The Adventures of Shama Ko

Academy Hunting Homework #4: Paragon Austin BJJ

2012-01-18T10:00:00.000-08:00

The BJJ community is growing bigger and bigger all the time. Lets face it, Bjj is kind of trendy and on it's way to being mainstreamed. I feel lucky that I was slightly ahead of the curve and can now observe this explosion of popularity. Despite all this growth, I was recently reminded of how small and tight knit this community still remains. I am also surprised that there are so many more academies in North Austin and only a handful in the South Austin area. So I decided to visit an academy in South Austin called Paragon, that I had never trained at before.

At Paragon, I instantly I felt comfortable and relaxed. The atmosphere was structured and easy going. The warmups had some exercises I'd never done before, but for the most part everything was familiar. The next portion of class consisted of two technical sequences. The moves were effective and easy to duplicate. Everyone I met was welcoming, respectful and had a good vibe. The last portion of class was timed rolling rounds. I had some tough matches with a few girls and guys. It was nice to be exposed to a different style and types of movement.

Robert and Darrin make a great team. You can feel the effort that has gone into building this academy and it reflects in the determination of their students. Robert looked familiar to me, but I couldn't place where. After talking for a while ,he said that he thought he had a video of one of my matches. Our mutual friend Angie had filmed it two years ago in L.A. at the Pans.

Small world...

I took a gi and no-gi class at Paragon Austin. After both classes I left a little wiser. I liked that the class wasn't overloaded with information. It was simple and easy to playback later. Darrin is a great teacher and very technical. Both guys are not large guys and their style made sense for my body type. I also ran into a familiar face, Richard who was a student when I helped with the kid's classes. He was always talented and has lots of potential. I was glad to see he's still at it and in good hands at Paragon.

Check them out of you're looking for a fun, supportive, fierce competition team. They have plenty of talented people, great instruction and are in a good location for south folks. This academy has a lot of good characteristics; clean facilities for both sexes, good location, parking, clean mats and a nice family style atmosphere. Try them out for one free week!

Hawai'i in one Kukui Nut

2012-01-16T10:00:00.000-08:00

The question I am always asked is "Why did you leave Hawai`i?” People can’t understand why someone would want to leave such a "perfect" place. Even though I knew I was lucky to grow up in Hawai`i, I tended to take it for granted. I sometimes wished I could see Hawai`i through the eyes of a tourist for the first time. It has got to be like nothing they have ever seen before. Hawai`i is a beautiful and unique place rich in culture and heritage. However, no place is perfect. Living in Hawai'i isn't always as idealistic as it seems. There are big problems like overcrowding, traffic, poverty, drug addiction, unemployment, low wages, homelessness and the rising cost of living.

As I grew up, I felt connected to Hawai`i despite not always feeling like I fit in. Even though I was born and raised on Oahu and I am of mixed ethnicity, I was often called a Haole because of my light colored skin and non-pigeon accent. Nonetheless, Hawai`i provided me with endless opportunities to learn about other cultures, ways of life, build an appreciation for nature and people. I hiked, went to the beach and grew up working on my Dad’s farm, but I never had as much appreciation for Hawai`i until after I moved away. By age eighteen I was ready for something bigger and felt increasingly trapped on a " rock" or island. Then with each visit home, I realized more and more how incredibly lucky I was to be from such an amazing and magnificent place. I always go to Hawai`i with several lists that include what I want to eat, what I want to do and places I want go to. There is so much to do and see it can be exhausting trying to accomplish all of my vacation goals. That is why I have learned it is important to just go with the flow. No matter how busy I get, reconnecting with those I love is what I value most.

If you love food, you'll love Hawai`i. The food is so ono (delicious) ! I dream of food from Hawai`i all the time. My food list always includes: chicken katsu curry, Korean BBQ, malasadas, haupia, laulau, kalua pig, Thai green curry, poke, dim sum, manapua, rice cake, Zippy's chili, mochi, gau, shrimp chips, apple bananas, mountain apples, star fruit, mango, papaya, pineapple, taro, etc.   It's not exactly the healthiest list, but I'm allowed to indulge as long as I work it off, right?

Several dishes in Hawai`i are heavily starch based, high sodium, fatty and have lots of sugar. To stay fit and not put on those "vacation pounds", it’s important to eat in moderation, stay active, eat lots of veggies and drink lots of water. I always prefer to go for a hike or surf than a gym. There are endless opportunities to stay fit and have fun in Hawai`i. I've done rock climbing, surfing, Jiu-Jitsu, hiking, paddle boarding, canoe paddling snorkeling, body boarding, swimming, diving and cliff jumping. And that's not even scratching the surface of things to do.

To some people, re-visiting and photographing the same areas for as long as I have might be boring. However, even knowing the island as well as I do, it never gets old to me. I always see something new each and every time I visit. I’ve always liked to play with light manipulation and Hawai`i is the place to do that. The natural light is amazing. Photos really don't do it justice, but it is rewarding to try and capture. My favorite places for photos are St. Louis Heights, Palolo Valley, and the Wai`anae Coast and North Shore.

Most of all ,I love to go home and reconnect not only with my roots, spirituality and heritage, but with my ohana (family). My ohana isn't a traditional family. It is made up of friends, their family members, extended family siblings, aunties and uncles and cousins.   No matter how infrequently we talk or see each other it is as if nothing has changed even if it has been several years! I can be myself and they accept me for me and vice verse.   It is nice to know I have such awesome people in my life.

The hardest part of being away from Hawai`i for so long and returning is readjusting to the culture, etiquette and customs. There is a lot of unspoken "protocol" despite the laid back lifestyle. Such as, if you make an offer (do you want a glass of water?) and a person refuses, you need to repeat the offer 3 times to be polite. If you only respond to the first "no", that is considered extremely rude!   The long and short of it is to be polite, appreciative, courteous, and respectful, follow the etiquette and go with the flow.

My life in Austin is nonstop. I love what I do and I am a rather compulsive worker. It takes me time to slow down to the speed of the island life and go with the flow. In Austin, I don't normally have time to be lazy and do nothing, but once I'm able to adjust to the speed of the island I am on auto pilot and I feel whole again.

I never leave Hawai`i empty handed. I always leave a little bit wiser and more in tune. The ocean is one of the most cleansing experiences that I know of. The water is clear and refreshing. You can feel the layers of built up stress and "gunk" being swept away with the current. You feel pounds lighter after you get out. Standing on the edge of a ridge covered with rain forest breathing the fresh air is also a powerful experience that revitalizes you. There is beauty everywhere you look. You can't help but feel renewed and inspired. Life moves slower so you see things differently and appreciate so much more.

I tend to have more culture shock coming back to Austin from Hawai`i than the other way around. I guess that goes to show, regardless of where I live, Hawai`i is still my home. Just as it’s hard to go from 100-0 it’s equally as difficult to go from 0-100. I realized on my last trip that I need to achieve a balance of life, fun and work. I felt stronger, wiser and more focused. I know what I want and am going after it. I learned that I have to take care of myself and value my needs. I plan to let go of a lot and make room for the New Year and all of its experiences, adventures and blessings.

Not everyone is cut out for Hawai`i. I think that these people have trouble letting go. They expect things to be like they are on the mainland and never really adjust. Perhaps its cause they are not going with the flow. The aina (land) will either embrace you with open arms or kick your butt off the island. Having a willingness to learn and be open-minded can go a long way. To most, Hawai`i is a healing and sacred place. If you are able to build a connection you will become a better person than when you arrived. Most importantly, respect the ways of the land and people and in turn you will be blessed in many ways and welcomed back to one of the most beautiful places on earth.

Girls in Gis Wish List Donation Drive benefiting SafePlace

2011-12-17T14:13:00.000-08:00

It's extremely upsetting to me how many lives have been destroyed or lost due to domestic violence. The worst part is that unless these stories end in tragedy, a lot of the times the abuse can go unnoticed and undetected. Domestic violence and abuse isn't just for the poor or destitute. It can strike anywhere regardless of social-economic classes. Because the emotional and psychological abuse inflicted it's the victims that carries the burden of shame and embarrassment. It takes a lot of courage for these women to leave (or escape in most cases) and seek help because of the severe emotional, physical and sexual abuse inflicted upon them. But thanks to organizations like SafePlace there is hope for a better future. The work that SafePlace does is phenomenal. They have amazing resources and services to get these women and children's lives back on track.

Please help us collect donations for those who need it most to start off the new year right!

The Girls in Gis Wish List Donation Drive will run from December 5, 2011 to January 20, 2012

Our final collection day and wrap-up event will be at Girls in Gis-Austin on January 22, 2012 at Gracie Barra N. Austin.

To participate in this drive and set up a bin at your academy please contact Girls in Gis for additional information. Donations can be dropped off at any of our drop off locations during normal business hours or make a donation online at:
www.safeplace.org

Drop off locations for donations:
Austin:
Rubicon Fight Sport
Trainers Elite MMA
Gracie Barra North Austin
Vamp Dance
Mario Esfiha Brazilian Jiu Jitsu – Brasa BJJ Austin
Joao Crus BJJ
Johns Gym
Paragon Austin
Gracie Barra South Austin
Cedar Park:
Relson Gracie Cedar Park
Gracie Barra Cedar Park
Dripping Springs
Joao Crus BJJ
Pflugerville:
Eclectic Combat Systems-Brasa BJJ Pflugerville
Fort Worth & Dallas:
Travis Lutter BJJ & MMA
Mohler BJJ & MMA
Peak Performance BJJ
Roberto Kaelin BJJ
Houston:
Gacho Gold Team
Revolution Dojo
Rio Grand Valley:
Paragon RGV Edinburg
San Antonio:
Carlson Gracie BJJ
Texas Powerhouse
Waco:
Relson Gracie Waco
Learn more about SafePlace services and resources:
www.safeplace.org

Wish List items include:
· Baby wipes
· Diapers sizes 4-6 & 2-6
· Pull-Ups Size 2T-5T
· Baby Wipes
· Baby Shampoo
· Baby Lotion
· Baby Power
· Baby Formula
· Deodorant
· Body wash
· Soap
· Shampoo and conditioner
· Shower sponges
· African American hair products
· Hair brushes & combs
· Mouth Wash
· Toothpaste/Toothbrushes
· Razors and Shaving Cream
· Body Lotion
· Paper Towels
· Boxed meals: Hamburger Helper, Tuna Helper, Macaroni & Cheese, Mashed Potatoes, etc.
· Canned fruit, ravioli, spaghettio’s, tuna, meat, chicken
· Cereal
· Condensed milk
· Cooking oil
· Juice boxes
· Oatmeal
· Pasta
· Rice
· Seasonings
· Cell Phones

Big Thanks to our Sponsors BJJ Legends, She-Jitsu, Neocell Sports, Super Body Care, Mean Streak, ACT Energy Drink, Fenom Kimonos, Grand Prix Grappling, Paleo Pam and Scentsy Independent Consultant Lana Hunter.

