Fenomenal Woman Kristin Mikkelson

14 Tuesday May 2013

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brazil 021, competition, hannette staack, kristin mikkelson, women's bjj, women's brazilian jiu jitsu

Our fenomenal woman for May is Kristin Mikkelson, a 24-year old blue belt to watch out for at the Worlds this year. She graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a BBA in 2010. After working in the financial sector for a couple of years, she decided to do some soul-searching and focuses on training for now. She talks about training at Brazil-021, competing, and coming back from serious injuries. Everyone meet Kristin Mikkelson!

How did you find BJJ?

I found BJJ after I moved to Chicago in 2011. I moved here from Cincinnati for a job, analyzing real estate funds. In Cincinnati I had trained Taekwondo for a little over 9 years, and was looking to explore a different martial art. I had seen some Brazilian jiu-jitsu before and thought it would be fun. I found some places in Chicago and decided to try a class at each of them, but as soon as I visited Brazil-021 and met Hannette Staack and Andre Terencio, that was it – I was in. Training and learning kept getting more interesting and I felt the desire to compete. Soon it was all I wanted to do! Now I train 5 days a week, some days I stay for two classes, and some days I stay for one.

Do you do any other sports? Were you athletic all your life growing up?

As a little kid I was only allowed to do soccer because it was the cheapest sport and my family was a soccer family. I wasn’t that good at it, nor very excited about it but my mom’s rule was that everyone in the family had to play a sport.

I wanted to try independent sports like gymnastics or karate but was unable to until I turned 12 and convinced my mom to let me do taekwondo. I earned my black belt at 16 and my 2nd degree black belt with the World Taekwondo Federation when I was 19. I haven’t trained it since I started BJJ but would like to start again eventually.

What does your family think of BJJ?

At first my parents were a little wary of BJJ because they knew it was physically demanding, and were worried I was going to get seriously injured or ache for the rest of my life. They were also getting worried about how much I was training because they saw it taking up a lot of my time. However, now they are really supportive since they have seen how passionate I am about it. My siblings were always incredibly supportive and my little brother even started training recently back home.

How often do you compete? What’s your biggest accomplishment so far? Most memorable match?

Last year I did 3 competitions and this year have done 2. There would be more but my time out due to injury left me unable to compete as much as I would have liked. My biggest accomplishment so far in competition was winning my division at the 2012 Rio Open. It was my first IBJJF Gold, but the most important thing I took away was that I finally realized where my mind needed to be if I wanted to win.

My most memorable matches for myself are the ones that I have lost because I always think about what little things I should have done differently. My favorite one however, was the first one I won in Rio with an armbar.

Have you been seriously injured? If yes, how did you overcome the fear of coming back to the mats? Did you want to quit at any point?

In August 2012, 2 weeks after I won in Rio, I broke my clavicle in 3 places. I had to get a piece removed and the rest plated, and screwed back together. I was preparing for another tournament and got swept with my arms trapped at practice. It was painful, but more so, I was a little heartbroken because it meant 6 months of absolutely no BJJ right after I had my biggest victory.

I was very eager to get back on the mats but hesitant to do anything that would jar my arm or shoulder. A couple of times I would fall on it and immediately get stressed and afraid that I might have hurt myself. The only way to get over the fear was to keep training, focus on my goals, and try to ignore the pain and stress. Coming back was hard because I had to retrain my body and instincts just to feel normal again.

I felt hopeless and embarrassed several times, but I never wanted to quit. In the few months that I’ve been back I have won two competitions: the Chicago Winter Open and the New York Open. My teammates’ and coaches’ support are really what made those achievements possible.

You are lucky to have a great female coach, Hannette Staack. What do you like about her and training at the school?

I really am very lucky to be training with Hannette. She is a superstar women’s jiu-jitsu competitor, an amazing coach, a great person, and a good friend. The best part about Hannette’s coaching is that she knows how to teach each individual.

She knows what I need to do to make my strengths their strongest and my weaknesses better. She always knows what to say and do to keep me motivated and confident.

Each student is different and Hannette has the intuition to see exactly what we need. When I was injured, she was always there telling me that it was just a bump on the road, and I would be able to successfully compete again. Before the injury was healed, she would help me review what techniques that I could do and help me with my limitations. It’s the kind of thing that shows how much she cares about her students and I know she would do that for anyone in that situation. She and Professor Andre also promote a family and team environment where our goal is not only to get better but to see our teammates get better as well. I can’t say enough how lucky I am to have ended up with them!

What are your plans for this year?

I plan to try and compete at least once a month or every other month this year. My biggest plan is 2013 IBJJF Worlds which is at the end of May.

Thank you Kristin!

Love Mom

13 Monday May 2013

Posted by fenomkimonos in Fenomenal Women

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jiu-jitsu mom, Love, Mother's Day

There is nothing like the joy of motherhood, especially when all the children are in bed. – Anonymous

Happy Mother’s Day!

Amazonian Women’s Jiu-Jitsu

26 Friday Apr 2013

Posted by fenomkimonos in Women's BJJ

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amazonian women's bjj, fenom kimonos, leticia ribeiro, michelle nicolini, sofia amarante, stephanie dodge, women's bjj, women's brazilian jiu jitsu

Amazonian Women’s Jiu-Jitsu is a Florida based organization that Stephanie Dodge started little over a year ago. She organizes free monthly open mats, seminars, and women only camps with well-known world champions.

