The Adventures of Shama Ko

Burning out at both ends...

2016-08-19T12:26:00.001-07:00

I never wanted to let anyone down in my life, especially myself. I always “put it all on the line” and ran a mile a minute. Needless to say, I always bit off more than I could chew and never sat still long enough to let my ass hit the chair. Sleep? I'll sleep when I am dead, I thought. I drank a pot of coffee a day and treated my body like a wasteland. I slept maybe 5 hours a night, when I was lucky. I was always running high stress mode so I had no appetite, I never ate and when I did it was whatever was most convenient. I drove my car into the ground driving 300-500 miles a week. My house was a disaster. My cats were neglected. I never made time for my friends or family. I never made time for myself. I never took care of myself. I was destitute. I poured every penny I had into chasing my dreams but I forgot about myself. I forgot the most important component.

It was just a matter of time for me. I lived like this for years None of us are invincible, but I thought I was. All of us can go from living our lives like "normal", then BAM! your life is turned upside down. Before you know it you are staring up at the world wondering how you have fallen so low. I never truly understood how quickly one can plummet to the bottom until I found out the hard way, as I usually do. I ignored all the warning signs. Not only that but I arrogantly gave the “finger” to everything and everyone that tried to warn me.

Now when you hit bottom, you can choose to sit at the bottom and feel sorry for yourself or begin that slow climb out of the crap hole you fell into. Which is easier? That is hard to say. It is not easy to sit on the bottom and let the darkness consume you, but climbing out sure as hell isn't easy either. Either way the choice is your own.

For me, I sat for a while and let the darkness take hold. Then I realized it was all lies. Once you start to feel sorry for yourself it is a vicious cycle. You lie to yourself like crazy. You find more and more, and countless reasons to kick yourself in the ass and keep yourself down there. Happiness, what the hell is that!!! You give up on any hope you have of anything ever changing. You believe that your life is a piece of shit and it will never go back to what it was. Because of a combination of horrible anti-seizure drugs, I hit the lowest of lows. I was 100% ready to check out. Why not? I was already out, so F..it, why not make it permanent?

But then I snapped out of it. First, I got off the drugs that depressed me and made me suicidal. Then I realized something, if I was supposed to check out, it would have already happened. When I had my first grand mal seizure I remember my thoughts before I blacked out on the mats were, "Well if this is how I die, then at least I am doing what I love." I was surprised when I woke up. There was a reason I did wake up again. What is that reason? Well I intended to spend the rest of my life trying to figure that out.

Adventures in Colorado Day 2: Next Time Hope for Sunshine

2013-06-12T07:50:00.000-07:00

My first day in Denver, I mostly saw the inside of the arena. When I finally went outside, the sky was blue, the sun was out and the weather was perfect. Everything was crystal clear and beautiful. The air felt crisp and refreshing. Then the next morning, the day of the first GIG-Denver, I woke to a “winter wonderland” of snow.

Any other time I would have been ecstatic to go play in the snow and eat snowflakes. But NOT today! My desire to venture up to the snow capped mountains and play in the snow had manifested, but unfortunately the snow was brought to me. I didn’t know what to do. This wasn’t just snow, it was a blizzard! I never had a blizzard to deal with during a GIG event in TX, thunder storms maybe. I wanted to cry but didn’t. I put my big girl pants on and with the support of Seth Daniels, Lana Hunter and James Bollinger, the show went on as planned.

Once we were on the road, the hazards of the situation became much more real. The roads were slick and dangerous. Thank god Seth was driving us. I wouldn’t know what to do if I were behind the wheel. The usual fifteen minute drive took us forty-five minutes. Once I saw how bad it was, I didn’t expect anyone to show up, but I was proven wrong.

Thirty-seven women and girls bravely ventured out into the blizzard to join us. The event was amazing! It changed my perspective on a whole different level. Seeing those smiles and hearing that laughter throughout the event as girls made new friends made it all worthwhile. Although I will admit I was disappointed that the weather had prevented the ninety-seven girls who registered from showing, but it wasn’t about the number of girls that were there. It was about the experience of those who had joined us had and how this event had helped to break down the barriers for the females in the Colorado BJJ community in a way that had never happened before. That was priceless.

Truth be told, this was also my first experience at a female event outside of Texas. I walked in blind not knowing what I was getting us into as I had never been to Colorado before nor had I ever trained with girls from the state. GIG had never hosted an event outside the state of Texas and Colorado had never had an all-female event like GIG Denver Special event. I couldn’t have been happier with the outcome.

Afterwards, all I wanted to do was to play like a five year old in the snow. I made a snow angel, but failed at making a snowman. I got altitude sickness, but survived! So in the end I got both my wishes, to play in the snow and to bring GIG to Colorado. Boom!

None of this would have been possible had it not been for awesome people like Seth Daniels, Lana Hunter, James Bollinger, Milly Malloy, Rossie Snow, Elizabeth Tran, Easton Training Center, our sponsors and all of the amazing girls of GIG in TX and CO. This was yet another historical moment for women in the art. And that is just the beginning.

More details about GIG Denver Special Event can be found at www.girls-in-gis.com/blog/girls-in-gis-denver-colorado-recap-and-photos/

Adventures in Colorado Day 1: Exploring Unfamiliar Territory and History is Made

2013-06-11T15:36:00.000-07:00

My escapes to Denver this year were exactly what I needed. Although my trips entailed more work than play and little to no sleep, there is nothing more freeing to me than breaking the cycle of normalcy and stepping outside my comfort zone. There were a lot of firsts on this adventure, which has now opened new doors. Perhaps I am a gambler or believer or maybe just a fool. But one thing I am certain about is that no matter how bumpy the ride, in the end I am usually pleasantly surprised by the outcome and if not, I see it as just another lesson learned.

The very first trip in my life to Denver, Colorado was the weekend of February 17^th and 18^th. The weekend started off as I landed around 11:00 pm Friday night. Lana had flown in a few hours earlier and was patiently waiting for my flight to come in. We met up in the baggage claim and snapped our first Colorado photo! And the adventure began.

As soon as we stepped outside of the airport terminal it became very apparent that it was in fact still very much winter. The temperature was about in the 20’s. Needless to say we were freezing. Being from Hawaii and only living in Southern states, I am still amused by simple things like snow on the ground and being able to see my breath. Let’s just say winter is still a novelty.

The next day started off at around 6:30 am which seemed much too early after going to bed at three o’clock am. Reluctantly, I rolled out of bed; we grabbed some coffee and headed out to the F2W Tournament of Champions VII. I was super pumped and ready to roll!

This was the first BJJ tournament I’d ever photographed outside of Texas and the set up was just like most local tournaments. Only this time I didn’t know most of the competitors, coaches or referees. But I was ecstatic to see a few old friends among the crowd and finally be able to put faces with voices of those I had spoken to before my trip. But what made it even more perfect was having Lana Hunter and Gaby Muller with me all the way from Texas.