Academy Hunting Homework #3: Ze Mario Esfiha Brasa BJJ

2011-12-14T22:34:00.000-08:00

It has been an amazing few months for me as I explored different academies in Austin. I've learned so much being out on my own discovering new territory. Things have not been what I am used to but I enjoy being out of my comfort zone. However, I am slightly embarrassed for being so ignorant about not knowing much about the traditions and customs that go along with Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu since I came from an academy that didn't observe many customs. Over the past six months I've gotten to know a lot of amazing people, had exciting new experiences, grown as a person and Jiu-Jitsu practitioner, and involved myself in the Jiu-Jitsu community more than I ever have before. It's been a great year. I've really learned a lot about life, people, myself and what really matters most. Most of all, I have found a direction to go in and I am running full speed ahead!

One if the biggest lessons I have learned is that things really do work out as they are supposed to. Patience is a hard skill to learn in this fast paced world we live in. We are accustomed to instant gratification and when things don't work out right away we can get discouraged. It is okay to be upset, but the trick is to never give up. Pick yourself up, dust yourself off and keep on rolling!

The best way to describe Ze Mario Esfiha is as a teddy bear with some very valuable old school knowledge and phenomenal skill. My introduction to Mario began with my involvement with Girls in Gis. I asked Mario to invite the women and girls from his academy to our Girls in Gis-Austin event last September. We got to talking and next thing I know I was making plans to come train at his academy. This was shortly after I left Relson Gracie Austin and I hadn't really been training due to my knee. I figured I could do the technique, but not roll and my knee would be OK. I'd never met Mario before and I was excited to check out his academy.

Of course I got lost going a block away from my school campus. Driving and navigating an iPhone can be tricky. Eventually I found his academy about a 1/2 HR later. I hate being late although I tend to live on Brazilian/ Hawaiian time and I especially hate being lost too! It makes me flustered and anxious. Thankfully Mario was super understanding and it turned out to be a great class even though I missed half of it. However, I was able to catch the entire no GI class which I found incredibly interesting. I was later able to check out a few week night, noon classes and the black belt promotions. Although I haven't trained at Mario's as much as I'd like to, I learned a lot in a short time.

Mario is a really big guy compared to me. I hate to say it, but I'd expected he would have completely different Jiu-Jitsu style than the smaller guys I was used to. I was pleasantly surprised. Although he may have size on his side, he is also amazingly technical and doesn't have to rely on his size to dominate a match. After all, it makes sense, he's been around for a long time so he's seen a lot of techniques and studied them. He's trained among Brazil's best black belts growing up and is full of entertaining stories about the "motherland" back in the day. He's also one of the most accomplished black belt competitors in Austin. You can tell he genuinely loves Jiu-Jitsu. It is all he does for a living. He is an easy going guy that likes to joke around and laugh. However, the quality of Jiu-Jitsu at Brasa Jiu-Jitsu isn't a joking matter. It is the real deal.

Mario creates an adequate amount of time for training although the academy may not be open seven days a week for eight hours a day like I was used to at Relson Gracie. I do wish there were a few more classes that worked with my schedule, but as I've visited more academies, I've realized that no one has nearly as much training time as I was used to. I have also realized that it is not so much about the quantity, but the quality of training that counts. Mario's GI classes ran from 6-7 and no GI 7-8 Monday and Wednesday nights. I also caught a noon class from 12-1 on Tuesday-Thursday. Both classes were relaxed with great technique. I learned some new moves, transitions and submissions to add to the arsenal.

Everywhere I go these days I see familiar faces. I think it is just further proof that we are still a small and tight knit Jiu-Jitsu community . My first day at Mario's, I ran into this guy named Doug that I trained with years ago at Relson Gracie. Everyone at Mario's was super cool and helpful. It is a total family style academy. They all seem to get along and seem to be content with their training. It's a positive environment and has a lot of potential for only being a year old. I see good things to come.

Mario is one of the founders of Team Brasa. He studied under a few different instructors and has a very real and honest take on things. Mario straight up told me on my first day of classes, that if I was looking for a belt to be handed to me that wouldn't happen at his place. After he said that, I knew we'd get along great. I don't understand why some academies think that by handing out belts it some how gives the academy more credibility. For instance, if your brown belts are not really brown belts at heart, it will reflect on the mats. I respected the fact that Mario said that to me because the last thing I am looking for is a hand out. I think it is important that your instructor believes in the same principles and standards that you do. It is crucial that you are honest with each other. I agreed totally with Mario on a lot of points we discussed. It was refreshing to hear his take on things and his advice as I look for a new academy. I appreciate the insight and guidance he shared with me.

Perhaps the most eye opening experience at Mario's was at the One Year Anniversary and black belt promotions. I have seen my share of promotions over the years at Relson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, but I never saw so many customs observed before. At Relson Gracie Austin, when someone is promoted, the person is given a belt in front of the class and then it is followed by a gauntlet where the guys bear crawl and are whipped on the back with belts. The whole process never lasted more than 30 min tops. While observing Mario's promotions, I was educated on other customs that go along with promotion. First the person being promoted is called forward, the belt or strip is awarded and then Mario, takes them down with a sweep. Depending on the level of promotion, the sweep varies. For the higher belts they were asked to jump and then be swept. After each person goes through this process they are each given an opportunity to say something. Next, all of the higher belts sweep those that were promoted. Lastly, there is a gauntlet of walking through as they get whipped with belts. It took over an hour to get through the whole process, but I found it really interesting to see how things were done on team Brasa.

I have not been in a rush to decide on what academy to join. I've been taking my time and considering all options which has helped in teaching me patience. Life can move really fast and can easily slip by if we don't pay attention. My advice, slow down, take a break and check out a class at Brasa Jiu-Jitsu! They've got some awesome Jiu-Jitsu, good people and a relaxed and encouraging environment.

Even Big Girls Cry...

2011-12-07T13:39:00.000-08:00

I was recently informed that the new IBJJF rules now include that if you cry during your match it is an automatic disqualification. I think they are talking about the kids, but I could be wrong because I know even big girls need to cry sometimes. Healthy crying is an important way for us as human beings to relieve stress and show our vulnerability. My latest mantra is "to embrace myself as I am and own it!". That means to be myself and be proud of who I am. Our happiness and self value needs to come from within. It should be deeper than material possessions, socio-economic class, race, age, sex, religion and especially not from what others think of us. Each of us are special and unique in our own ways,but sometimes it is not easy to remember that. Loving ourselves unconditionally and allowing ourselves to be freely who we are, is a crucial ingredient to happiness, success and fulfillment.

My heart always goes out to the little ones when I see them sobbing and crying after they lose a match. Sometimes I'll start tearing up with them. I just want to hug them and tell them I know exactly how they feel and it will be alright. I have never had shame in admitting that I've also cried on the mats. I've always been a sensitive and sympathetic person, even as a child. Crying has been my immediate emotional release. Even though I have grown a thicker skin over the years, that doesn't mean I still don't need a good cry every now and again. I always feel better afterward and it helps to clear my head.

As a blue belt Jiu-Jitsu competitor and when I was first a purple belt, I'd have to say I've cried after I lost matches more often than not. My blue belt is made up of more tears than sweat or blood. Thankfully, I've always been fortunate in having loving coaches and teammates that made me feel better when I needed it most. Losing sucks, but in the end I've always learned more from my losses than my wins. My losses have played a much larger role in my development.

Of course we all want to win and crying after a loss may look silly to some people, but sometimes it is out of our control. When I've lost, I didn't cry necessarily because I lost the match. It was not because my feelings were hurt or my ego got bruised. I sometimes cried because I was disappointed with my performance or frustrated for not pushing hard enough all the way to the end. Crying for me is a release of extra energy after the adrenaline dump when pent up emotions come boiling up and because I tend to be a head case (over thinker).

Sometimes when I lose, there is a huge sense of disappointment and frustration that goes along with it that can be haunting. Especially if I know in my heart I gave up or didn't live up to my potential. It can be rough to accept a loss after all the sacrifices I've had to make to compete at that level after spending months preparing and pouring everything I had into doing my best in reaching for the gold. It's physically, emotionally and spiritually draining at times. I've even cried in preparation for a tourney from exhaustion, frustration or relief. Most of the time it was the release that allowed me to feel whole again and to keep on going. I've also cried when I've won out of happiness, gratitude, excitement and perhaps an element of disbelief that I achieved my goal. Crying may not solve anything or change the outcome, but I don't think it's something to be ashamed of. Even if you cry, the point is to never give up and keep moving forward and learn from our upsets. They are just as important elements that make us who we are and help shape us into the strong, confident and independent people.

A study by Dr William H. Frey II, a biochemist at the St Paul-Ramsey Medical Centre in Minnesota, found that there is an important chemical difference between emotional or stress-related tears and those simply caused by physical irritants – such as when cutting onions.

The study also found that:

88.8 per cent of people feel better after crying, with 8.4 per cent feeling worse.
On average women cry 47 times a year and men a mere seven.
Until puberty, crying levels are much the same for each gender – testosterone may reduce crying in boys while estrogen and prolactin increases the tendency in girls.
Men may excrete more of the toxins related to emotional stress in their sweat because they have higher sweat levels than women.
The mantra to children 'Be brave, don't cry' might not be the most helpful because some believe crying can actually help reduce pain.