This is how Stephanie describes an Amazonian woman: A woman who is powerful, beyond limits, confident and beautiful. She is a kindred spirit versed in the art of Brazilian jiu-jitsu. She is a warrior. Stephanie was kind enough to sit down with us, and talk about what’s happening in Florida.

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I am a registered nurse at JFK hospital in Florida. I am a wife and a mother of 2 girls, ages 3 and 8. I got started in BJJ through my husband Jason. He was looking for a gym to train MMA and we started training together. At first I was a little apprehensive but quickly realized that jiu-jitsu is a great self-defense for women, and I wanted to learn the counters to the techniques my husband was testing in me. Currently I am a 3 stripe blue belt under Manoel Soares and train at Jaco Hybrid Training Center, home of the Blackzilians, in Delray, Florida.

How did Amazonian Women’s Jiu-Jitsu get started?

I got the idea to start Amazonian Women’s BJJ when I met 2 other girls that trained. Prior to meeting these women, I had been the only woman at my gym and sometimes, or a lot of the time, men didn’t really know how to roll with women. So I asked the 2 other girls to come and train with me once a month so we could help each other to get ready for tournaments.

Around that time I also met Michelle Nicolini, and asked her if we could do a women only seminar with her followed by and open mat. She loved the idea and that’s how it started. We had the seminar with Michelle, and at the event I met another female black belt, Sofia Amarante. She invited me to train with her at her gym in Lauderhill, FL. I asked if we could do an open mat and invite women all over Florida to come and train for free. Sofia liked the idea and we had our 1st Amazonian Women’s Open Mat in March of 2012. It was a great success. Since then we had an open mat almost every month at a different gym. The 13th one was just a few weeks ago.

Do you run Amazonian Women’s Jiu-Jitsu alone or do you have any help?

I do all the planning for each event on my own. I do depend on the women who attend to ask their professors if the next event could be at their gym. Once I have a location, I plan time, set up the event page and start promoting. Fenom Kimonos has always helped with the event flyers and we share them all over Facebook, bringing in new women at each event. I honestly couldn’t have a successful event every month if the women didn’t do their part in spreading the word among their friends and team.

What has been the biggest challenge in organizing the open mats? Have you been able to participate in every event?

I think the biggest challenge is not to get stressed out, and taking the time to remember why I started this. Sometimes I worry about if enough girls will show up, if they like the technique, if they like the training, etc. But when I sit back and watch, I realize that even if there are 10 girls instead of 30, we still have a great time rolling, talking, and eating afterwards. As long as we learn from each other and have an open mind, it’s a success.

I have participated in every event except for one, when I hurt my shoulder. I was there on the mat with the girls, but could not physically do the technique and roll. It was difficult to sit and watch, but I got to coach instead, helping girls get ready for various tournaments.

Amazonian Women’s Jiu-Jitsu celebrated its 1st anniversary recently. What events did you have in 2012 and which one was the most memorable so far?

The first open mat had a huge turnout. Then we had a training camp with Michelle Nicolini and Sofia Amarante, which was also a success with women participating from all over the east coast. Later in 2012, we had Leticia Ribeiro seminar which was a lot of fun. She is one person I look up to. Meeting her and learning a little bit of her jiu-jitsu was amazing.

One of the most memorable events was the open mat at Roberto “Cyborg” Abreu’s FightSports Miami. We had a lot of participants and he said some very important words which I like to go back to from time to time. He said that even though we are from different academies, and fight each other at tournaments, doesn’t mean we cannot be friends. Some of my best friends are girls I met on the mat. When we fight, we fight, but as soon as the fight is over, we walk off the mat hugging and thanking each other for a good roll. This is important for all the Amazonian women to remember.

What are the plans for the group for this year?

This year started off with some great open mats and our 1 year anniversary. We are planning to have an open mat at Carlson Gracie Puerto Rico in June, then we will be in the Bahamas in July for a women’s self-defense seminar, where I will be teaching some techniques. This is part of the 4-day BOMAC martial arts competition. I am hoping to have either a camp or a seminar with Michelle Nicolini and Sofia Amarante once again, and a camp with Leticia Ribeiro as well. These women are my biggest inspirations in jiu-jitsu.

Do you travel to any other women’s camps or open mats? If not, is there an event you would like to attend?

There are great groups in Boston, New York City, Texas, California, Arizona, Michigan, Seattle, and Canada. Couple of brand new ones are starting up in Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Virginia. I would love to go visit all of them at some point. It’s awesome to see how we are growing.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

A huge thank you to all the black belts that have welcomed us to their schools and shared some of their knowledge. I would also like to thank Triin Seppel with Fenom Kimonos for always helping out with the beautiful flyers, sponsoring us, and promoting the events each month.

Lastly, I want to thank all the women who have supported Amazonian Women’s BJJ. Whether you have been to one open mat or to all of them, I appreciate you taking time out of your schedule to train with us, and help support me, and my dream of bringing BJJ to more women everywhere. Thank you, train hard and I’ll see you on the mat!