I knew the scene was growing, but I was completely blown away by the size and strength of the Colorado BJJ community. The level of talent especially impressed me. One of the fun parts about photographing Jiu-Jitsu is getting to see the different strengths each region has. For instance the level of Judo implemented in this tournament was unlike any I’ve seen in TX. There was this itty bitty little girl that was legit. I had so much fun watching my new friends and TX friends compete! Everyone was so welcoming and I immediately felt at home and as though I was with family.

The night ended with one of the coolest things I’ve ever witnessed. Something I thought would never happen. Something that Dana White used to be very much opposed to, the first UFC female bout- Rhonda Rousey Vs. Miesha Tate. The fight ended fast and with what has since become Rhonda’s signature move-the judo arm bar. This was perhaps one of the nastiest arm bars I’ve ever seen in progress. But it wasn’t so much the outcome of the fight that mattered most.

These two tremendously talented athletes showcased their abilities and made history. They opened the doors for female fighters and earned respect as athletes in an otherwise male dominated sport. I was inspired and moved. The symbolism and timing was perfect since the first Girls in Gis event outside the state of Texas was about to happen in Denver the following day.

If can, can. If no can, no can.

2012-11-29T11:31:00.000-08:00

It’s been quite some time since I’ve been able to blog. Life got ahead of me and I had to play some catch up. A lot has been going on. There’s lots of more stuff to write about, but that will come soon. In the meantime, take a trip with me back to paradise…

I went home to Hawai`i in September for a few weeks to be a guest and photograph my best friend’s wedding on Maui. Of all the Hawaiian Islands, Maui is the one I’ve spent the least amount of time on. This was my first real adventure on Maui. I was so lucky to have stayed in Haiku which is kind of like the North shore on Oahu with nice surf, old style Hawai’I wooden porch houses and friendly laid-back type people. I had the most awesome host. The first morning when I woke up after 17 hours of traveling, I walked outside and heard roosters crowing, smelled sweet plumeria and ginger and felt the cool ocean breeze against my face. Immediately I knew I was home. Life moves slower in the islands. Why rush? No worries. Just cruise. If can, can. If no can, no can. Don’t sweat the small stuff. Enjoy every minute…that’s what it’s all about.

Maui was beautiful and time moves even slower than it does on Oahu. I really felt like I was living in the moment all the time. Hours felt like days. It was a nice change. Instead of documenting events, I was living life and making memories. I laughed so much and enjoyed spending time with my extended family and being a part of my girl’s wedding. I couldn’t be happier seeing my friend marry a guy that is obviously a soul mate and understands how lucky he is to have her. I know they will have many happy years together.

I always love spending time with other people’s family. I find it interesting to see the similarities and differences between my family and my friends. Perhaps it is the similarities that make us friends to begin with. We understand the same type of “crazy”. Ha! Ha! I love how over the years, my close friend’s families have become extensions of my own. They are my family too.

I had so much fun at the Dragon Fruit Farm! A strange looking fruit that tastes amazing! I got to aqua ball! What the heck is an aqua ball? It’s one of me most fun things to do on Maui! Check it out…

Check out the video Aqua Ball

After a week of gallivanting around Maui, aquaball’n, watching my girl get hitched and kick’n it with my extended family, it was time for me to see my own family on Oahu. It was a quick thirty min. flight from Maui to Oahu. Flying into Honolulu, the island and high rises looked huge in comparison to anything on Maui.

It had only been nine months since I was last back home on Oahu. It seemed like much longer than that. Usually I take a good month or so to spend at home, but this time I only had a week. My usual “go with the flow attitude” wasn’t going to work if wanted see family and do some of my favorite things. This part of the trip was about reconnecting with family, my roots and birth place. It’s always refreshing to go home, recharge and put things back into perspective. I got to camp on the beach, spend time with some of my family and friends, hike, surf, swim, relax and lay out. It was perfect. I only wish it was longer.

I always learn a lesson after returning from home. This time the lesson was to realize what is really important and that life goes fast. We don’t know when this crazy ride will end. That’s why we have to cherish each day and be grateful for everything and everyone in our life. Be thankful year round! Hope you had an awesome turkey day! Aloha!

One Love. One Family. One Legacy

2012-08-17T10:37:00.000-07:00

It is hard to believe that it has been almost nine years since I fell in love with BJJ on the mats at Relson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. The support and insight of my old instructors, Phil Cardella and Christy Thomas, helped make me who I am today and guided me to where I am in life. As I look back at my experiences, some of the best days of my life were spent on those mats. But the most important lesson I learned from Phil and Christy was to love Jiu-Jitsu. This is what continues to carry me forward through my Jiu-Jitsu journey.

It has been over a year now since I went looking for a new school. I spent six months exploring other schools in the area and meeting new people in the community. What I’ve realized over the past year, is that no matter where we come from, how rich or poor, young or old or whatever are our goals, it is our love for the sport, art and science that unites us. Jiu-Jitsu is that link that connects all of us from our otherwise separate lives. We are all a part of that community. By supporting each other and working together, we can help the sport flourish even more.

I think the strength and potential of our community starts within the confines of our homes, or in this case, our academies. It is the lessons and values we learn in the home that cultivate the type of community around us. By having a strong family unit and community supporting us, the opportunities and potential for growth are endless. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is what it is today because of a family. Each members of the Gracie family have contributed to the growth and evolution of BJJ. By stepping on those mats each day, we are all a part of that family and legacy. We all shape the future of tomorrow.

Now I’ve found my home at Gracie Humaitá Austin. I chose to make this my academy for several reasons. It was made up of a combination of some of my BJJ family, I knew the training was top notch, and most importantly, I believed in something that was just starting to form. I could see that this academy had great potential to be revolutionary and most of all, I wholeheartedly believed in the potential of us all and how we could impact and shape the future of the sport and art. I knew that this was the place where I could reach my maximum potential alongside teammates. Together we would bring each other up the ranks and learn how to become better people in the process. Because we all came from different places, we had even more to offer each other. I had no doubt that together we could all achieve our goals and reach our fullest potential.

In less than a year after starting at Gracie Humaitá Austin, together with my instructors, team and family, we are cultivating a place for world class training, building a strong team of competitors and a solid foundation for a community that extends beyond our academy walls. The strength in the foundation we are building together will help flourish the sport and art in a positive direction while preserving the tradition and legacy of the Gracie way. Everything I saw before is coming true now.