I don't see crying as a sign of weakness but as a healthy function of human nature. Crying is a normal emotional release to for women, men, boys and girls alike. Who cares what others think about your tears. It takes courage to allow your emotions to show. Be true to yourself and let your tears flow!

Academy Hunting Homework #2: Trainers Elite MMA Cleber BJJ

2011-11-15T10:25:00.000-08:00

Last June when I was getting ready for the 2011 IBJJF World Championships, one of my coaches advised me to go roll with Helen of Trainers Elite MMA. The weekend before, he had taken a seminar with Cleber Luciano and had rolled with Helen afterwards. Although she was a white belt at the time, he told me Helen was super aggressive and I could benefit from rolling with her to warm me up for the intensity of competing at the Worlds. I had never set foot in Trainers Elite before and only met Helen a few times at UFC and other BJJ functions outside of class but we never really talked much.

Two weeks before the Worlds I took my coaches advice and ventured up to Trainers Elite to roll with Helen. Sure enough, he was right. Although she was smaller and less experienced than me, she made me work harder than anyone else her size and belt level. She has grips of steel and a good inverted guard game. I absolutely benefited from working with her in my preparation for that tournament. Shortly after my knee healed, I came back during open mat to roll with Helen again. If you've met her before you are very lucky. She's a fire cracker of a woman with a heart of gold. She is also a self proclaimed "big dork". Needless to say it didn't take us long to develop a friendship.

After I decided to leave Relson Gracie team in August, I took my first official class with black belt Sean Cooper at Trainers Elite MMA. Trainers Elite is apart of the Cleber Luciano BJJ team. The academy is located in N.W. Austin. They have large mat space, clean facilities and a relaxed family style atmosphere. I've heard nothing but great things about Sean Cooper's instruction and academy, so I was excited to see what was in store for me during a regular class.

Cooper's classes begin with a traditional bow in at the beginning and end of classes. Then a typical warm up (running, sprints, wrestler stance inside and outside, etc.). Next the warm-up continues to drills that mimic the movement for the instructional portion.We did exercises like passing the guard to knee on belly back and forth on both sides and grabbing hands with your partner and lifting your hips up to switch sides back and forth. It was a good length of time for a warm up and at a good level of intensity.

The instructional portion of the classes consisted of 2-3 technical moves that played off each other (I.e. Knee on belly, mount, choke from mount to arm bar). The class had a nice movement and flow. It was easy to follow and Cooper was detailed in his instruction. I picked up some sneaky moves that can fit into my game nicely.

My last instructor Phil , had a strong guard game and as a result of his influence so do I. It's been eye opening to learn from those who have different strengths. The reason Helen has a good inverted guard game is because of Cooper's awesome game. We really are a product of our experiences. One of my biggest goals in this process of finding a new academy team is to expose myself to new perspectives, techniques, styles, etc. My hope is to be more versatile by the end of this process regardless of where I end up.

During training, Cooper was attentive and provided feedback on our drilling of his technique. After the technical portion it was time for positional sparring and then rolling. Typically a few people stay down and the others rotate around the room to different partners at each round starting from various positions like open guard or side control. The classes are 1-1.5 hours in length including the warm up. The students ranged in skill levels and sizes. Everyone is friendly, helpful and welcoming. I've even run into some familiar faces of my past academy which has been a nice surprise.

Overall, my impression of Trainers Elite has been favorable. The instruction is up to par, the environment and classes are relaxed yet structured, there are quality training partners, the price is reasonable and the class times are adequate to accommodate my schedule and goals. Cooper is a full time BJJ guy, a good instructor with a big bag of tricks. The only minor draw back is location. It's about a 30 min drive one way from home. I've been spoiled living 10 minutes of biking distance from my last academy. However, on my school day it's only 15 min from campus so I've been able to check out noon classes in addition to Saturday and weeknight classes. The noon classes are smaller than the evening and weekend, giving participants an opportunity to get more one on one time with Cooper so you can ask more questions and get feedback.

I also got to meet Cleber Luciano during his seminar when I photographed it a few months ago. I had fun documenting the seminar and getting to know the team better. If you missed the past Cleber Luciano seminar you'll want to catch the next one which will be on December 3, 2011. I got some great shots from the last seminar and look forward to participating in the next one. Thank you to Sean Cooper, Helen and the team for sharing your mats with me...I'll be back for more!

"Don't Tread On She"

2011-10-28T11:54:00.000-07:00

To be honest, I was a bit nervous about posting my last blog on such a sensitive topic involving men and women "on the mats" in Jiu-Jitsu. I definitely didn't anticipate the response I have received from readers and I appreciate everyone who took time to read and post comments. Most of all, I am glad it opened up discussion about topics most people don't openly talk about. The comments and feedback from my blog brought up a lot of interesting points that really got me thinking. I found it particularly interesting how interpretation and perspectives can vary among readers. Although I think my message was lost to some, I am extremely happy it sparked conversation and opened up discussion on other sensitive topics that needed to be discussed.

I want to clarify the purpose of my blog topic. My intentions were not to make men self-conscious when training with women or make them second guess themselves especially when they have good intentions. The last thing I'd want is for guys to be discouraged from training with women because they are worried about what we might think. If your intentions are good, we can usually tell. Also my blog wasn't about how all men don't know how to train with women cause that's obviously not true. I wasn't trying to indicate that there is a catch 22 where guys are "dammed if they do and dammed if they don't". The article was not about being a bad or good training partner. Being a good training partner has nothing to do with the gender of the persons involved and is a topic I'll revisit at a later time. The primary focus of the article was to expose common types of harassment and torment some women have encountered. While acknowledging the fact that behavior and intentions can sometimes be misinterpreted.

My goal was to bring light to the most extreme types of harassment some women have experienced in Jiu-Jitsu and never openly talked about in public. It was a "forbidden topic" that some of us knew about but were to ashamed or embarrassed to share. The personalities of "knuckle draggers" and guys who "take you on a date", represent the more common types of harassment in Jiu-Jitsu. The situations or mentalities I mentioned were the most extreme circumstances. Another important point is that it isn't always men who can be bullies. Women can be as just as insecure, petty, passive aggressive, ego driven, hurtful, malicious and be too rough on the mats, as some guys, if not worse.

I've been fortunate in having loving Jiu-Jitsu brothers and sisters who looked out for me and had my back if someone got out of line with me. But the harassment is not always apparent to an onlooker. It can be subtle and remain unnoticed. We cannot and should not rely on others to protect us or fight our battles. We have to be able to face bullies on our own and that's why Jiu-Jitsu is such a powerful tool that teaches us how to be assertive, strong and capable on and off the mats.

Unlike my experience, for some women the harassment was constant and unbearable. The worst part for them was that those who could have stopped it instead turned the other cheek, ignored the problem entirely, blamed the victim or were directly involved in the abuse. I've heard of a woman who got felt up while drilling and when she stood up for herself, SHE was asked to leave the class for making a scene. I've also heard of many women being physically roughed up so badly that they almost left Jiu-Jitsu completely. For other women the abuse got so horrific it forced them to leave their academies and start over at a new academy or even a new city. The stories of women who overcame abusive circumstances made me wonder just how many women we never hear about who have been driven away from Jiu-Jitsu and never came back because of these types of harassment.

The biggest argument I saw in response to my blog was the use of the word "legitimately", "When rolling they will use strength and force to muscle through moves so they won't get caught or feel embarrassed by tapping out to a woman when she's legitimately caught him in a submission.". I agree with the points made, because if you legitimately catch someone and finish the submission they are forced to tap or they will end up with broken bones, dislocated joints, etc. It was a poor choice of words on my part. "Almost" would have been a better word in its place.

Most of us, especially women, start training to build self confidence, learn how to protect ourselves and to learn how to become better people. Jiu-Jitsu is not the most appealing art for most women immediately and I feel it really takes a certain type of woman to stick with Jiu-Jitsu. I've also found that quite a few of the women who stay with Jiu-Jitsu, do in fact share a lot of common qualities.

My hope was to bring this topic out in the open so people who have experienced it realize they are not alone and they don't have to put up with it now or in the future. There are lots good academies that are nurturing, supportive and have a positive environment for women. I also realize that it is not just women who've experienced various types of harassment and that some men have as well. Abuse on the mats is not something that most of us feel comfortable openly discussing. In fact a lot of women I talked to have a sense of shame when it comes to it, even though it is not them who should carry the burden. I feel privileged that many women shared their experiences with me and I was able to use my platform as a tool to open up conversation and provoke thought on the topic for both men and women. Thank you all for your input and for opening my eyes up to various different perspectives. Keep on Rolling!

To view some additional feedback you can check out:
http://www.reddit.com/r/bj j/comments/liru6/shama_ko_ on_training_bjj_as_a_woman /

http://shamakobjj.blogspot.com/2011/10/dont-take-me-out-on-date.html

"Don't take me out on a date"

2011-10-19T13:09:00.000-07:00

These topics are things most of us don't openly talk about in the BJJ community but i think its time we brought them out in the open.

As I've become more involved in the BJJ community, I have had many opportunities to listen to other women's experiences. I have found inspiration in the strength of the women around me, especially those who have had to learn what it means to love Jiu-Jitsu so much that it hurts. Although I'd like to think we are in a new era where women are becoming equals in a male dominated sport, I am continually reminded of the obstacles that remain a harsh reality for women today. I've heard horror stories about mistreatment including
verbal harassment, physical abuse, emotional torment and in some cases unwelcome sexual advances. But the most unifying theme among the women is that these traumatic experiences never took away from the genuine love they had for Jiu-Jitsu and made their commitment to the sport even stronger.

There was recently a big uproar in the BJJ community about a certain company that executed a overly sexual marketing campaign that many felt misrepresented and objectified women. I won't give any additional steam to the buzz, so their name shall remain anonymous. But as successful as the campaign was from a marketing stand point, the ads were a direct slap in the face to women and was a prime example of the stereotypes women in BJJ have fought to overcome. As if Jiu-Jitsu needed anymore help looking sexual to an outsiders.