Thank you, Stephanie!

Fenomenal Woman Linford Murao

17 Wednesday Apr 2013

Posted by fenomkimonos in Fenomenal Women

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Tags

hawaii, women's bjj, women's brazilian jiu jitsu

Our Fenomenal Woman for April is Linford Murao. She represents jiu-jitsu ladies in their 50s and proves that anyone can do it. It’s not how old you are, but how you are old. Everyone meet Linford Murao!

First of all, you have a very unique name. What’s the story behind it?

My dad’s name is Stanford, so he named my three brothers Daneford, Bradford and Hartford. When they had me, they did not know what to call me. One day my mom was cleaning out the lint trap for the dryer and had the idea, Lintford! My dad said that it did not sound girly enough, and suggested Linford. And that is how I got my name!

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I am 50 years old, and live in Waipahu, Hawaii. I am a wife of 28 years, and a mother of three awesome young men. I have a 26-year-old who is getting his PhD in Clinical Psychology, a 22-year-old who is in the Air Force and is completing his BA in Business & Marketing, and a 21-year-old who will be entering medical school next year to become a neurosurgeon.

I taught kindergarten for 15 years at a Catholic Elementary School and now I take care of a sweetie pie 97-year-old woman at a convent for nuns.

Where do you train?

I currently train at the Alliance Academy of Hawaii. My professor is Rex Barum who is an awesome teacher who treats all his students as equals, no matter male or female. I first started in the women’s jiu-jitsu class with 5 other women who had been training for a year or so before me, and were much lighter than me. After class I didn’t really feel comfortable and felt out of place. That’s when I decided to try the mens’ class over thirty. The only problem: everyone was 30 and under. I thought to myself, I can do this! I got my courage up and joined the class.

On the first day, my professor introduced me to the class, and everyone looked at me with a smirk. At that moment I said to myself, what in the world are you thinking, fighting with not only men, but men half your age! Being 50 and female, one would think that training with a bunch of guys would either intimidate me or they would have an attitude having to train with me, but not these guys. They are the best bunch of braddahs (local name for brothers) anyone could ask for. Now 18 months later, I’m proud to say that I am a first degree blue belt. I have the best teammates who treat me with such awesome respect and never patronize me because I’m an old lady. They really kick my butt and I love it!

How did you get started in BJJ and how often do you train?

I started jiu-jitsu after watching UFC and MMA fights. I fell so in love with the art that I started watching it on YouTube. I watched and learned lots of moves and wondered if at my age could do this. I looked around for a school in my area and found one 2 blocks from my house. So I went down to the academy, walked in, and watched for a bit before professor Rex noticed me. He asked me if I wanted to come to a free class to see if I liked it. I was so excited and agreed. After the first class I was hooked!

I try to train at least three times a week, but with my crazy life I mostly get a good twice a week training. I would love to compete but my hubby is afraid that at my age I’ll get seriously hurt. I haven’t given up on the idea that one day I’ll be there on the mat to represent all the women 50 and over!

Do you do any other sports?

Yes, I play competitive racquetball twice a week, and again my partners are men. I guess being a woman and competing against men gives me the drive to win and better myself. I also hike every Thursday with a group that started with just me and 2 others. Now it is a group of 128 members and growing. We hike all over Hawaii’s beautiful lush islands, some hikes are so extreme that I really don’t know how I do it!

What does your family think about your hobby?

Nuts! My boys just think it’s awesome that I train. They tell all their friends how proud they are of me. My husband on the other hand is so afraid that I’ll get seriously hurt and won’t be able to take care of the family. I have had an ACL replacement a few years back and about 5 months ago I tore my MCL during a racquetball tournament. I know the surgery will take me out of training for 6 months and I don’t want to stop, so I wear a knee brace and just suck it up and ice it on the bad days.

What’s your biggest frustration with BJJ and what do you like the most about it?

My biggest frustration is my knee injury. It limits me to trying only certain moves and getting a submission is not always possible. Also trying to remember the lessons that were taught the week before is frustrating, it keeps me up some nights replaying over and over in my head.

What I like about jiu-jitsu is the competitiveness, the workout, the sense of power it gives me, but mostly my teammates. They are so good to me, and I am blessed to be able to train with such awesome guys and girls.

If money were not an object, which camp or seminar would you want to attend?

I would love to go to an Inspire women’s open mat, hosted by Kristina Barlaan. I so admire her drive as a fighter of women’s jiu-jitsu and yet she is so humble. Also, I would love to go to a camp hosted by Hannette Staack or Leticia Ribeiro, they are my superheros of the 21st century, representing all the women and girls in the world of jiu-jitsu.

Is life in Hawaii really as fabulous and easy-going as we all think it is?

Well, life in Hawaii is more fabulous than you can imagine. We have lush green mountains to hike in, with the most spectacular waterfalls to swim in. We have beautiful beaches with crystal clear water and white glistening sand. We have the most breathtaking million dollar homes with beaches as their backyards. We have thousands of restaurants that serve food from anywhere on this planet.