I got my first taste of Gracie Humaitá straight from the source in Brazil two years ago. To this day, I still remember so much of what I learned not only about BJJ but also about life and the importance of family. Even though the classes were all in Portuguese, I didn’t find this to be a problem. It wasn’t the words that told the story. It was the actions. I studied the movement and how it looked when it worked. I learned more in a month than I had in a year. I also learned about the culture of Jiu-Jitsu and the importance of family. Although I couldn’t understand what they said, I could tell how much they loved, respected and supported each other based on body language and their interactions with each other. I could see the level of pride they took in their team, family and home. How they helped each other and worked together to make each other better on and off the mats. Although I wasn’t on their team, they took me in as their own and looked out for me when I was in Brazil. It didn’t matter what the patch on my back said, it was that universal passion and love for BJJ that made me part of their family.

Little did I know that two years later that source would be brought to me.

Paulo Brandao or otherwise known as Coelho (rabbit), is the newest edition to Gracie Humaitá Austin family. He comes to us from Manaus Amazonas Brazil. His experience is like no other Black Belt in Texas. He earned his black belt eighteen years ago alongside legends like Saulo Ribeiro and Vini Aieta on November 27, 1995. He is a world champion competitor and a world class instructor. He is undoubtedly the real deal.

I’ve learned a tremendous amount in such a short time from him. I can only imagine where we will all be in a few months as we all grow and evolve together. We are very fortunate to have him a part of our academy and our family. I’ve trained with Donald Park for over three years and know the true value of his instruction and leadership abilities. I am confident that all of us together and with the support of one another, can evolve into a new era and further the legacy and traditions of the Gracie way. The sky’s the limit.

Having pride in our homes and our families is crucial to the success of the family unit and community at large. Loving and respecting each other is part of that. I feel honored to train with some of the most talented and determined men and women in Texas. We have the makings for one of the strongest teams and women’s teams in Texas, not only because of our talent, but also because of the sheer determination and unifying love we all share for BJJ.

We are sending a few teammates up to the Europa Torque Tour this weekend. I know they will represent us well. Good luck everyone! We are all behind you!

Just like in Brazil, in Hawai’i there is a unique sense of family that brings communities together as cohesive units. Everyone helps out each other and looks after one another. We are more than neighbors, friends or family, we are an ohana. The beauty of ohana is that it can extend beyond blood relationships to include everyone who shares a common bond. Jiu-jitsu is the bond for us.

The bond is a spider web that starts in our “homes” and in our hearts. It weaves its way around the world uniting the lives of many. Thanks to the Internet, UFC and those that work hard to contribute to the community to make the sport progressive, the reach and connection is even further than it ever was before. No matter where we train, whom we train with or what team we proudly represent. We are all a part of something bigger than ourselves. We are bringing a sport and art to the front lines, building a community and shaping history. We are all family because we share a love for BJJ. We love it with all our hearts. It’s in our blood. We live for it. It’s who we are.

A Postcard From Over The Edge...

2012-08-10T12:22:00.002-07:00

As a kid I always loved going on “road trips”, but the only problem was that I lived on an island. Sometimes my family and I would go to the North Shore of Oahu, which is about an hour away from Honolulu. In Hawai`i, one hour translates to six. It’s all a matter of perspective. I never thought I’d get my fill of road trips and then along came the summer 2012.

For the past few months I’ve pretty much lived out of my car. I’ve traveled all over Texas this summer as I had intended to do last summer. Except this time, I wasn’t on a BJJ (training) tour of Texas. It was traveling to document BJJ & MMA. Over the course of the past few months, I’ve blown through Dallas, Houston, Killeen and San Antonio countless times. My poor lil’ old car has put in some serious miles this summer trying to keep up with the BJJ and MMA explosion in Texas. The rising temperatures and gas prices have coincided with the growth of the BJJ & MMA community here in Texas. It warms my heart to see how Jiu-Jitsu and MMA has continued to spread and impact more people’s lives.

Even though I love BJJ with all my heart, I always felt like something was wrong with me because I didn’t geek out and watch BJJ videos compulsively like some enthusiasts do. Then at this year’s Mundials, I finally got in touch with my inner BJJ junkie. At first, I was really sad about not going to compete at the Mundials. This year was the first time I sat at home and watched the Mundials from afar but little did I know how much more I could fall in love with BJJ by sitting on my butt 2,000 miles away from the action. Much to my surprise, I was glued to the screen watching the Mundials every free moment I had. One hour would unexpectedly turn into four or five. It was then that I realized that no sane person would watch that much BJJ, I must really love it! I became that overzealous BJJ fan and subjected social media to my rants and obsessive updates. That was just the beginning.

I recently returned to training again after slightly re-injuring my knee in June. It was just a tremor compared to the massive attack of April. I took precautions this time and took a month and a half off training to only focus on physical therapy. I have to be careful now, because I can’t afford to be on crutches again, especially not during the busy BJJ tournament season.

Over the past few months I have continued to watch and photograph between 10-20 hours a week of live BJJ at tournaments, MMA fights and classes at Gracie Humaita Austin. I’ve also spend 15-20 hours a week editing photos. I never thought that watching BJJ would really do me that much benefit without practicing it, but I was wrong. It was how I’ve been watching it, that has changed things for me.

Each time I return to training it’s been different. This time I think I came back extremely ready and focused. After the Leticia Ribeiro Women’s Grappling camp, I was pumped up and ready to train. Instead of training on the mats, I’ve been doing it in my mind. I’ve taken on a new outlook and gained a new understand for the movement behind BJJ by photographing it. By taking on a fresh perspective, I’ve expanded my awareness some. Sitting and watching is good, but chasing the action behind the camera is what makes the difference for me.

As a photographer, I am always hunting for that extraordinary moment that shows the raw emotion and captures the essence of the split second victory shot. In order to get it, I turn to my BJJ knowledge to predict the possible sequences of movements and directions the competitors may move for a submission or position. But not all matches can be predicted. I definitely have been caught off guard by some.

Texas has some very talented athletes of all ages and sexes, but my favorite divisions are the kids and teens. It’s amazing how technical they are and how precise they are in their delivery at such a young age. It’s absolutely beautiful! The future of BJJ is bright because of these kids and teens.

Lately I’ve been studying the movement of BJJ in order to get the best shots for my clients. The added bonus is that I’m learning more about Ju-Jitsu in the process. I am starting to see angles, lines and shapes in the movements and realizing that how well you can draw along the lines and make the angles determines the effectiveness of a move. This new phase is the coming together of my artistic and athletic sides. I’m excited to see what’s in store next.

The BJJ summer tournament season isn’t quite over and I’m not ready to tap yet. I am sure I have more lessons to learn and adventures to be had. Check out some of my latest work at www.mymeanstreak.com

Leticia Ribeiro Women's Grappling Camp is coming to Arlington Texas

2012-06-26T17:22:00.001-07:00

Leticia Ribeiro is among one of the most influential and accomplished women in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. She is not only known for her seven World Championship titles and her place in the International Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation Hall of Fame, but also for being the head coach of one of the most successful women’s team ever known in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu: the Gracie Humaita Women’s Team.

As a team the Gracie Humaita women’s team has earned multiple first place wins at World Championships and is comprised of several top level world champions, including Penny Thomas, Bia Mesquita and Carol Vidal.