Women discover Jiu -jitsu through various means and it can take on several purposes and definitions for each of us. It is a sad truth, but some men are still of the primitive opinion that women have no place in BJJ or contact sports as a whole. I've gotten comments on my YouTube site saying that I should be a lady and leave the fighting to the "real" men. The funny part is most of these men don't even train. These guys are ignorant and my suggestion is that they try rolling with a real BJJ woman. As I am sure most of them will find out what it truly means to be humbled when a woman half their size can "man handle" them.

Unfortunately some men in BJJ share this opinion that women shouldn't train or that we are not equals even though we put in our time on the mats just as they do. In my opinion, these guys are insecure and obviously intimidated by a strong woman. It's disheartening how they find ways to diminish or belittle women's efforts on the mats with sexist remarks, harassment and ridicule. When rolling they will use strength and force to muscle through moves so they won't get caught or feel embarrassed by tapping out to a woman when she's legitimately caught him in a submission. Or in some cases they use brute force and too much resistance to physically hurt and torment women. Perhaps they think that by manhandling and mistreating women it some how makes them more of a man. These are not men, instead I refer to then as "knuckle draggers" because of their caveman mentality.

But then there is the flip side, where some men "take you out on a date", meaning they roll with little to no resistance like a wet noodle or stiff like a board. These rolls can resemble a game of "grab ass" where the guy basically allows the woman dominate him so he can have the opportunity to be close to her or maybe a chance to flirt and work his "game". Even if the advances are innocent and harmless, rolling with women like this can be particularly damaging because it creates a false sense in her of the effectiveness of her moves. This behavior is equally as wrong as the knuckle draggers and an insult to our abilities as if we wouldn't be able to tap them in "real life" if they hadn't just given it to us.

My suggestion when being "taken out on a date" is to use it as an opportunity to work your game. Set the pace and gradually increase the intensity to see if they match it. Chances are he will get the point that you are serious about BJJ and not interested in his advances. If the guy doesn't match your intensity, think of it as if you're working on Bubba Gracie (the Bjj dummy) and have a field day with it. Or if the situation makes you feel uncomfortable, don't put up with it and go roll with someone who you know is a good training partner and will give you adequate resistance.

However, not all guys that roll too hard or too stiff are like this. Recently I was reminded of how some guys really just feel uncomfortable working with women, especially if they are not used to it. They tend to either be too loose or too stiff. The big difference is that they are not doing it to be disrespectful. They are just trying to make us feel comfortable because they do have respect. Nice guys don't finish last, because they can be taught how to be good training partners if you help them get over the fact that you are a woman and
simply just want to train.

Don't get me wrong throughout all of my training most of my best partners have been guys. For the most part guys in BJJ are good training partners or can be taught how to be. One of the many things I was taught by the highest ranking female at my old school that will stick with me forever is to be selective in my training partners. This has saved me a lot of grief because I am kind of a snob for my own protection to avoid injuries or uncomfortable situations. Being a good training partner is something that isn't taught, but can be learned through practice. But that's a whole other blog for another time.

I hope one day women don't have to endure the torment that so many women have faced over the years. I hope that the pain experienced will not be a lost cause, but pave the way towards change for future generations of women in BJJ. No one deserves to be mistreated and it shouldn't be tolerated. Only we have the power to change our life's path and no-one will ever look out for our interests as best as we can.

*The photos are not related to the content of the story. If the individuals in these photos wish to have them removed, please contact me. Thank you.

Academy Hunting Homework #1: Gracie Humaitá Austin

2011-10-14T12:02:00.000-07:00

After spending a summer sitting on and off the sidelines, I decided I was going to go crazy unless I returned to training. Since I'd been out for a minute and I knew I had a lot of rust to scrape off, I decided to ease back into an environment that had familiar elements.

The first academy I visited was Gracie Humaitá Austin-Gracie Legacy, which is perhaps one of the newest academies to the Austin area. Although Gracie Humaitá Austin is only a few months old, the head instructor, owner, and black belt Donald Park, who is under David Adiv & Royler Gracie, is not a newcomer to the Jiu-Jitsu community or Texas for that matter. With over fifteen years experience in Jiu-Jitsu and eight years as an instructor, Donald is among one of the most qualified instructors in Austin. He has been teaching in the Austin area for close to three years and I felt privileged to have taken his competition classes previously at Relson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. It has been a few months since the formation of Gracie Humaitá Austin and I was excited to see what has been brewing.

Gracie Humaitá Austin is so new that they don't even have a permanent location to call home yet. They currently train on the University of Texas Austin campus. Gracie Humaitá Austin is composed of ten students with a steady flow of visitors for each class. Gracie Humaitá Austin is not currently taking any students until January 2012. However, Gracie Humaitá Austin does host a once a month Open Door Seminar and all members of the Jiu-Jitsu community are invited to take a class two times a month with the permission of their instructor.

Last month, I decided to take advantage of my opportunity to start training at Gracie Humaitá Austin. I was also fortunate to have attended the open door seminar which had an overwhelming response of 90 requests to attend and only 40 slots available. After attending the seminar, it was apparent as to why attendance for this event was in such high demand.

The open door seminar was full of information. Over three hours of instruction had my head spinning with amazing Jiu-Jitsu. The seminar was composed of some very basic fundamentals and principles of Jiu-Jitsu. Donald's instructional technique was very detailed and incredibly effective. I enjoyed how the smallest details were emphasized and how he provided explanations on why the move worked and the principles behind it.

The seminar was very laid back and moved at a relaxed pace, which was not the pace I had been accustomed to in Donald's competition classes. I'll admit, I can have lazy jiu-jitsu sometimes and I loved his other classes because they were very no nonsense, fast and at an intense pace which pushed me to my limits,as a competition class should do. Now I was curious about the regular classes at Gracie Humaitá Austin.

Due to my knee I've not been able to attend a class with rolling involved. Therefore all the classes I've taken at Gracie Humaitá Austin have been strictly instructional. Even though I was among the smallest on the mats and the only female at most classes, I felt right at home and was 100% comfortable. Classes are 5-6 times a week for one-two hours in the evening which works perfect with my schedule.

The class began with a typical bjj warm up. However, I was introduced to a new variation of shrimping that I found to be very effective. After the warm-up we did a variation of drills to loosen up the muscles we would use in the instructional portion that followed. Once again just as in the seminar, the instruction was extremely detail oriented, well structured and moved a comfortable pace. There was adequate time to drill the moves after each demonstration. Donald was attentive and helpful in providing positive feedback, constructive criticism and encouragement during our practice.

In most classes the instructional portion begins with a take down of some variety followed by the mechanics of a position to a sweep or transition of some nature. If time permits a submission is incorporated as well. Due to my schedule with work and school, I have not been able to attend back to back classes, so I was unable to gain an understanding of the flow from one class to another. However, I do find the structure of the class to be compatible with my learning style, making it easy to focus and retain information. These classes and the seminar have given me insight to some of the principles of Jiu-Jitsu that I wasn't aware of before. I was never taught principles as principles. It's been an eye opening experience on many levels.

The students at Gracie Humaitá Austin are among some of the most talented and hard working individuals in the community that I've come across. In only the few months of training at Gracie Humaitá Austin, I can recognize the tremendous impact this training has had on their game as evidenced at the Grapple America last month when they earned more medals than the number of competitors that entered. Students range in various sizes and skill levels from white belts on up to brown belts. Everyone seems content with their new home and I've heard nothing but positive feedback from Donald's students.

Although portions of Gracie Humaitá Austin are in the process of being solidified and remain uncertain, there is no question that the training is top notch and I'll be back for more!

To learn more about Gracie Humaitá Austin check out their website, follow their tweets on Twittter and become a friend on Facebook.

Jiu-Jitsu for thought?

2011-10-12T11:21:00.000-07:00

One of my girlfriends told me the other day that I am "doing a BJJ tour of Austin", which is true. But it is a lot different to analyze an academy from the perspective of a visitor who will come back a few times a year compared to finding an academy to call your home. BJJ academy shopping is a lot of work. Throughout the past few weeks I've trained at a few times at the same academies. I believe it's going to take a while to really get the feel of an academy and to honestly evaluate it. To visit just once is not exactly the best way to "judge" the inner workings of an academy. Unless you had a particularly horrible experience on your first visit, I say every academy deserves a few shots.

As I've mentioned before, I have a growing list of areas to consider when choosing a new school and team. To make it easier, I've broken it up into five categories (for now); academy, instructor, class, team and training partners. Most importantly I am evaluating how my needs can be met and assessing how the inner workings of each school aligns with my vision. Keep in mind that each person's priorities will vary and mine is a work in progress. I am not an expert by any means and I am definitely open to suggestions. Here is what I have so far in no particular order:

Academy: location, equipment, price, facility, ownership, other programs, women friendly.

Instructors: Lineage, belt, level of technique, style of Jiu-Jitsu, teaching style, execution of lessons, accomplishments, attentiveness, type of coach, body type, perspective on Jiu-Jitsu, understanding of principals, detail oriented, compatible learning styles, tolerance of student training at other schools, Jiu-Jitsu is their only job, level of involvement (employee or ownership), mutual dedication, loyalty and support.

Class: structure, intensity, goals of classes (competition, recreational, instructors training), length, times, days, allotted time for rolling, woman friendly

Team: Lineage, structure, presence, camaraderie, family style, unity and level of support

Training partner: Size, skill level, type of training partners, student's perspectives (academy, instructors, classes, etc.)

Yay or Nay?

2011-10-06T13:48:00.000-07:00

Over the past few weeks I've frequented a few new jiu-jitsu academies. All of my jiu-jitsu muscles hurt, but it's that good type of pain that gives you a sense of accomplishment. Like you got a real work out. Its been a while since they've (jiu-jitsu muscles) been used. I am glad to know they still work.

My first and second week back were rough. I seriously felt like a white belt on the mats. My timing, coordination and ability to focus were all off. I had the attention span of a two year old. I think what's made it harder is that I am learning new technique and style instead of things I am already used to. Although It was particularly frustrating, I've found amusement in my awkwardness and am working through it. Thankfully I am getting back into the groove. I can only hope the worst is over.