Really, it is a paradise and I am truly lucky to live here, but with every paradise, there comes a price tag. The cost of living here is way too expensive, homes, gas, food, and clothing are 3 times higher than on the mainland. The jobs are limited and the wages are very low. So yes, it’s true, Hawaii is wonderful if you have the money. Aloha!

Thanks Linford!

Hug Department: Always Open

11 Thursday Apr 2013

Posted by fenomkimonos in Women's BJJ

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jiu-jitsu hugs

Sometimes it’s better to put love into hugs than to put it into words. – Anonymous

Hugging is a great form of non-verbal communication and emotional satisfaction. It expresses love, sympathy, gratitude, and forgiveness. A hug can be given as an indication of support, comfort, and consolation, particularly when words are insufficient.

Here is a collection of some of our favorite jiu-jitsu hugs! We hope you enjoy them.

Father’s hug

Little big hug

Victory hug

Sisters’ hug

Candid camera hug

Couple in love hug

Smash and hug

Girls in gis hug

Horizontal hug

Kiss and a hug

Family hug

Little pink hug

Lots of hugs

Manly hug

Fenomenal Woman Liz Sussan

12 Tuesday Mar 2013

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liz sussan, RAINN, richmond bjj, women's brazilian jiu jitsu

Our fenomenal woman this month is Liz Sussan. She is a BJJ purple belt, vinyasa yoga instructor, manages Richmond BJJ Academy and also teaches jiu-jitsu at the academy. A few weeks ago she started a fundraising project called UNITED that benefits RAINN, and brings awareness to sexual assault. Everyone meet Liz Sussan!

How did you get into jiu-jitsu?

When I met my long-time boyfriend Eric Burdo in 2006, he was a brown belt and running his school, Richmond BJJ Academy, a BJJ Revolution Team school in Richmond, VA. Within 3 weeks of us starting to date, I attended a tournament where he was part of a 4-man super fight division. When I saw it, I really thought it was one of the coolest things to do as a sport, and I loved the idea that at a high level, these guys were constantly countering each other and trying to beat each other.

I had never played an individual sport, only team sports, and learning something that really used my whole body with detailed, precise movement intrigued me. The fact that BJJ also had serious self-defense applications in addition to being a wicked cool sport seemed radical for me as a person. I had no clue how much Eric or jiu-jitsu would change my life. At first I was taking classes 3-4 times per week, and within 3 months I had been sucked in, and have been training 6-7 days per week for 6 years.

My first experience with jiu-jitsu was actually not that positive. Eric showed me a mata-leao, but it was just the two of us, so he had to lightly choke me to show it to me. I hated it, the feeling of being choked and especially not knowing how to defend or what to do, and started thinking, “Why would people spend so much time rolling around on mats trying to choke each other?” Honestly, it’s funny to think back to now, because chokes are my favorite submissions and I think technically they are often the best choice in self-defense and sport jiu-jitsu.

How did the Midatlantic Grappling Girls start? Do you have a lot of women training at your school?

I teach a women’s BJJ class at my school twice a month and anywhere between 3-8 women come to the class. It’s not a huge program yet, but it’s growing. The MAGG started in January 2013 because of a perceived need for regular women’s training opportunities. Women’s open mats have been happening on the east coast for years, but not with regular frequency, and I thought why not pick a name and create a regular event to encourage women to train together. Through MAGG I’ve met so many new jiu-jitsu women and honestly had my mind blown by the growth of women’s BJJ. We’re trying to hold one women’s event every month and we’ve been lucky to pick up some sponsors like Amazing Grass, Fenom Kimonos, Cageside MMA, and Gi Soap!

Do you compete regularly? What is your most memorable tournament or match? Favorite submission?

I try to compete as regularly as I can. Over the years I’ve had my share of injuries and some of them have kept me from competing for long periods of time. A barrier I’ve learned to overcome is that local competition at my size and skill level is hard to find, so I had to travel more to compete. Through traveling I’ve really grown to love competing. I thrive in the preparation, and like the challenge of hard training and conditioning leading up to competition. I believe that most of the growth in my jiu-jitsu has occurred in the 4-8 week prep time before a tournament. It creates focus that is often lost when I don’t have a goal or a tournament looming.

My favorite tournament was NY Open where I competed as a blue belt. That was a transformational moment for me personally, to travel to a big tournament, do well, and have such a positive experience. That tournament sticks out to me the most because my boyfriend Eric was there to coach me and support me, and it’s the time that I decided that I really liked competing.

My favorite submissions are gi chokes. I like to play around with grips and angles, and really find them from every position. I believe the choke is superior positionally, and from a self-defense perspective, it has the ability to end a confrontation with a minimal physical damage to the other person and make it so that they can no longer attack you.

Do you go to women’s training camps or other open mats? Which one has stood out the most and why?

I’ve attend many women’s open mats, seminars, and camps over the years. I try to attend nearly every one that I can. My very first women’s seminar was Kyra Gracie seminar in 2007, and at the time it seemed like the coolest thing ever. I was a 6 month white belt and knew that what I was attending was special, and maybe a once in a lifetime chance.

I attended the very first Women’s Grappling Camp hosted by Felicia Oh, Valerie Worthington, Emily Kwok, and Alaina Hardie in Los Angeles. That was an amazing experience. I loved being surrounded by women who were as passionate about jiu-jitsu as I was. Those kind of events can be really inspirational and afterward I always return to my training with an enthusiasm and fire to train hard.