Last year Ribeiro, Thomas, Mesquita traveled to Northern California and then to Southern California for their first series of Leticia Ribeiro Women’s Grappling Camps in the United States. Both of which were a huge success. A record number of sixty women attended the San Francisco women’s camp. They traveled from as far away as Hawaii, Canada, Michigan, Texas and Arizona. The camp was soon followed earlier this year by Leticia Ribeiro’s Los Angeles Women’s Grappling Camp which included seventy participants.

On June 29th Ribeiro will return to Texas for her first camp with two of her multiple World champion black belts, Beatriz Mesquita and Carol Ann. The Leticia Ribeiro Women’s Grappling Camp will be held at Alvarez Brazilian Jiu Jitsu located at 1114 W. Harris Rd Arlington, Texas on June 29^th-July 1^st.

Texas has a fast-growing community and a rising number of talented female athletes. And the anticipated turnout at the Leticia Ribeiro Women’s Grappling Camp will likely prove that Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is most certainly gettin’ bigger in Texas.

For more information on the camp visit Fenom Kimonos www.fenomkimonos.com

Buenos Aires-The Europe of South America

2012-06-11T00:04:00.000-07:00

I have been really itching for an adventure. I think I am overdue, but I have so much going on now it may have to wait until later this year. I hear South America calling my name again. But another part of me wants to venture west and go check out the Polynesian Islands. Either way, I need to explore somewhere and get in some beach time. Until then, I thought I'd take a step back in time and relive the beauty, culture and mystifying city of Buenos Aires, Argentina.

When was I booking my flight to South America in 2010, it was my goal to visit two to three different countries since I was already going to be in the area. A good friend of mine, Amber, had spent an extended period of time in Buenos Aires a few years prior. While she was there she completely fell in love with the city and found her true passion-pole dancing. So I decided to go to Buenos Aires and see what the city had to offer. I booked a flight directly from Austin, TX to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil then to Buenos Aires, Argentina and back to Austin. I really had no idea what I was getting myself into, but Buenos Aires was even more amazing then I imagined it to be. The culture, people, architecture, history and food were like no place I have ever been to.

I am kind of a fly by night type of gal when it comes to traveling. I love to travel, but hate airports. I try to spend as little time in them as possible. I consider myself to have become a little too much of a "casual" traveler. I don't stress about being at the airport in enough time and I also typically don't do much or any research on where I am traveling to. I think this gives me the chance to explore it for myself. However, sometimes my nonchalant attitude and lack of planning can backfire on me.

After the perfect tropical climate of Rio de Janeiro, Argentina was a harsh reminder that it was actually winter in South America. This of course, was not something that I had researched when buying the ticket. I guess I just assumed that Buenos Aires would be a tropical climate like Rio. In the end, I did luck out, because a week before my arrival in Buenos Aires, it was much colder (20-40 degrees), than it was when I arrived (50-60 degrees). So the few cold weather articles of clothing I packed, just in case, did in fact come in handy.

When I told my friend Jordan about my trip, he told me about a few Argentina friends he made while visiting Buzios Brazil. He introduced me to his friend Marcelo via Facebook and I couldn't be happier when he offered me a place to stay. I was thrilled to be staying in the home of native born Argentinians who knew Buenos Aires like the back of their hand. I could not have dreamed of having better hosts.

The first morning after my arrival, I awoke to a five-star treatment. Although both of my hosts had already ventured off to work, they had set out a "traditional" Argentinian breakfast and map of the city for me. I especially liked the alfajores. The night before they had filled my head with ideas of what to do with the four days I had in the city. I wanted to take a tour on a double decker bus. However, I was rather unsuccessful in this attempt. I couldn't find the right bus stop, and crossing the language barrier was rough. When I finally found the bus stop, it took me at least five minutes of bantering back and forth with the driver to realize that it was too late for me to jump on the tour and I'd have to attempt it another day.

So I decided to get on the subway and go to the center of the city and find the market I'd heard of. But of course I couldn't read the signs and ended up on the opposite side of town in a local neighborhood that not many tourists venture into. I was starving, so I decided to grab something to eat and wanted to sit down to re-group and figure out how to get where I wanted to go. I was shocked by how many American fast food companies had taken over the city. I think I saw more McDonald's restaurants in Buenos Aires than in Austin. Marcelo jokingly called them American Embassies.

I choose to eat at a small local restaurant and then jumped back on the subway in the right direction. When I emerged from the subway, I was in awe of the beautiful architecture. I couldn't stop looking up. The buildings were beautiful and the details were so intricate. It felt like I'd crossed the continent to Europe.

The market was huge! It stretched across at least ten-fifteen blocks long. You could buy anything from fresh fruit and veggies to robotic toys. Perhaps the most interesting part of this market was that it was in an outdoor mall that housed some of the world’s top designer high end boutiques. It was a really bizarre contrast between the poor people selling their goods to eat on the sidewalk and the extremely rich shopping boutiques. This was a direct example of the state of the economy and division of classes in Buenos Aires after the crash in 2001.

In the United States, poor homeless people push K-Mart shopping carts, in Buenos Aires I saw a man using a rickety old handmade cart pulled by a donkey used to haul the "treasures". I was told by my hosts that some people lost everything in the crash. Those that were already poor became deprived. However, the people in Buenos Aires have gotten creative in hustling for cash to survive. Some people ride the subway all day and push merchandise on you by plopping it down on your lap hoping you’ll buy it or the street performers would charge money for photos.

After wondering around the market, I decided to take some photos. Then I came across a protest. Although I couldn't understand the issue that they were protesting, I found the energy to be captivating. Perhaps this is because it wasn't that long ago, protesting was illegal. I can't imagine not being able to speak out against injustices, especially in a city that has endured some of the most horrifying injustices because of the government. Our freedom of speech in the United States is something that I think we all take for granted. The radical in me had to follow along and snap a few shots.

My first day in Buenos Aires was filled with failed attempts, but my relaxed Carioca attitude kept me flowing with it despite constant setbacks. Although it wasn't the most productive day, I did succeed in taking in the city and found my own adventures despite being lost and walking in circles for hours.

Photos from the 1st day in Buenos Aires:

Keep Watering Your Plant

2012-05-29T07:33:00.001-07:00

A friend of mine, Mike was recently in town for the weekend. I hadn't seen him in like three years since he moved to San Francisco and we hadn’t talked much during that time either. Although I've been feeling really low energy lately, I agreed to go out with him and see his friend Mel the DJ. This just so happened to be the same day Adam Yauch, from the Beastie Boys died. As a tribute to Yauch, Mel played Beastie Boys songs all night long. It was a nice trip down memory lane.