Through my visits at these academies, I am also realizing that there is no best or worst Jiu-Jitsu schools, teams or instructors. It's all about finding what's right for YOU! We don't all have the same outlook, or learn the same ways, goals or share the same values. It's important that I find an academy and team that best aligns with my vision and meets my needs. I feel it's crucial that I choose wisely, because I believe that the ties we have to our schools and teams are a reflection of common qualities and similar outlooks.

That patch on our backs, shirts that we wear and sticker on our car mean something to me. It identifies us as a representative of a team, school, and instructors. That is why it is important to remember that not only does our conduct and demeanor represent who we are, but our actions reflect upon what we choose to represent. Just as we are an extension of our lineage (team, academy and instructors) , that lineage is an extension of ourselves and what we believe in.

What most people don't realize right away is that there are underlining politics and rivalries involved in Jiu-Jitsu that go way back. I don't really understand most of it and it's none of my business anyway but I've been around long enough to have heard different perspectives. But is it fair to allow what rumors you've heard dictate where you train? Aren't you just selling yourself short? I think so. My goal as I visit each school is to
enter with an open mind and an unbiased opinion so as to truly gain a worthwhile perspective. I owe it to myself to give all schools and teams a chance before I make a decision.

I never used to understand why someone would want to leave a school or a team. I thought people who left their schools were traitors, weak or deserters. I wondered how loyalty could be so fleeting. It is funny that no matter how wonderful a relationship might have been at one time, it is the bad that most of us remember. Loyalty is incredibly important but at the same time I believe that it is also important to look out for ourselves too. After all this is our personal life experience and ultimately each and everyone of us have the right to choose what is best for ourselves. Some people get lucky and find the right school on the first try. While others might not find the right school immediately or after they do find it things change. Once again I am reminded of how hard it can be to look out for our own best interests even when it sometimes it means hurting people you care about the most. Everyone has their own reasons for leaving and it takes strength to move on. I don't see this as being selfish anymore, but as being a wise investor in our life path.

What does Jiu-Jitsu mean to me?

2011-09-28T12:29:00.001-07:00

A few weeks ago, in my unprofessional opinion, I decided it was time take the knee out for a test drive and see how it would hold up back on the mats. I have to say it's great being back. My knee is not quite 100% better yet, but I've been able to roll a few times with much lighter opponents. For the most part it is just drills and technique that I've been focusing on. Now of course, I don't want to jinks myself, but its held up pretty well thus far.

Even though my return to the mats is a celebratory event in my life, it is bitter sweet. It's still strange to be on foreign mats in a new school, with a different instructor and new training partners and no patch on my back. I do miss my old training partners and instructors. But its time to "man up", because I have a new purpose, to find a new BJJ "home". It is one of the biggest choices I'll ever make. So I am not taking this decision lightly. I am being as patient, open minded, honest and as well informed as I can be in selecting my next home.

Over the past two weeks, I've taken a class at four different schools. Everyone has made me feel so welcomed and right at home wherever I've gone to train, which has definitely made this process easier and more enjoyable. The more schools I visit the more I am learning about what components should go into choosing a school or a team. And the more schools I visit the more the list grows and becomes revised. I see this as an ongoing process and I am okay with not rushing through it. After all, it is a big decision that hopefully I will never have to make it again.

I can only imagine how overwhelming this process can be for someone brand new to Jiu-Jitsu. How would someone with no prior experience and no knowledge of the martial art even know what to look for or where to start? How can they really know what is right for them when they have nothing to compare it to? Or maybe having previous experience makes the decision much harder and the novices are the lucky ones who are blissfully ignorant.

Even though I am more the right brainy, crafty, artsy type I am incredibly OCD ( obsessive compulsive disordered) when it comes to organizing, planning and structuring things. I have lists for my lists, so naturally, I've composed a plan of attack for my shopping adventure. In doing my pre-shopping research of Austin academies, I was shocked to see how many academies have opened since I first started in 2003. The number of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu academies must of at least tripled in the last decade. There are more options than ever. There are at least 23 schools, 20 teams and 18 black belts (one female one) in Austin. The old days are long gone. Growth is good for all of us and I think it's healthy for academies to have more competition. This forces them to up their game in order to retain students and ultimately stay in business. Nowadays, if someone isn't happy, they can just leave knowing they have choices, which wasn't the case a few years ago.

To me having choices is extremely important when making such a big decision as to what academy and team to choose. I feel the more choices the better. But on the flip side, too many choices can also be confusing. This isn't easy process and I am realizing is that it sure helps to know what it is you're looking for in the first place.The first step in my BJJ shopping experience was to establish my personal goals. Which presented me with A multitude of questions. For instance, do I want to teach? How actively do I want to compete? How do I want to contribute? My mind has been swimming, but it all comes back to the most important question..... what does Jiu-Jitsu really mean to me?

That's an incredibly hard question to answer even with as much experience as I have under my belt. Some people use the word addiction to define what Jiu-Jitsu means to them. Addiction implies negative connotation. I like to think that I am not enslaved to Jiu-Jitsu.

I prefer to think I am passionate, dedicated and in love with Jiu-Jitsu. Just as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has evolved, my feelings about what it means to me has continued to change over the years. The more I train Jiu-Jitsu, the more it becomes a part of who I am. Jiu-Jitsu has aided me in finding my weaknesses and build my strengths on and off the mats. It has given me a sense of purpose in life. Jiu-Jitsu is not just a martial art or a sport, it's a lifestyle. It is what motivates me to be a better person. The best part of Jiu-Jitsu to me is that it is an amazing gift for all of us to personally define.

Summer Fun-Living, Learning and Growing.

2011-09-24T08:40:00.000-07:00

Growing up in Hawaii, I had no idea what the hell "seasons" were. I don't think I even ever used the word until I was eighteen and I moved to the "mainland". In Hawaii, it's pretty much one season year round. Don't get me wrong, I am by no means complaining about Hawaii's climate. I miss it everyday. Since I've lived on the "mainland" for over a decade I've gotten a taste of the four seasons and have come to learn how exciting the changing of the seasons can be.

In my opinion, summer is the season not only with the worst weather here on the "mainland" , but with the most tendency to provide me with crash courses on life's lessons mostly learned the hard way. This usually forces me to re-evaluate and clean house. During the summer season, I tend to be faced with more tests that define who I am and help me realize what type of person I want to be as I am ultimately guided in my life's path. Summer is never an easy time and it can sometimes appear that things are more difficult than it has to be. Maybe it's just the 100 degree plus weather that has me more impatient and edgy. Or could the "wrenches in my gears" in the summer helps pave the way for the changes that Fall leads to?

This summer was the longest break I've ever taken from Jiu-Jitsu in all of my time training. I am sure that anyone who has been injured in Jiu-Jitsu and is as in love with Jiu-Jitsu as I am, understands how it feels to suddenly eliminate a huge part of your life. In a strange way not training made me feel like I'd lost a sense of my identity. The worst part for me was how much I wanted to train but couldn't. I missed the physical and mental challenges Jiu-Jitsu presents. I also really missed seeing my Jiu-Jitsu family everyday and no work out can compare to Jiu-Jitsu. It leaves some big shoes to fill.

Without training, I really felt lost for a while. At first, my whole routine was thrown out of whack. It was strange having so much free time that used to be occupied with training. I didn't know what to do with myself. Then I decided to dive head first into working on my business and working on the many other projects I've taken on. Why not become a work-a-holic! I love what I do! If anything, I can say it's been an extremely productive summer.

Now, I am grateful for this time away from training which has given me time to think. No matter how hard it was to be a "bench warmer" all summer, I realize that taking a break from Jiu-Jitsu was exactly what I needed to do. It allowed me to re-assess and evaluate several areas of my life. I learned a lot about myself and my weakness which led to me finding more of my inner strength. In the end, this has aided me in making some of the hardest decisions I've ever had to make.

These decisions have forced me to open myself up and provided me with so many more opportunities that I couldn't have otherwise had. It's definitely been an eye opening experience. I've been learning more about Jiu-Jitsu, the history, lineage, principles, beliefs, politics and shared personal outlooks. I've learned more about what to look for when "shopping" for a school, my preferences, my values and learning more about what components make up the best school and team for me. I've been meeting new people in the community and best of all I am learning. I won't lie, some days I still wake up and wonder if I made the right choice. I've never been good at accepting change. It's scary being out on my own with out my "family". I feel like a freshman in college away from home for the first time. It's both scary and exciting at the same time.

I feel like my life has been turned upside down and then right side up again like a snow globe. But no matter how difficult things may have seemed, I got through them and it was a growing experience. I feel it all balanced out..for everything negative that happened something amazing quickly followed. I've been doing a lot of jumping through life's hoops, but in the end I am learning everything will work out exactly as it's supposed to. So now that the "flurries" have finally started to settle I am left feeling more confident than ever knowing I can take on what comes next. I've got a lot of decisions to make and a lot more "homework" to do. But in the meantime I am going to have some fun! 'Cause isn't that what summers all about? And it's almost over.

The leaves are dropping off the trees giving the illusion of fall, but looks can be deceiving in Texas. Due to the massive drought everything is withering up and dying. But there is hope. The other week we finally had our first break in the 100 degree marathon and dare I say it actually felt like Fall. The cool, crisp Fall night air made me frisky. My stomach was full of butterflies fluttering about in anticipation of something. What could it be!?!! The only thing that can be for certain is change.

Girls in Gis-Houston & Two Year Anniversary Celebration

2011-09-08T14:02:00.000-07:00

I've always had an obsession with collecting quotes and finding ones that are most relevant to the phases of my life. When I was in high school I was always running around with a pen and pad or a voice recorder asking everyone to share a quote. One of the most inspirational quotes I've recently found was from the great words of Ralph Waldo Emerson, "Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail".

Perhaps that is one of the many unique qualities I love about Jiu-Jitsu, because it is truly our own personal journey. No two people will have exactly the same experiences, goals or challenges to overcome. Although our experiences will be unique, there is always comfort in knowing that we are not alone.