The women’s training that has stuck out the most for me was a Hannette Staack seminar at my school. We often host Hannette Staack at our school for seminars, and at her second seminar, toward the end, she pulled me to the middle of the room and told me it was my purple belt test and I needed to show everyone EVERY technique that she had taught us in that 2-3 hour seminar. My first thought “Wait, PURPLE BELT?!” and my nerves shot up, and then Hannette said she was going to be my uke for the demo! Somehow I pulled it off like a champ, going through a review of the entire seminar from position to position, and then Hannette told me she was just kidding about the purple belt and thanked me. That was a crazy mix of emotions to go through in 10 minutes.

Who is your role model in jiu-jitsu and in life general?

My instructor and boyfriend Eric Burdo is a huge inspiration to me in life and BJJ. Eric has life experience that amazes me and has created so much depth to him as a person. He works to bring that to the mats and his students every day.

Julio Fernandez, head of BJJ Revolution Team, is also an inspiration to me. He is a legend in our sport and is a 6th degree Black Belt under Carlson Gracie. Julio has a way about him that makes everyone feel special and he spreads an infectious love for BJJ. I love to roll with him because he flows and moves like a cat yet still has constant pressure.

Hannette Staack’s work ethic and dedication to BJJ is an inspiration to me. I love her focus and her desire to help students learn. I also love her style of teaching where she puts you in positions of pressure and sweat to drill the techniques over and over.

Did you ever want to quit jiu-jitsu because of an injury, frustration or lack of motivation? How do you keep going?

Injuries have been the most frustrating part of jiu-jitsu for me. Because I run our school and am surrounded by BJJ constantly, when I am injured, my injury is compounded by the fact that I can’t escape being at the school and being reminded that I can’t train. To get through this, I go out onto the mats for class, sometimes dressed out, sometimes not, and I actively participate in learning even though I can’t drill the moves.

There have been two instances where I came back to the mats better than before my injury simply because observing class and other people drilling helped me to see what I was missing in the movements or understand something from a different perspective. I think this is one of the biggest lessons I can convey to people reading.

I think jiu-jitsu enthusiasm can lead to burnout and I try to check in with myself every week on this. When you’re competing a lot, or even just serious about BJJ, it’s easy to overdo it. First, I definitely listen to my body. If I’m too tired or banged up, I take a day off. That’s about injury prevention. Second, if I get sucked into some kind of negative thought loop, I ask myself if I have balance in my life. Is it maybe time to take a class off and have lunch with a friend, hit up a yoga class instead, or maybe even fly somewhere warm for a few days? Third, I think longevity in BJJ is helped when you’re surrounded by friends on the mats. So if my regular training partners are slacking off, I work to get them back into class, or I travel to train with friends to make training more fun.

Tell us about your most recent project called UNITED.

Most jiu-jitsu practitioners have had serious reactions to the abuse and assaults being reported within our community. It has created a lot of discussion around rape and what kind of culture we want to create in our grappling community and greater world. People want a way to speak out and also a way to come together. I felt like we needed a symbol to show that we feel outraged and thoughtful about what has transpired.

I worked with my friends to design a gi patch that would allow BJJ community to express being united against rape and abuse. The patches say UNITED with a teal ribbon and the ribbon has been turned into a BJJ belt. It’s been a collective effort between NHB Gear, Da Firma Kimonos and IngenuiTek who generously have donated their services making it possible to donate 80-90% of the sales proceeds to RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network).

I’ve gotten sincere and amazing feedback from people. In just 2 weeks we’ve raised over $1,000.00 for RAINN. April is sexual assault awareness month and that adds to the importance of these patches. The patches sell for $ 10-12 each and can be ordered by emailing to Liz@RichmondBJJ.com.

Is there anything else interesting you want our readers to know about you?

I helped to found the local roller derby league here in Richmond, VA. My roller derby name is Nikki Stitch, a play on the Motley Crue bassist Nikki Sixx’s name. I love music and the name reflects that. I stopped playing roller derby after I fell in love with BJJ, but I’m still a fan! And I am vegan, oh wait, everyone already knows that about me!

Pacific Northwest Grapplin’ Gals

05 Tuesday Mar 2013

Posted by fenomkimonos in Women's BJJ

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Grapplin' Gals, women's brazilian jiu jitsu

Grapplin’ Gals is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu training group for ladies in Seattle, WA, area. It was started in 2011 and last month Grapplin’ Gals organized their very first 3-day women’s training camp. The founder, Sonia Sillan, talks about the camp and women’s jiu-jitsu in the Pacific Northwest.

Sonia Sillan

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I had been on track to go the graduate school after I graduated from the University of Washington, but somehow in my senior year I decided I wanted to try a grappling art. I had practiced Tae Kwon Do for the past 12 years, and I felt I needed to become a complete martial artist. I discovered Brazilian jiu-jitsu and pursued my newfound addiction; now I’ve been training for a little over three years and I’m a 4 stripe blue belt under David Stegman at West Seattle Fight & Fitness, a proud Ribeiro Jiu Jitsu Association affiliate.

