.
Sarah Aston won a bronze in the haedong kumdo sword form, and Roy Curry picked up a gold for sword cutting and a silver for sword sparring.
Dominique Sutherland, another of the school's tang soo do exponents, won gold medals in both sparring and weapon forms.
It was the third major competition students had entered within a six week period and, said instructor Master Warren de-Vry, the hard work and commitment has helped DKMA to produce the school's best set of results in over 10 years of competing.
Master De-Vry added: "The team results were excellent, but watching the shocked look on Michelle's face when the judges announced her name as the winner of the category was a delight."