It’s interesting to me how I may not speak to a friend for months or years, but when we reconnect we are going through the same phases. Mike and I were having a discussion about life and he said something to me that really helped me put things back in perspective. He said that life is like a plant and you have to water it to make it grow. Over the past few years I’ve become a 100% a believer in what he was talking about, I just need to hear it again.

A few years ago I was associated with a tragic and horrifying experience which unexpectedly brought hopefulness and change to my life in an unimaginable way.

I’ve worked as a photographer off and on for my whole adult life. It’s a passion I’ve had since I was seventeen. Over the years I’ve gone through various phases of my career. Sometimes I’ve been more serious about it than others.

Six years ago, in 2006, I was really motivated and would take any photography job regardless of the pay just to get the experience in the field. I was working non-stop for pennies or for free. I’d photograph anything to get my foot in the door and build my portfolio.

During that time I photographed an album cover in Austin for some small local band with not a whole lot of cash. I only charged them $150. Little did I know at the time, I had taken a photo that would be invaluable to the world four years later.

As time went on, I soon grew discouraged with working for way too little pay and didn’t feel like I was moving forward. Unfortunately the “doubt” demons won and I basically put my camera down for close to three years. I then experienced some of the roughest times I’ve ever had which also led to some of the most inspiring and progressive periods in my life. My heart had been broken, I fell on my face, bumped my butt on the bottom a few times, picked myself up, finally began to believe in myself again and rebuild my life.

Throwing myself into hard training for the Pan Ams and Worlds is what got the through the worst of my rough patches in early 2009. Gracie Jiu-jitsu is what led my way out of a long funk I’d been in and helped me cope with the despair of going through a hard break up with my ex-boyfriend of twelve years. My self-confidence and self-esteem was in the crapper after the break up, but GJJ helped rebuild my broken state.

Much to my surprise, I went on to win the Pan Ams in 2009. This was the first time I really started to believe in myself again and realize what I am truly capable of accomplishing if I put my whole heart, mind, body and soul into it. I had done more than I ever imagined I could and I went on to place second in the Worlds against Sofia Amarante. Words can’t describe how much this lifted my spirits and opened my eyes.

By 2010, I had almost completely restricted my life around training GJJ. I was 100% focused and dedicated. Although my life was moving in a positive direction, it wasn’t perfect.

I was working for a major insurance company. My job was painfully boring and unrewarding. It paid the bills and that’s about it. I hated everything about it. It was a toxic environment and just walking into the building put me in a foul mood. I was unfulfilled in cubical world with the other office droids. As each day passed, I felt increasingly trapped as I gazed out the big glass window. Freedom was staring me in the face but that glass barrier was there to remind me I was stuck. I felt like I died a little each day.

It was one of those jobs that suckered you in with the perks; on site health clinic for only $15 a visit, on site full gym for $25 a month, tuition reimbursement, massage therapist on site for $15 a visit, health, dental and life insurance for part time employees, etc. The perks were too good to move on and let this dead-end job go. I justified it by thinking I was only working part time and it was allowing me to still train full time for competitions. I’d be an idiot to let go of a job like this.

In those three years I took a break from photography, I didn’t miss photography even though it had once given my life direction and brought me so much happiness. I wasn’t sure if I’d ever pick it back up again.

And that’s when a small private plane flew into the IRS building in Austin, and changed my life's direction forever.

IRS Building Austin, TX

I was sitting in my cubical when the office gossip swept over the office like a tsunami. A plane had flown into a building? Landed on Mo-Pac Expressway? A house was on fire? The media hadn’t yet figured out what was going on. We all sat at the edge of our seats wondering if it was a terrorist attack or an accident, while we continued answering insurance claims.

Not long after, it was determined that a man had flown a private plane into the IRS building and that he had also set his own house on fire. Then a "manifesto" was found online detailing why he had done what he did. It was his final protest against tax harassment which caused his suicidal crash and the death of an IRS employee. Even in knowing all of this, there still wasn’t a photo or name released for the pilot.

A few hours passed and I got a call from the assistant editor at the Austin American Statesman asking if they could use a photo of mine of some band for a feature article. Without thinking or asking more questions I agreed to let them use my photo for the story, no compensation was offered for my photo. I didn’t ask because I was just happy to have a published photo with the Statesman. I assumed the photo had no value and it was just some band that did something interesting.

After I hung up with the Statesman, it all clicked, had I just been taken? I asked a co-worker that had been following the story, if they had a photo up for the pilot yet and he said no. I waited a few more minutes and the sure enough the Statesman had my photo front page. There was Joe Stack the pilot of the crashed plane, with photo credits to Shama Ko Photography. That was my Holy Crap moment! I had no idea what was to come next, no-one could have predicted it.


New York Post-Joe Stack

Next thing I know I got a call from Inside Edition, CNN, ABC, MSNBC and Fox News, followed by every major local, national and international press outlets you can think of in radio, television and print. I immediately asked to leave work. For the next seven hours my phone was blowing up. I was the only link to the story. I had the only existing photo of the pilot at the time. If the Statesman had not found that photo in their archives, none of this would have happened. Things got so out of hand that I couldn’t answer all the calls. I had no idea about the value of my photo. This wasn’t something they teach you in school. I had no idea what I was doing. I’d never negotiated usage of my photos on such a large scale.

After speaking to the editor at the Austin American Statesman he gave me some good advice, apologized for the mix up and offered to pay me for the photo they had used.

I didn’t have much time to decide who to represent me. I knew I couldn’t do this on my own. Everything was moving very fast and it was overwhelming. My head was spinning out of control. I thought about it as long as I could, which was only a moment, and decided to call in the big boys at Getty Images to represent me, and negotiate on my behalf with the media.

It was a strange feeling to profit from such a horrible tragedy. I felt guilty, like I should give the money to his family or the victim's family. In some weird way, I felt like I was responsible for it happening when I had nothing to do with it at all. I didn’t feel good about taking any money for the photo, until my mother reminded me that I deserved it. This was my pay it forward coming full circle. All that hard work I did years before finally caught up and in a very tragic and ironic way I was watching my plant grow out of the ashes. So I decided to water my life plant and do something I always wanted to but never had the money to do before, go to Brazil and train with one of the best women in the world, Leticia Ribeiro at a camp that happened to be scheduled a few months later.

Although things didn’t go as planned and the camp was cancelled, I still decided to go to Brazil by myself. Through my experiences in Rio de Janeiro, I blossomed even more. I took on a new situation by myself and had an amazing time. Going to Brazil was a pivotal point in my life and my journey of self-discovery. In Brazil, I took lots of amazing photos, met amazing people and was inspired by everything around me. After a month in Rio, I came back to the States with a golden tan and a new understanding of who I am and what I wanted to do. I decided the whole experience was a sign that I need to get back into photography. I decided to return to school and study photography to further my career and finally restructure and invest in my photography company.

Sometimes unexpected things happen in this world that we don’t understand, but I’m starting to see that everything has some kind of meaning or purpose. Just because things don’t go as planned, doesn’t mean you should give up on something you believe in or desire. Hard work and not giving up are the keys to making anything happen.