I work as an Audiometric Technician by day (meaning I drive around in a 30-ft box truck doing hearing testing at different industrial sites), but that isn’t everything – I am a co-owner of a BJJ lifestyle brand called Roll.Adapt.Win, and West Seattle Fight and Fitness, where I run the Tae Kwon Do program.

When and how did the PNW Grapplin’ Gal group start?

Grapplin’ Gals would not have started if it weren’t for the man in my life, Jei. He convinced me to compete at my first tournament as a blue belt, and I got killed by two awesome ladies. Both of them are good friends of mine now. This experience could have been a negative one, but in all reality it helped me to realize that women need to train with women in order to reach their full potential. I can train with guys all day, but they never go 100% with me, and if they did, it would probably result in an injury.

I wanted to train with other women and although I knew quite a few, I didn’t have the opportunity due to the differing schools. I started Grapplin’ Gals in October 2011 as an unaffiliated women’s only open mat. Even though we didn’t meet consistently, it was great to train and bond with other women whenever we did meet up.

How often do you meet and how many ladies participate at the open mats?

It varies from month-to-month. Now that it has become more established, we are hoping to meet once a month for some quality training. At the first PNW female camp we had 30 participants which is a huge turnout for our area!

How did the first PNW female camp come about?

I was inspired by Leticia Ribeiro camp that I attended in 2011 and finally had the means to organize one. We have local black belt women with hidden talents, and it was time to showcase them.

I started planning it around Thanksgiving last year and by Christmas we had the instructors on board and the logistics worked out. My main focus for the camp was to promote women’s jiu-jitsu in the Pacific Northwest, with a secondary motive of uniting the women in the area. It was fascinating to see women from Washington, Oregon, Canada and as far as Massachuchets come together to just train, no drama or politics involved.

I also wanted to do something to support local charities. We donated a portion of the proceeds to New Beginnings, a non-profit organization that advocates ending domestic violence, and several women donated gis to Give the Gift of a Gi project run by Carly Stowell foundation.

The instructors were relatively unknown female black belts (except for Fabiana Borges). Who are they and how did you find them?

Fabiana Borges and Miriam Cardoso

I knew both Professors Fabiana Borges and Miriam Cardoso when they trained at Gracie Barra when I first started. I met Professor Andrea Emmel through Professor Miriam. Professor Miriam now has her own school, Elite Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu of Redmond, and although she is a mother, she has her eye on the gold at the Worlds. What many people don’t know about her is that she is a multiple time world champion with a drive to succeed – she doesn’t take no for an answer.

Also, we were pleasantly surprised with the presence of Professor Michelle Wagner, a local black belt from Gracie Barra in Ballard and one of the early pioneers of jiu-jitsu in Washington state.

Leah Taylor and Amanda Lowen

Amanda Loewen and Leah Taylor, two purple belts from Straight Blast Gym in Portland, may seem like a random choice of instructors, but it’s due to the fact that I formed friendships with them through the competition scene. They are both beasts on the mat and two of the most technical women, black belts aside, I have seen in the area.

Amanda is actually one of the women I was talking to regarding the formation of Grapplin’ Gals. She constantly strives to improve herself, and accepts any challenge she is faced with, such as competing and placing in the men’s division. Leah is inspiring because not only did she take gold at the Worlds in 2012, she is also a graduate student keeping up with her studies. All of the instructors involved are inspiring role models and leaders for women’s BJJ in the area, and it was an honor to have learned something from each of them at the PNW training camp.

Do you follow any other women’s open mats, and have you gone to camps in other parts of the US?

I do follow other open mats and actually wish I could travel more often to train. I attended Leticia Ribeiro camp in 2011 as already mentioned. There is a great group of ladies in Vancouver, B.C. running open mats pretty often. I am hoping to get a group of girls together to drive up with me within the next month or so.

I’d also like to give a shout out to United Grappling Federation and one of its founds, Lenna Uhlinger. Last year she organized the first Women’s International Grappling Championship in San Diego. I had the honor of attending it both as a participant and a sponsor with Roll.Adapt.Win and can definitely say it was one of the best experiences I have had in BJJ, besides this training camp of course . There were lots of talented ladies and it was great to compete against women I had never met before.

What are the plans for Grappling Gals for this year?

Plans are still in the air, so it’s a secret for now but I can guarantee that we will have several events in 2013, and will continue to support New Beginnings with every one.

Hannette Staack and Fenom Kimonos Pro-Partnership

13 Wednesday Feb 2013

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brazil 021, hannette staack, women's brazilian jiu jitsu

8-time women’s Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu world champion, Hannette Staack and women’s jiu-jitsu lifestyle company, Fenom Kimonos, announced a collaboration Fenom Kimonos is calling a Pro-Partnership.

“Unlike traditional sponsorship programs, the Pro-Partnership approach is designed to create an opportunity for pro-athletes to extend their careers beyond the tournament circuit and local schools while being 100% centered around empowering women,” says Triin Seppel, founder of Fenom Kimonos. “Hannette Staack is a pioneer in not only women’s BJJ but jiu-jitsu as a whole. She represents the women’s jiu-jitsu lifestyle in a way that aligns with our ‘Powered by She’ philosophy. We are so excited to be working with her!”