Programs like Girls in Gis provide so many opportunities for women and girls in the BJJ community. Not only is the group a great place to pick up some new technique or grapple with other women, it's the friendship and unity that is built at each and everyone of these events that make them truly special. How often do we as women get to share our jiu-jitsu experiences, perspectives and outlooks with other like minded women? Unlike most women in the community, I've had a truly unique experience in BJJ. I've never been the "only" woman in the academy. My first two instructors were women. Needless to say, I never experienced a shortage of women to train with over the past eight years. I have been extremely fortunate to have learned the long-term benefits of training with other women firsthand. Perhaps that's why I strongly support the vision of Girls in Gis, because I know how important it is as a martial artist and competitor to be able to train with women and share our passion with each other.

There is no doubt that the Girls in Gis Houston event was a smash hit! Prior to the event, Fighter Girls did an excellent interview with Ashley Nguyen, the Girls in Gis founder, on what exactly Girls in Gis is all about and where it came from. Ashley Nguyen did an outstanding job hosting and instructing! Everyone loved it! To get a full recap and see photos visit TXMMA! More articles include fightergirls.com, bjjlegends.com and megjiujitsu.com. Additional photos I took can be seen on Shama Ko Photography FB.

As I sat on the sidelines taking photos of the forty women and girls on the mats, I realized just how unique and special this moment was. We are on the verge of something monumental! Change is coming and it's our unity and support that will strengthen our efforts as a whole. Jiu-Jitsu means a lot of different things to different people and people train with different motivations and purposes. Hear some of the stories from Debra Ibarra on Grappling Girls Guild, Lana Hunter on The Fightworks Podcast and Jodi Lynn Baughan on Combatsportsreview.com! Great article ladies! I enjoyed reading all of them!

Each and everyone of us are trail blazers in our own ways. I am extremely grateful for the strength and generosity of women like Triin of Fenom Kimonos/Women's Jiu-Jitsu Championships and Ashley Nguyen of Girls in Gis. Their revolutionary visions have manifested into extremely successful enterprises that have continually touched the lives of so many and have brought together the community of women in jiu-jitsu in a way it never before seen. Thank you to both of you for leading the way for so many of us and offering inspiration to all of us. Keep up the great work!

The next Girls in Gis event is on September 25th in Austin at Trainers Elite MMA! Hope to see you there!

Thank you Relson Gracie Team

2011-09-05T09:15:00.000-07:00

After careful consideration and much contemplation, it is with great sadness that I have decided to leave the Relson Gracie team. The tremendous amount of loyalty, love and devotion I have for this team, my school and instructors Phil Cardella and Richard Gibberson has made this decision even harder. This is a decision that I never thought I'd have to make, but I feel that it is best choice for me at this time. Although I am extremely saddened by the closing of this chapter in my life, I feel it is necessary in order to continue on my quest for knowledge in jiu-jitsu and to reach my personal goals.

I consider myself to be very lucky to have been introduced to jiu-jitsu by Phil Cardella, my close family friend, and for the amazing eight years that I've been a part of this team and under his instruction. I would not be the person--BJJ practitioner or athlete--that I am today if not for the love and support from my instructors, training partners and team.

I will forever treasure the foundation and insight that you all have given to me and the guidance I've received. I have the utmost respect and faith in my team's abilities on the mats and for my instructors Phil Cardella, Richard Gibberson and Relson Gracie. This has not been just a team to me. This academy has been my home that I have been lucky to be a part of it since it began. My training partners, teammates, coaches and instructors have been my family for almost a decade. I've shed a lot of blood, sweat and tears on those mats throughout all of my training. I don't just see this academy as a place, but as a something that I love very much and something that I am saying goodbye to. All of these components have made this decision so difficult.

Nonetheless, it is time for me to move on. No matter where this path takes me, I will always have fond memories of this school and everyone in the Relson Gracie family. The talent and level of proficiency on the mats, the generally good quality of people on this team and devoted training partners I've had, has made me so proud to represent this team and be a part of this jiu-jitsu family. Thank you all for your support, encouragement and love. I wish you all the best and much success. I hope our paths cross again and perhaps we can train in the future. With all my heart MAHALO and ALOHA!

The Europa Experience-Where Women Rule The Mats

2011-08-22T10:29:00.000-07:00

The Europa Fitness Expo-Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tournament has to be one of the most unique venues in Texas. The jiu-jitsu tournament is just one of the many attractions at this expo. The Europa Fitness Expo includes body building competitions, weight lifting competitions, a car show, vendor booths with lots of free swag, Cross Fit games, and other Martial Arts tournaments. You name it and it is probably there. This year's Europa jiu-jitsu tournament was by far the biggest tournament I've seen all year. Dare I say even bigger than the IBJJF Houston Open. The final count of eight hundred and fifty-five competitors was damn impressive, but what really made an impact with me was how the stacked with competitors the women's divisions were. Holy crap! The flood gates are open! However, the real question is how many will stick around for the long hall? Is the popularity of jiu-jitsu just a fad among women or is the new generation of white/blue belt women emerging on the scene, signs of a new tomorrow when women's divisions' are as well attended as the men's?

I can only speculate on the official count of women competitors, but it had to be at least close to forty. Even though the women's divisions started an hour earlier than the men's at 9:30 am, matches were going strong all morning long and into the afternoon. The spectators were entertained by one exciting match after another. It's like the women's divisions just didn't stop and neither did the action. Watching these women from the sidelines I couldn't help but wish I had so many women to compete with years ago when I was a white and blue belt. Six years ago, when I first started competing in Texas, sometimes you were considered lucky if any other women even showed up. There have been countless tournaments where in order to get a match I would compete with lower belts or with women several weight divisions above me. In some cases, I'd have no other option but to get a refund. This is seldom the case anymore for white, blue and some purple belt women.

I was also pleasantly surprised to see two women (purple belt Tara Arrington and black belt Roberta Bernini) reffing the matches at the Europa. Women like Hilliary William (the 1st female referee for IBJJF) have led the way for other women referees through out the USA. Regardless of sex, refereeing is never an easy task and you're not always going to make everyone happy. However, Tara and Roberta proved to be just as competent as the men referees and in my opinion they both did an exceptional job at Europa!

This got me to thinking, if not for the efforts of jiu-jitsu women before us we would not be where we are now. The jiu-jitsu women of previous generations have paved the way for all women and girls within the community. These women's efforts on and off the mats have given us the opportunity to continue to prove ourselves as equals in a male dominated sport. I can only imagine the sexism and stereotypes these veteran women first encountered. I am glad the times are changing. Instead of women's divisions being seen as a sideshow attraction, the athleticism among women is finally being noticed. Through all of our actions and involvement, women are proving to be a valuable component of the jiu-jitsu community. I feel indebted to the generations before me and the best way I see to honor their legacy is by being the best person I can be, pushing myself towards excellence and most of all supporting other women in the community. As we encourage and support more women in jiu-jitsu, this will makes it easier for all of us. With every hurdle we overcome we will continue to pave the way for the future generations.

At the rate jiu-jitsu is spreading in the USA, I don't see it slowing down anytime soon, I think over the next few years we will see black and brown belt women's divisions in the IBJJF break off into their own divisions. I also think we will see white, blue and purple belt divisions get closer to that of what the men's divisions were a year or two ago. I also think that as more of us compete we will start to see equal prize money for women's division at tournaments. At this rate of growth, all signs point to that this jiu-jitsu "craze" is far from over. However, retention among women always seems to be the hardest part, perhaps because it really does take a certain type of woman to live the jiu-jitsu lifestyle. Not everyone is cut out for the sacrifices that go along with being a jiu-jitsu competitor or martial artist. Obviously women enter the sport with many different motives and goals, but as the popularity of the sport grows among men, it also reaches out to more women. I can only hope that the increased number of women entering jiu-jitsu will bring more change and opportunity for all of us. Only time will tell, but I am willing to bet on this one! Big congrats to all the women who competed at the Europa. Way to represent! Keep the tradition alive!

Check out all the action @ Shama Ko Photography or on Facebook!

BJJ Tour of Texas-Remember the Alamo

2011-08-13T10:00:00.000-07:00

There is a reason why they say "Remember the Alamo" and for me has nothing to do with the Texas Revolution or Pee-Wee Herman. It's Jiu-Jitsu! Every time I visit a new school, I am always learning more about the variations in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu styles, techniques, traditions, customs and class structure. Can we really say one style of BJJ is really the best? Aren't they all special in their own way? Or is it about finding what's right for us?

Day Three: August 8, 2011-On Monday I decided to dive head first into training. In the morning Lana and I woke up and we dragged ourselves out of bed to get to her circuit training class at 9:00 am. We did a variation of kettle bells, plyometrics, pull ups, dips, squats, etc. for an hour. It felt good getting a good sweat on. Immediately after class I rushed over to Rodrigo Pinheiro Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for the 10:30am-11:30am class followed by open mat 11:30am-12:30pm.

To this day, I still get butterflies in my belly on the first day when I am the "new kid" at an academy, but at the same time I absolutely love the experience of going to a new school. It also takes the edge off a bit when you have a friend that already trains at that academy. Instantly, I felt relaxed when Rodrigo Pinheiro and my friend Tara Talanco greeted me at the door. In all of the schools that I've trained, the most common denominator is that no matter where I've gone in the world, I am always greeted with a warm welcome as if I am already apart of the jiu-jitsu family. This was my first class at Rodrigo Pinheiro's school and I had no idea what I was in store for.

As I've been visiting more schools I've realized that there are some big differences in each one's customs and traditions. For instance, I am not used to the custom of giving respect by bowing. It's something my school Relson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Austin has never practiced. But as I visit more schools, I am learning more and more about these "foreign" customs.

At the beginning of class all the students line up on the mats before the warm up. It was kind of funny when I tried to duck back to the third row with the white belts so I could blend in and not be at the front of the class. I totally got called out and was told to go stand at the front of the class with the other purple belts. The class began with bowing to the instructors and then to Helio Gracie, followed by a 1/2 hour or so warm up of typical running laps, high knees, knees to butt, etc. The instructional portion began with a review of what had been taught last week. In watching the review, I got an inside look into how classes are structured and Rodrigo's teaching style. Instead of showing a whole series of transitions to various submissions in a class, the whole week was focused on all the details and doing drills that relate to the body movement used in the technique. By showing only a small piece of the puzzle, Rodrigo was able to focus on all of the small details that lead up to the final point.