In some ways I feel that this tragedy provided me with an opportunity to be reborn and connected with a part of myself that was missing. Revitalizing this passion and love in my life that has brought me even more happiness than I thought I could ever have. Since then, I’ve combined my two biggest passions, GJJ and photography with Mean Streak Photography. It’s strange how life changes and one of the only things that stays constant is our love, for what is truly meant to be.

Mind vs. Body-Frenemies Unite for the Common Good

2012-04-23T16:26:00.000-07:00

The body has its way of slamming on the breaks and bringing your world to a screeching halt when it needs to be heard. To some it may seem like you've been blindsided, especially when you've ignored the warning signs like I did.

I consider myself to be a pretty intuitive and in tune with my body, but I realized lately that I have some really selective hearing combined with a really stubborn nature. I really am my father's daughter. However, no matter how stubborn and abusive I can be to my body it isn’t long before it throws a wrench in the gears and I have no other choice but to slow down and play by the rules.

I realize now that my mind has been telling me lies like: “It's normal that your knee pops" or "Shut up and don't be such a biatch, you stupid knee! “ Meanwhile my body has been pleading "No!!! Listen to me! Listen to me! One more time is closer to your last! Warning! Warning!”

This battle between my mind and my body has been going on for close to ten months. Finally, last week my body got my undivided attention. Of course, only I could injure my knee in the most classic "Peter Griffin" fashion.

It was really very simple. All I was doing was sitting in guard and when I went to move, I rolled over my knee and it popped again. But this time it didn't immediately pop back in like it usually does. To make matters worse, as I reached back to drag myself away I heard my thumb make a loud crack followed by horrendous pain. The most embarrassing part was this happened during the instructional portion of class and I was the "dummy".

I knew something was wrong after I tried to brush it off and keep going, but I was quickly pounded by a monstrous wave of pain radiating throughout my body. My knee was locked bent and hurt no matter how I rested it. My teammates later told me I looked like I was "giving birth" based on my facial expressions and cries of agony. I’ve never had a baby, and I hope it isn’t that bad, but this was the most excruciating pain I've ever experienced. I felt like my knee was hanging on by a twisted and mangled thread. I could not walk.

I don't know how I slept through the night without pain meds, but when I woke up the next day I was at a level 8-9 in pain. My whole leg was throbbing and my knee was destroyed. I couldn't walk. I had to scoot around my house in an office chair because I didn't have crutches. I called around and everyone told me to go to the ER. I went and it ended up being a complete waste of time and money. I got some crutches, a leg brace, X-Rays and pain meds and I was sent home.

Then, still in misery, I made the mistake of taking a trip down memory lane and decided to watch one of my old matches. This was the worst decision ever. All it did was make me feel depressed and remind me of how much I really miss competing. I miss the level of dedication and self-development that competition brings. I miss eating GJJ for breakfast lunch and dinner. I couldn’t help but feel like I was even further away from returning to competition than before.

I also couldn’t help feeling frustrated that this happened just when I was starting to be comfortable on the mats again and moving forward in my training. For every step forward, I feel I am limping back even more.

Big wahhhh, I know.

Now, I could just sit around and throw myself a pity party, but I know there is a reason I've been sidelined again. Over the past few years I've come to the realization that everything happens for a reason and I just have to stay positive and keep moving forward. I'm trying to understand what my body, the universe, or powers to be are trying to tell me. I have yet to figure it out, it could be that selective hearing again.

Even though I miss training and competing from my very core, I decided that I have another purpose, to finally properly take care of my knee. Once I decided that, as if by “magic”, I found an excellent doctor who knows about sports injuries and has already helped me tremendously. He also told me that pain is the sign of distress within the body and that that conventional medicine, (synthetic drugs), tend to mask these alarms. So, I decided not to take the painkillers I got from the Emergency Room also because they made me sick. So, you got my attention body, I'm listening!!!!

A letter to my body:

Dear Body,

I got your message last week and although I wanted to throw it in the trash and ignore it like I usually do, you played dirty and you got my attention! Well played my friend. I'm now at your mercy.

Body, you can be such a jerk! I really wanted to punch you in the face for messing up my plans last weekend and pissing all over my b-day...but now I forgive you. I know we haven't always seen eye to eye, but I realize you were just looking out for us. I am sorry for calling you a biatch all the time and for telling you to shut up. I should have listened.

I admit that I did things the hard way. I enjoyed messing with you and took you for granted. Those days are behind us now. I realize that we really are stuck with each other whether we like it or not. So I'd like to offer an olive leaf, as a gesture of peace. We might as well work together. Who really knows how much time we have left? Perhaps if we work together that time might just be a bit longer.

Looking forward to working with you. Thank you for looking out for us. I'm listening now, so let's do this.

P.S. Even though a part of me will always want to sabotage our efforts, know I'm trying to change my ways. Please forgive me for being a douchebag.

Love,

Shama

A Perfect Day to Learn with Master Royler Gracie at Gracie Humaitá Austin

2012-04-12T11:41:00.010-07:00

There aren't many words to say after experiencing this Saturday’s seminar with Master Royler Gracie other than, “Holy Shiznit"!!! It was mind blowing! The seminar was three hours of self-defense, sport Jiu-Jitsu, transitions, submissions, positions, fundamentals, advanced moves and much more.

It was inspiring to see fifty people on the mats at one time from five different schools coming together to learn and better themselves through the teachings of Master Royler Gracie. Royler's larger than life presence and fluidity on the mats was captivating. His record and the legacy of champions he has bred, is a testament to his level of dedication and passion for Jiu-Jitsu. Royler’s charismatic nature and humorous disposition made for an upbeat and fun atmosphere. Royler has perhaps the most striking resemblance to his father and also possesses the same loving spirit of all the Gracie's I've met so far. It is this same love that has been passed on and brings us all together within our Jiu-Jitsu communities.

I was especially excited about a few moves I'd seen before, and at the seminar I learned some details I had been missing. With lots of practice I hope to implement them into my game...eventually. Practice, practice, practice makes perfect.

I've never been let down by a Gracie Humaitá seminar. After experiencing my second Royler seminar I am reassured once again that I've chosen the right team and family for me. Thank you Royler Gracie, Donald Park, and Gracie Humaitá Austin for this amazing seminar. Much success to all and thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Check out some of the amazing shots I captured at this seminar.

More photographs can be seen at:

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Academy Hunting Homework #6: Gracie Barra North Austin

2012-04-02T12:03:00.001-07:00

Last but not least in my journey, I want to share my experience at Gracie Barra North Austin. The only formal class I took there was the women's class with Professor Fabiana Borges. But I also attended Fabiana's Women’s only rape prevention seminars, their one year anniversary and other special events like Austin Women’s Open Mat and most recently Girls in Gis, both of which Fabiana instructed.