When asked about her outlook on the new relationship with Fenom Kimonos, Hannette commented, “There isn’t a company who focuses solely on empowering women. Most gi companies create an image around the combat aspect of jiu-jitsu. After training for over 15 years, I can say with confidence that I am a better person because of the struggles and relationships jiu-jitsu has brought to my life. I’m looking forward to a long relationship Triin and Fenom Kimonos.”

About Hannette Staack
Hannette began her jiu-jitsu training when she was 18 years old with Professor Fernando Cruz and Master Flavio Figueiredo, and eventually received her black belt from her current instructor, Andre “Negao” Terencio. Since then Hannette has fought every World Championship, taking several gold medals home and establishing herself as one of the most tenacious and talented female grapplers in the history of jiu-jitsu. She has an impressive record of never been submitted in any competition that she competed, since 1998.

Hannette states that her greatest inspiration toward continuing her jiu-jitsu journey has come from Andre (who is now her husband), as he always inspired her to believe in jiu-jitsu. The two have realized a dream and are now reaping the fruits of their labor in their own academy in Chicago. The team is now gathering between Andre Negão, Hannette Staack, and Carlos Henrique (Andre’s professor) to form Brazil 021 School of Jiu-Jitsu.

For more information about Hannette, visit www.hannettestaackbjj.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/hannettestaackbjj

About Fenom Kimonos
In the world of martial arts and combat sports, women have always been perceived and viewed to be weaker than men. After all, men are bigger, faster and stronger. That is until Brazilian jiu-jitsu was introduced to the mainstream. Never before has there been a style of fighting and self-defense that legitimately enables the physically smaller and weaker party to not only defend themselves but actually dominate and subdue the attacker.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has enabled women to level the playing field with men like no other martial art. Using scientific principles, techniques can be applied to engage and win. The effect of this phenomenon is profound and empowers women and girls of all ages. On and off the mat.

It is on this foundation that Fenom Kimonos builds its message and mission.

Female + Phenomenal = Fenom

For more information about Fenom Kimonos, visit www.fenomkimonos.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/fenomkimonos

Fenomenal Woman Debra Ibarra

07 Thursday Feb 2013

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Fenomenal Women series for 2013 starts with a very special lady. She is one of our favorite bloggers, has two kids and a full-time career. Anyone doubting if they belong on the mat should read what Debra has to say. Everyone meet Debra Ibarra!

How did you get started in BJJ? Do you do any other sports?

My kids are the reason I started BJJ in the first place. We had spent years playing baseball and softball and they needed a change. I spent a good nine months watching them train, and was mesmerized by everything I saw, wondering if it were something I could ever possibly do. Then all the jiu-jitsu stars and planets aligned and my gym started offering women only class on Fridays. I spent 3 months doing that, then transferred to the regular adult class and I’ve been hooked ever since.

I also train Muay Thai kickboxing and I’ve been known to do a CrossFit class or two. They are great for cardio and conditioning, and help me improve my jiu-jitsu game. But jiu-jitsu is my first love!

You recently received your blue belt. How does it feel and has it changed anything for you?

I’m not going to lie, it feels really good! It was the culmination of 27 months of hard work, buckets of sweat and a few tears. I still have those days when I question whether I’m worthy, and what was my coach thinking giving me this belt, but at the end of the day I know, that he believed in me and in my abilities. I feel more confident on the mats because of it, silly I know, but it was the validation I needed from my coach that I have a place in this sport, that I belong on the mats.

In the first half of last year, I really went through a period of non-growth, not knowing what to do to get better, questioning whether I deserved to train, whether I belonged on the mats with all these youngsters. That little piece of blue cloth squashed all my doubts and insecurities. Now there’s no looking back!

What has been or is your biggest frustration when it comes to training? What’s your biggest joy?

I would definitely have to say that my physical limitations are one of my biggest frustrations when training. Wanting desperately to be faster, lighter, more fluid, more flexible, wishing I could grow an extra 4-6 inches (since I’m only 4’11”) and realizing that all of that will come in time (not the growing an extra 4-6 inches since I’m 45 years old and I won’t be growing anymore!). In the beginning I was so out of shape that most things were near impossible for me to do. I’m slowly learning that those things that frustrated me the most can be changed – I will get lighter, I will get faster, more fluid, more flexible.

The biggest struggle is on the inside, in my mind – questioning myself, second guessing my abilities, holding back. That can be more frustrating than my physical limitations. The body can be changed, but our minds are much harder to change. My biggest joy comes from watching the success of my daughter and my teammates. There is no better feeling than seeing your teammate have a breakthrough on the mat or win at a competition or get a belt promotion and know that you were a part of that journey.

The feeling you get when you are rolling with your teammate in class, and you are both pushing, and pushing each other trying to make the other one better. At the end of the roll you hug, and smile, and you know that you made a difference. That is a feeling of pure joy!

You are a big supporter of women’s seminars and Girls in Gis. What do you like about them?

I absolutely love Girls in Gis and women’s seminars. I think because I got my start in a women’s only class, it brings me back to a place of comfort and security. The atmosphere at these events is always supportive and encouraging. I especially love the women only seminars. You get the chance to meet world champions like Leticia Ribeiro and Hannette Staack. At a seminar you get the opportunity for them to personally help you, show you technique and even roll with you.