This lesson began with a spider guard transition to a omoplata set up. I found that his teaching style and class structure was easy for me to understand and keep focused. This was one of the most enjoyable classes I've taken recently. I was especially grateful that I got to roll with Tara, Rodrigo and another white belt female. I am sorry I can't remember her name. Everyone at Rodrigo's was super cool, friendly and I felt right at home.

After rolling with Tara she made a comment that resonated with me. We were talking out our roll and she said to me that what I did was definitely a Relson pass. I found this interesting since we are able to identify who we train with based on how we roll. Which is another whole topic that I'll have to revisit. I have to say it did make me feel proud and grateful that I was able to represent my school, team and instructors to the point where it can be identified. I had such a great time at Rodrigo's, Tara was a perfect training partner, she's a monster! I'll definitely be back for more!

By 6:30 it was time to train again and I was ready to go! Lana and I headed over to her gym Carlson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. I was pleasantly surprised to see that Monica Carrizal had also come to take the class with us. The class began similar to Rodrigo's in that they also give respect by bowing and lining up. This time I stood in front with the other purple belts. However, I was on the wrong end of the line and had to be pushed in the right direction. It seems as though I am always learning through trial and error. I think I finally got the swing of things and next time I'll be a pro.

Bruno taught the class which began with a typical warm up followed by pairing up into groups of three. Monica, Lana and I worked together on passing the open guard. The entire class consist of drilling. I was ecstatic to be drilling with such talented women. Then we did some positional sparring. Bruno was helpful and everyone at Carlson Gracie made me feel very welcome. I appreciate their hospitality and sharing their mats with me.

The only downside of this trip was while training, I re-injured my knee to the point where I will not be able to continue my tour of Texas. It has been two months since I injured it but I convinced myself that enough time had passed and it was healed. Obviously my brain lied to my body. These things happen and injuries just come with the turf. I'll have to postpone this tour for a bit, but as soon as I can I am hitting the road again!

Lana was an amazing host and I really enjoyed her company. We had a great time just hanging out and training. I can't wait to come back and train in San Antonio again. The training was top notch and I'd like to check out a few other schools that were recommended to me.

Thank you to Lana Hunter, Tara Talanco, Rodrigo Pinheiro Jiu-Jitsu, Carlson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu and everyone I met at both of these schools for making my experience a memorable one. I learned so much in such a short period of time. I was also reminded of how much I love BJJ! Training brings out the best in me and puts me in a great mood. The best part of this experience is that I have a renewed excitement for BJJ. I am eager to continue this tour, but in the meantime I'll have to just sit on the sidelines and focus on my photography while my knee heals. I saw great jiu-jitsu at both schools and have realized how important it is to find the academy, class structure, technical style and customs that best suit you. Everyone has different needs and some schools that are best for some are not right for someone else. To each their own. Until next time...

BJJ Tour of Texas-Texas Pride

2011-08-12T08:35:00.000-07:00

You'd never guess it but Hawaiians and Texans have a lot more in common than people think. Both states at some point in time were their own countries and perhaps that's the reason that Texans and Hawaiians are so openly proud to represent where they are from. No other states that I've been to seem to have the same level of pride. Texas is also the biggest state in the US. and said to be the same size of entire countries like France. Even though San Antonio is only an hour and a half from Austin, San Antonio is a very different place. It's strange to me how something can seem so familiar, but yet feel like worlds away. I am talking about the jiu-jitsu of course. How different can jiu-jitsu be if we all stem from the same source?

Day Two: August 7, 2011-Sunday afternoon was filled with an impromptu open mat with Lana Hunter and a few of her teammates at Carlson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu of Castle Hill. On short notice, five of us were able to make it out and spend the "holy" day choking and arm baring each other. Having the mats to ourselves was great! Lana and I reviewed some of the material from the seminar the day before. Which is something that I strongly recommend doing after a seminar so that what you learned doesn't just fall to the wayside. It also helps to have a great training partner like Lana to work with who can remember the details I quickly forgot. I can't thank Lana enough for setting up a last minute open mat session so we didn't feel deprived of jiu-jitsu for the day that usually has no classes.

After training, Lana and Will (her boyfriend) and I headed out to indulge in Texas's Best BBQ at Texas Pride BBQ which is owned and operated by my friend and fellow jiu-jitsu badass Tara Talanco. I'd been wanting to check the place out since we'd missed going out there last time we had Girls in Gis in San Antonio. It was a quick 25 min from Carlson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu to Texas Prides BBQ in Adkins Texas and well worth the drive. To be honest, I don't know what was better, the training session at Carlson Gracie jiu-jitsu or the BBQ at Texas Pride BBQ after. My taste buds were in heaven. The ribs were so tender they just fell off the bone. It was finger-licking good!

Texas Pride is not like your usual BBQ restaurant. It's an experience of it's own. I jokingly call it the Texas Pride Compound since it is equipped with a playground for the kids, a motorcycle shop, Tara's Market, a full stage and the newest edition, a Tattoo shop! I was lucky to have come out for the Grand Opening weekend of the Texas Pride Tattoo shop which has been running strong every day since it's launch on the 4th of August. If you are in the San Antonio area, you don't want to miss Texas Pride which will leave you full of great food, entertainment and maybe even a tattoo while you're there!

I ended the day in a food coma- Fat, dumb and happy! Training, BBQ and good friends-I couldn't of asked for a more perfect day!

A Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Tour of Texas

2011-08-06T17:24:00.000-07:00

Ever since I got back from Brazil last year, all I have talked about is going back. I never thought I could form such a strong connection to a place I only visited once. But I find myself haunted with recurring dreams of returning. I've been yearning to stroll along the pristine beaches, hang out with my friends again, enjoy the Brazilian lifestyle and of course train at one of the best academies in Rio--Gracie Tijuca. However, as I am constantly learning, things don't always go as planned, I realized I will probably have to put my dream of returning on hold for another year when I have more time. Things are hectic lately and between my business, school and all of my many projects it's hard to get away for long periods of time. To me, Brazil is not one of those places that you can just go visit for a few weeks. It's got to be at least a month to really soak in the Brazilian experience. So I guess I'll just have to keep dreaming about returning to Brazil for a while longer.

Then I began to think...What else can I do? Where can I go? Who can I see? And it hit me. I'll be honest, it isn't exactly my ideal vacation, but an adventure none-the-less. In efforts to appease my need to "escape" Austin and desire to shake things up, I've decided to embark on a "Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Tour of Texas" and document my adventures as I travel throughout the Texas triangle of Jiu-Jitsu.

My adventures began today in San Antonio at the Roberta Bernini seminar at Carlson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. It was a great seminar and she showed close to nine transitions to various different positions and submissions. I think she showed transitions to and from every position possible. She also showed a very advanced choke that I look forward to sharing when I get back home. Even though Roberta doesn't speak any english, the point definitely got across that she's a talented black belt with a big bag of tricks! It reminded me of being in Brazil were all the classes were taught in Brazilian Portuguese. She will be in the San Antonio area for the next few weeks training at Carlson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. If you are in the area I strongly recommend you check her out.

While I am in San Antonio for the next few days I look forward to training with my friends and badasses Lana Hunter of Carlson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu and Tara Talanco of Rodrigo Pinheiro Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Tomorrow Lana has set up an open mat for everyone at 2 pm @ Carlson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. Come and train if you are free! Then up to Dallas on Thrusday to train with the many talented women in the area and finally to Houston where I will end my journey at the Girls in Gis event on August 21st.

One of the most valuable lessons I learned last year traveling in South America is that sometimes not having a plan is the best plan. Not having a locked in itinerary kept things open for me to explore and allowed me to have different experiences that weren't mapped out. So I am not over planning this trip as I usually tend to do. Of course, I have a laundry list of people I want to see, train with and places I want to check out. But I don't really know what is in store for me. I can only hope that the experiences I have and the people I share them with will lead me to a new understanding and appreciation for Jiu-Jitsu, allow me to meet new friends and gain a new perspective of my life, let the adventure begin....

The Fearless Warriors of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu's Future

2011-08-03T08:00:00.000-07:00

"What do you photograph?" or "What is your favorite subject to photograph?"--These are the ongoing questions I've faced as a photographer. As I grow as a person, a Jiu-Jitsu practitioner and a photographer, the answer to those questions have also changed. In looking back, my photographic focus and muses have drastically altered over time. It was only a few years ago I had an "epiphany" that I could combine my passion for photography with my love for Jiu-Jitsu. It was just sitting right in front of me. Recently, to my surprise, even though I've photographed some of the top level competitors and MMA fighters, most of my inspiration comes from the fearless warriors of our future generation of Jiu-Jitsu practitioners--the youth.

With lots of practice, I've developed extremely accurate sense of timing in photographing BJJ and MMA. My sense of understanding for the movement of fighters is from my own experiences as an athlete. I can recognize what's coming next based on their technique. This has contributed tremendously to my success in a very difficult area of photography--sports photography. Which is an area I hope to continue to build a career in. Through practice and working to improve my photographic technical skills, I've noticed improvement in my work. Some of my most recent shots from the Lone Star Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation's Youth & Adult Texas State Championships are good examples of when my two passions come together.

At Lone Star Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation's Youth & Adult Texas State Championships, I was reminded of why I love to photograph children & teens competing in Jiu-Jitsu. They are some of the most fearless and technical warriors I've seen on the mats. Not only do I enjoy photographing them in action, I love to capture the raw emotions on their faces. It was truly amazing to see how they tore it up. If only I could of been in five places at one time. I found it to be extremely inspiring watching these kids and teens on the mats rolling against each other. You could tell that so much heart was put into every match.

When I was in Brazil last year, I meet quite a few black belts who have been training since childhood. In most cases they had been training with the same people for over a decade. It has been said that kid's minds are like sponges soaking up everything around them. I found this to be especially true for many of these black belts. To them Jiu-Jitsu seemed to be as natural of movements as walking. Even though Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu was introduced to the United States in the late 1970's, it's still not as common for American black belts to have begun their training as children. However, there is another generation among us. The UFC has been the catalyst for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in the US. The popularity of MMA fighting among this new generation has increased enrollment in Jiu-Jitsu classes all across the U.S. I am positive in time that the amazing instructors of today will breed a number of phenomenal American black belt All-Star in the years to come.