Fabiana is one of those warm and friendly people that when you first meet, it is as though you’ve known her forever. Fabiana possesses both a childlike innocence and wisdom beyond her years. I could tell by the way she connects with people and her loving nature that she is a true Carioca.

At the free women's only rape prevention seminar at Gracie Barra N. Austin, I didn't know what to expect, as I had never trained at a Gracie Barra affiliation or with Fabiana before. The seminar was full of useful self-defense information. It began with a warm-up, technique and concluded with structured rolling. I remember leaving this experience thinking, "Holy crap, this woman knows her stuff!” I couldn't wait to train with her again.

The next time I trained at Gracie Barra N. Austin with Fabiana was at their women's class on Friday from 7-8p. The majority of the women in the class are privileged to train with her on a regular basis. The class began with a warm up, technique, drilling and then structured rolling. Once again my training experience exceeded all of my expectations. I strongly encourage everyone to attend and take advantage of this opportunity to train with central Texas' only female black belt. She is a gifted instructor and talented athlete. These classes are ongoing and open to everyone, even non-Gracie Barra students.

Again, since I only went to one class, I couldn't say that I have a grasp of how a regular class is run at Gracie Barra North Austin, but I did gain an understanding of how Fabiana teaches. Gracie Barra N. Austin has a great team of professors, students and staff. They live up to their slogan "Jiu-Jitsu for everyone", since they have been extremely generous with their time and resources to the community as a whole.

Fabiana and Gracie Barra N. Austin also generously volunteered to host two women's groups that I organized, Girls in Gis and Austin Women’s Open Mat. Fabiana did a fantastic job of leading the groups. Girls raved about her events and they were smash hits. Her association also played a large role in collecting donations for the Girls in Gis Wish List Donation Drive benefiting SafePlace Austin-a local Women’s shelter. Fabiana volunteers her time and self-defense knowledge to their clients. Her kindness is a representation of the spirit of giving and love that Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu embodies.

Carioca’s don't typically leave Rio and if they do they always return. When I was in Rio, Carioca’s thought it was weird that I left my home of Hawai`i to live in Texas. Having such strong family values and love for their city and country is one of the reasons that Rio is always home for Carioca’s. Fabiana is one of the brave that ventured to America in search of fulfilling her dreams. I applaud her courage. She is an asset to the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu community and we are honored to have her in Texas. Thank you for everything Fabiana Borges and Gracie Barra N. Austin. Congrats to Fabiana on winning silver in her division @ the Pan Ams!!!

Academy Hunting Homework #5: Ronny Lis BJJ

2012-02-18T09:13:00.000-08:00

I was so excited this week about starting out at my new school that I jumped ahead in documenting my experiences training at academies in Austin and left out a few very important experience I had. I want to take a step back and talk about Ronny Lis BJJ. I was only able to take one class at S. Austin Gym before Ronny left to go to Brazil for an extended period of time. The class I took was not instructed by Ronny but I did get to reconnect with a few old friends and learn a few new tricks.

Randy Vera, a brown belt under Ronny Lis, instructed our class. The warm-up had familiar elements to it. However, this was the first school I visited that incorporates balance balls into the warm-up. I am a white belt at the balance ball and could use a LOT of practice. This experience inspired me to get a balance ball of my own. I am still working up the nerve to stand on the ball. I'll have to continue to work up to it. When I was googling videos for this blog I was really amazing to see how and what people can do with a balance ball. Some of the exercises I learned and continue to practice at home can be seen in this video.

Randy and his fiancé brown belt, Tessa Simpson are no strangers to me on the mats. We trained together for several years at Relson Gracie Austin. It had been three years since I last trained with either of them. It was nothing short of a happy reunion. Outside of training with Sawyer Morris, Tessa was perhaps the second most instrumental training partners I have had in my earlier years as a blue belt and an early purple belt. Training with her had a huge impact on my training and development. We would push each other to be better, faster and more technical. People always commented on how similar built Tessa and I are. Not only do we share similar body types, we share similar work ethics and a common love for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. I consider myself lucky that I had her to work with as we strengthen each others abilities up the ranks. Randy was also an extremely important training partner and teammate throughout majority of my training at Relson Gracie. I was over joyed to be on the mats with both of them again.

Tessa & me @ NAGA Hawaii

Randy has been instructing Muay Thai and Jiu-Jitsu for as long as I've known him. It came as no surprise that his expertise and strength as a teacher were apparent during the class I took at Ronny Lis. I wish I could of taken a class with Ronny before making my finally decision, but I am grateful that I got to get a slice of life on the mats at Ronny Lis BJJ. It wouldn't be fair to say I got an idea of Lis' style of Jiu-Jitsu which I understand has some very different elements to it. Ronny did make an appearance at the end of class just in time to conclude it with a prayer as I am told that is how each class ends.

I am told that Ronny Lis is no longer teaching at S. Austin Gym. To learn more about Ronny Lis and his association visit them online. Big thanks to Ronny Lis, Randy Vera and Tessa Simpson. Thank you for your hospitality and for sharing your insights with me. I'm so happy I was able to make it in and train with all of you. It was nice to take a walk down memory lane. I hope our paths cross again.

Rise Of The Phoenix: New Beginnings @ Gracie Humaitá Austin

2012-02-15T09:09:00.000-08:00

Jiu-Jitsu is like life. Sometimes everything is clicking and your game is on. Then there are other times when all you're doing is getting your butt kicked. The good news is nothing is forever. Change is inevitable for all of us. You just have to keep moving forward no matter how hard it gets and know that it will all work out. I've learned a lot over the past six months, but ultimately, I've realized how little I really know about Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. It’s a never ending process and it all starts with the most important step, choosing where to train and what team to represent.

When I started Jiu-Jitsu, I didn't research or train at any other academies before starting out. If not for the encouragement of my instructor and long time friend, Phil Cardella, I wouldn’t have begun in the first place. I have no regrets. I would not be who and where I am if not for where I’ve been. I wouldn't have met all the amazing people, learned and achieved my goals either. I was so fortunate to be a part of something unique and amazing at the right time and place. Before I separated from my old academy, I'd never even trained at the other academies in Austin. Then over the past six months, I trained at six different academies. Each was special in its own way. I felt welcomed and comfortable everywhere I went. I got to know old friends even better and met new ones. I learned, grew and was inspired.

There were several factors that led to my decision to join Gracie Humaitá, Austin. The compatibility of teaching and learning styles was the most important factor. Already having an established relationship with teammates/training partners and instructor was a bonus. It was also important to me that I be a part of an academy, team and under an instructor I respect and would be proud to represent. I felt right being on those mats with my new/old teammates and instructor. But still I was nervous and excited my first day of class. The energy was high and everyone was happy to be together again. This is the beginning of a new era for all of us and we all know we are a part of something great in the making. Being around familiar faces and training with all of my favorite training partners is like being among family. I'm humming again when I roll and train. It's a weird habit I have when I'm happy on the mats, I hum. I'm thinking about Jiu-Jitsu outside of class-replaying technique like a broken record in my head. I'm hungry to learn and train. At Gracie Humaitá Austin I know I'm in good hands and will continue to grow and learn. I just hope that I represent this team well. I am so honored and blessed. Everything has worked out better than I ever imagined.

However, I'm not in Kansas anymore. The system and structure are completely different from what I’ve known. It's as though I transferred from public school to a elite prep school. No colored Gis (white or blue). No stripes, just belts. I couldn't help but feel sad saying good bye to the two stripes I fought so long to keep attached, but it’s time to let go of past systems and embrace new ones. I could not ask for a better instructor. Donald Park is not only fountain of wisdom but extremely supportive, attentive and caring instructor and person. The training at Gracie Humaitá Austin is top notch and there are amazing resources at your fingertips. I feel like I am studying Gracie Jiu-Jitsu in an entirely new way that makes sense. It's also clicking for me mentally, which is always a good sign.

It wasn't an easy choice to move on. But in order to move forward sometimes you most let go. Through my “gypsy” Jiu-Jitsu experiences, I've grown so much on so many levels. I'd like to think I've gained some wisdom in the process that I'll carry with me on my journey.

Thank you to: Ze Mario Esfiha, Fabiana Borges, Robert, Dembeck, Darrin Lillian, Sean Cooper, Ronny Lis, Randy Vera and Donald Park. Thank you for having me on your mats. You all have been tremendously supportive and insightful. I appreciate your kindness and guidance. Even though we may have different patches on our backs, we will always be joined by our common love for Jiu-Jitsu.

Photos from my adventures:


Gracie Humaita Austin Open Door Series

Cleber Luciano Seminar at Trainers Elite MMA

Gracie Humaita Austin Open Door Series

Helen's blue belt promotion @ Trainers Elite MMA

Cleber Luciano Seminar at Trainers Elite MMA

Rape Prevention Seminar for women @ Gracie Barra N. Austin with instructor Fabiana Borges.

Brasa BJJ-Austin one year anniversary & black belt promotions with Ze Mario Esfiha

Neocell Collagen Sport Review: Onolicious

2012-02-10T10:02:00.000-08:00

I'm definitely not someone who is not afraid to get a little banged up. However, it is the recovery part I hate the most. I am impatient and strong willed, being a bench warmer just isn't in my DNA. I wouldn't consider myself "old", but sure feel like it some days. I don't seem to bounce back from injuries as quickly as I used to. Jiu-Jitsu may be referred to as the Gentle Art, but my body begs to differ. I've injured myself countless times in training and competition. Anything from broken fingers, bruising, black eyes, busted up lips, injuries to my knee, shoulder, neck, back, elbow, ribs and the list goes on. But that's just the nature of the beast and these are battle wounds that come with the turf.

Most recently I've been battling an on going knee injury. For a long time it just didn't seem like it was healing despite my care and taking a break from training. I was frustrated and annoyed by the situation. I had become a Jiu-Jitsu couch potato. I knew something had to be done. I couldn't think of a more perfect timing than when Neocell to asked me to try out Collagen Sport.

I started taking Neocell Collagen Sport while on hiatus in Hawai`i. In Hawai’i, my focus was centered on the recovery and strengthening of my knee. I drank Neocell once a day after working out, paddle boarding, Jiu-Jitsu, surfing, hiking and swimming. I began to notice a considerable difference in my performance, mobility and recovery. Now my knee isn't 100% healed, but much, much better than where I was before. Neocell Collagen Sport has helped with my recover and will continue to help me come back better, faster, stronger at the 2012 IBJJF World Championship. Neocell Collagen Sport has also won over my taste buds as my number one choice in protein powders. It has been an intricate part of my knee recovery.

Benefits:

15 grams Pure Ion-Exchange Whey Protein Isolate
15 grams Super Collagen™ Bio available Peptides
Rich in BCAAs
Good source of L-Glutamine
Enhanced with Exogenous Amino Acids
Multi-vitamin Fortification
Doctor Formulated

What’s NOT in Collagen Sport™

Gluten, Wheat, Sugar & Lactose Free
No Artificial Sweeteners or Flavors
No Fillers or Synthetic Ingredients

1-Refuel

Whey Protein Isolate is THE preferred and superior form of protein for athletes. It’s rich in essential and branched chain amino acids (BCAAs), necessary especially after strenuous workouts. BCAAs also play a role in the body’s levels of glutathione, an important antioxidant in the immune system. NeoCell’s whey protein isolate is developed using selective ion-exchange technology, which selects the primary functional and nutritional proteins alpha- and beta- lactoglobulins and other protein fractions for a highly effective and bio-active protein.

2 - Recover

Athletes all too often do not supplement their connective tissues in tendons and ligaments until deterioration sets in, resulting in the typical aches and pains of exercise. Super Collagen® 1&3 undergoes an absorption-enhancing process that uses enzyme hydrolyzing. This process yields low molecular weight collagen peptides for maximum bioavailability. Super Collagen® 1&3 is particularly rich in the amino acids glycine, proline, hydroxyproline and hydroxylysine, and supports recovery, strength, and flexibility of muscles, ligaments, and tendons.

3 - Regenerate

L-Glutamine & Exogenous Amino Acids – Strenuous activity burns through your body’s glutamine supplies, which can push the body to rip glutamine from your muscles if it isn’t coming from your diet. L-glutamine is the most abundant free-form amino acid in skeletal muscle and is crucial in the muscle recovery process. The special chemical structure of L-glutamine makes it the primary amino acid that drives nitrogen into muscle cells for muscle synthesis. Exogenous amino acids overall are important for increase of net muscle protein synthesis.

4 – Replenish

Each serving of Collagen Sport™ provides a good source of daily vitamins and minerals as well as the antioxidant power of Pomegranate extract. Increased activity results in higher oxidation in the body, requiring active individuals to counteract with high quality antioxidants. NeoCell’s pomegranate extract is standardized to 70% ellagic acid, an extraordinary antioxidant that fights cell-damaging free radicals generated during exercise.

Although in the past I drank protein shakes regularly after training, I've never been a huge fan of most protein powders. I found that they tended to taste gritty, chalky, and don’t blend well or made me "bulk up" too much. Collagen Sport works for me because it tastes great and has everything I need and none of what I don't. I drink Collagen Sport several ways, but I am a Hawai`i girl at heart and love my tropical fruits! Here is what I call my "Onolicious" smoothie:

1 cup Coconut Milk

1/2 cup chopped mango

1 banana

One scoop Vanilla collagen Sport.

If you're interested in trying out Neocell or just want to save on your next purchase check out iherb.com and save $5 off with code: CIP001

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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.)