As a competitor, I can't help but genuinely admire the courage of these youth. I wish I could see the world through the eyes of a child. Why do our fears seem to grow bigger as we get older? Can fearlessness be taught or is it just an inherent personality trait? If you ask me, I believe that fear is the real culprit to success. It is fear that limits our capabilities and ultimately holds us back. Although easier said than done, by letting go of fear we can open doors and bring us closer to our true selves and natural abilities. We all have a warrior that lies within all of us, but it's only a few find the courage to bring it out!

Texas-Hot or Not?

2011-07-15T11:07:00.000-07:00

It's burning up in Texas and I am not just talking about the heat wave. BJJ is blowing up in Texas! Could it be the next hot spot for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu? Just looking around Austin, I can see obvious signs that a jiu-jitsu "invasion" is underway. For instance, within the past few years, there has been a huge increase in the number of schools opening all over Texas and the number of competitors at local tournaments has at least doubled. We also, for the first time ever, have a very accomplished black belt woman teaching in central Texas. The times are a changin'...

This invasion of jiu-jitsu in Texas has many benefits and I am doing my best to take full advantage of them. There have been back-to-back seminars with one talented black belt after another. First was the Leticia Ribeiro and Beatriz Mesquita seminar, then one with Fabiana Borges and most recently the Open Door seminar series by Gracie Legacy, Donald Park. The growth of jiu-jitsu in Texas is providing a great opportunity for all of us to come together, share our love of jiu-jitsu and unite the BJJ community.

Fabiana Borges Seminar-Austin, TX

On July 2, 2011, newcomer to Texas black belt Fabiana Borges, hosted a women's seminar in Austin at her academy Gracie Barra N. Austin. While most were off BBQing and celebrating the Fourth of July weekend with family and friends, twelve of us decided to take a break from the festivities to celebrate by spending it with each other and learning from Fabiana.

For only $35 we got a two-hour inside look into some of her style and technique. She jokingly called it "dangerous" to share her game. I particularly liked the choke she showed us. It was one that I hadn't ever seen from that position before. This was yet another eye opening experience for me. I won't get into any more details, because you just have to go find out for yourself. If you missed this chance to learn from Fabiana, you still can. She's an excellent teacher and she definitely knows her stuff when it comes to BJJ. She has women's classes every Friday from 7 to 8 p.m. for only $25. This class is open to all women from all schools. The location is Gracie Barra N. Austin at 8868 Research Blvd suite 608, Austin, TX 78758 (877) 946-2426. I strongly recommend you take advantage of having such a talented, accomplished and generous female black belt in our own backyard. I know I will and I hope you do too! Check out some of my photographs from this event @ Shama Ko Photography on Facebook.

Next up was the first of the Gracie Legacy Open Door Seminar Series held on July 9, 2011. Gracie Legacy, a newly established school in Austin, Texas, first Open Door Seminar series was a huge success. Black belt Donald Park is an incredibly talented competitor and instructor with fifteen years of experience in jiu-jitsu. I highly recommend that you check out one of the Gracie Legacy Open Door Serminars. The seminar was an incredible environment for jiu-jitsu and brought together students and instructors from all over Texas to the same mat. The overwhelming response from the first seminar is a sure sign of the success for the many seminars to come.

Fear not, if you couldn't make it this time, this is the first of many more seminars that will occur twice a month for the next few months. Gracie Legacy instructor Donald Park of the Gracie Humaitá team under David Adiv and Royler Gracie will be conducting these two-hour seminars at NO COST to the participants. Gracie Legacy encourages everyone from all schools including instructors and students to attend. To get a full recap and more information about this event and upcoming ones go to gracielegacy.com.

A BIG thank you to Fabiana Borges, Donald Park and the crew of Gracie Legacy! Let's go get our roll on!

The Girls in Gis building a community

2011-06-30T15:51:00.000-07:00

The past few weeks have been nothing but nonstop fun filled jiu-jitsu adventures! The most exciting thing that I did recently was attend a seminar with Leticia Ribeiro. I won't get into too much about the seminar because Fenom Project did an excellent job of that. You can check out all the details on their blog.

I will say that once again, I wasn't surprised when Leticia's seminar exceeded all of my expectations. Not only is Leticia is an amazing teacher with a wealth of knowledge, she is such a wonderfully generous and supportive person. I was able to visit her school, Gracie Tijuca in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and train with her partners. I learned directly from her instructor, Vini Aieta. I feel lucky to have gained some understanding of the love and support she must of had in her formidable years and continues to receive from her instructor and jiu-jitsu family at Gracie Tijuca. It is the same support she continues to share with her students and other women who share a mutual heartfelt dedication to jiu-jitsu.

A video from the seminar in Austin, Texas:

During Leticia's introduction, she made sure to emphasize the importance of women training with each other, supporting each other and building a community. I especially enjoyed hearing Leticia speak on a topic that is dear to my heart and something that I too feel is crucial to all of our success. Even though jiu-jitsu's popularity is on the rise and there are more women practicing the art and competing than ever, most schools still only have a handful of women continuously on the mats. That is why, I am extremely grateful to be a part of groups that encourage women to train with each other. Those types of groups--like Girls in Gis--bring together the community of female BJJ practitioners in Texas and surrounding areas.

This past Sunday, marked the sixteenth Girls in Gis event since its start in September of 2009. Although this past Girls in Gis event was a smaller event than usual--due to Father's Day-- 11 women and girls refused to miss out on a day of training, rolling and friendship at Texas Powerhouse gym in San Antonio, Texas. Typically Girls in Gis events average between 25 to 30 women and girls--and sometimes more. But the fact that 11 women and girls were in attendance on Father's day--and the fact that some traveled from as far away as Louisiana to be in attendance--is a testament to the increased presence of females in the community.

Over the past two years, Girls in Gis has become one of the most recognizable training groups in the BJJ community among females in Texas and spreading throughout the U.S. This is thanks to the innovative thinking of founder Ashley Nguyen. Aware of how important it is to train with partners her size and sex, she launched Girls in Gis about two years ago at her home gym of Elite MMA. This program has continued to provided an opportunity for women to meet in an environment other than at a tournament. These events also offer the opportunity to build friendships and camaraderie among each other. I find great pleasure in seeing how programs like Girls in Gis have impacted the community. I also enjoy seeing how it continues to strengthen the bond among female BJJ enthusiast on a state level and within smaller regions.

Girls in Gis mission statement:

"The purpose of Girls in Gis is to create a community of girls and women who train Brazilian jiu-jitsu and provide a fun, friendly environment for training. Girls in Gis was created out of participation in Landmark Education's Self Expression and Leadership Program. Brazilian Jiu-jitsu is based on leverage and technique, not strength and size, therefore it is designed perfectly for women who are usually smaller and weaker than their opponent. The number of women who train BJJ is still very small compared to the number of men that train. Most schools still only have a handful of women that train consistently which really limits the number of women training partners we have. By coming together from all schools we can train, learn and grow the sport for women everywhere."

Here's a video I found taken from the Girls in Gis Mohler training day made by a doting parent:

I feel very fortunate that we are luck to be a part of a rapidly growing group like Girls in Gis, which has a great assortment of kick a$$ gals that all share a genuine love for jiu-jitsu and a mutual respect for each other. Thank you Monica and Texas Powerhouse for hosting the event! I also feel extremely privileged to have had the opportunity to train with Leticia, and the talented women she brought with her like Bia Mesquita, Margaret Aase and Mazine Thylin. Also big thanks to Fenom Project for organizing the seminar.

The adventure continues with the Fabiana Borges BJJ seminar for women this weekend...stay tuned!

Gracie Self Defense w/ Relson Gracie & Phil Cardella

2011-06-18T12:06:00.000-07:00

I came across this article and video not to long ago again. It's been a while since I last saw it. It has some good information! Very helpful. Never hurts to learn more self defense! Check it out for your self...Relson Gracie self defense

Gracie Grappling Cup photos...

2011-06-13T14:23:00.000-07:00

Check out some shots from the Gracie Grappling Cup by Shama Ko Photography

Missing in Action...the cliff notes.

2011-06-08T19:05:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to post a little update on what I've been up to and where I've been. Not only have I disappeared from the blogging world the past month, but everything else has been put on hold to solely focus on preparing myself for the Mundials. As I've learned from the past, in preparing myself "right" for a tournament, I must drop everything and focus 100% on preparation physically and mentally. I don't know where to start...so much to go over. I guess there is no better place to start than from the most current.

I am super excited that Leticia Ribeiro and Beatriz Mesquita will we coming to my academy-Relson Gracie Jiu Jitsu Austin. I was lucky enough to catch her seminar last summer in Dallas. It's not one you want to miss. Seriously, $60 for a seminar with Leticia & Bia is a steal and totally worth it! Register at www.poweredbyshe.com

I competed last weekend @ the IBJJF World Championships. I lost my first match to Angelica Galvao. She is a fierce competitor and it was a pleasure to have competed with her. Big congratulations to her also for placing 1st in our division. I can honestly say I gave it my all and I prepared the best I could for this competition. With that, even though I didn't go home with a new shiny bling, I am very happy with my performance. There is nothing like losing a match when you know you sold yourself short...not for me this time. I walked away with a lot of new ideas of what I need to work on and how I can improve. After all that's what putting yourself out this is all about...learning and growing. As I don't have much time now, I'll blog all about it at a later time.

Let me see, what else....the Gracie Grappling Cup was a huge success! They had 2x as many competitors than last year. I didn't compete in this one, but I did have the pleasure of taking photos for the event. They are almost ready to view. I'll put up a link shortly.

Then there was Girls in Gis which was another success! We had twenty some ladies! Great turn out and I always love to train with the Dallas girls! You can check out the photos @ shamakophotography.
Big thanks to Tara Arrington, Kristine Felts and Alliance! I'll blog more about it soon also!

Well, there's a little recap. I am still alive and well if you were worried. I wish you all the best and keep an eye out for more to come! I promise it will be sooner than a month before I am on here again! Take care!