I don’t know any other sport where you get that kind of access to athletes at that level. It is absolutely amazing! Girls in Gis gives me the opportunity to learn, train and network with ladies from all over Texas and the United States. It’s very special to me because so many of the women I’ve met at Girls in Gis’ events have become an important part of my journey. They encouraged me to keep training, told me that it would get better, didn’t let me give up. I don’t think I could have made it this far without all that support and encouragement.

Many women have the same crazy, busy schedule like you and it’s so easy not to work out. How do you find the time and motivation to train? What can you recommend to other women?

For me, the most important thing, was to make training a part of my daily routine. I can only train in the evenings, so I do my best to keep my schedule clear. Plus, a lot of credit has to go to my husband. He does not train but he supports me 100%. He takes care of all the little details in the evenings so that I can go train. Without his support I could not do what I do.

Motivation, now that is something entirely different. Staying motivated can be difficult at times, especially when you are having a tough time with your training and feeling like you are not progressing. During those times I really have to lean on my support network, my family, my friends, my teammates, my coaches, my jiu-jitsu brothers and sisters. All of those people keep me motivated. On the deepest level I just love jiu jitsu. When you love something, you figure out a way to make it all work.

My advice to other women is to pick a schedule that works best for you and your family. Stick to your schedule. Be consistent. Be present in mind and body when you are training. Ask questions. Ask for help. Surround yourself with people who support you and your goals. Lastly, find the right gym for you. Not all gyms are created equal. Find that place where you feel safe and empowered and encouraged. If you are happy when you train, you are at the right place!

You and your daughter train together and she’s earned a “Tasmanian Devil” nickname. Tell us a little bit about her and training with her.

Emily is a sophomore in high school and a member of the high school marching band. She recently turned sixteen and is learning to drive (which I am currently in denial about, my baby girl is not old enough to drive). She’s a typical teenage girl, loves music, dancing, and socializing with her friends. She hates homework, and cleaning her room, and she is a self-proclaimed band nerd.

Jiu-jitsu is the thing that makes her unique. I love the fact that we train together. She has a completely different style from me. She’s fast and crazy and not afraid to be aggressive on the mats…all the things I’m not. In the past we would do warm-ups and drills together, but on the advice of our coach, we have made an effort to train with other people. All those day-to-day frustrations we have with each other had a tendency to come out on the mats. It was good advice. It gave her the opportunity and the space to develop her own game. She also trains Muay Thai kickboxing.

I am so very proud of her. It’s not easy to train with a high school schedule, homework and marching band, but she makes it work. Training together has given us a unique mother-daughter bond. It’s not every day that you get to choke your mom or give your daughter a kick in the head! At the heart of it all though, it’s something that brings us together, no matter what may be going on in our personal lives, on the mats we can let go of it all and just train. We always leave exhausted and happy, smiling and talking about the things we learned that night.

And if you folks out there were wondering about her nickname, I gave that to her. When I first started jiu-jitsu she had already been training for quite some time. I was still new and so very slow and did not know anything. When she moved up to the adult class and I would roll with her, she was like a blur of arms and legs, spinning around me so fast I could not do anything. In that instant she became the “Tasmanian Devil.

We enjoy reading your blog. Have you always liked writing and do you have favorite blogs you browse through every week?

I have loved to write for as long as I can remember. In high school I developed a real passion for it thanks to some amazing English teachers (Ms. Clark and Mr. Gordon – thank you!). I sort of let it go for a while. Marriage, work and motherhood took the front seat and I did not feel the urge to write for a very long time.

Then I started jiu-jitsu and all that energy, emotion, and excitement that came from training had to go somewhere, and my blog was born. I thoroughly enjoy writing. It can be very therapeutic for me. I don’t write about technique very much, my writing is usually always going to be from the heart and personal. It’s about my journey to beautiful jiu-jitsu.

I have a lot of blogs that I read regularly: Ginger Snaps, Georgette’s Jiu Jitsu World, Tangled Triangle, BJJ Grrl, Shark Girl BJJ, Dagney’s Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Training, The Teacher Mom Donut-Eating MMA Lady, Jiu-Jiu’s BJJ Blog, Jiu Jitsu Family…to name just a few. You can check out my blog to see the full list. If those folks are posting, I’m reading.

Thank you, Debra!

Fenomenal Woman Jill Baker

31 Monday Dec 2012

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jill baker, socal wbjj, women's brazilian jiu jitsu

We finish the 2012 Fenomenal Woman series with Jill Baker from Bakersfield, CA. She is a mom of 3, a world champion, a teacher, a coach, and the driving force behind SoCal Women’s BJJ. She does a lot and does it well. Everyone meet Jill Baker!

You have been in jiu-jitsu for a long time. How did it all started?

I’ve actually been training jiu-jitsu for 6 years although I have been involved and watched my husband for about 16 years! I started training after he opened his gym in Bakersfield in 2002. He was teaching every night and I was working days. We barely saw each other and I decided to start training. I took may-be two classes and found out I was pregnant with my second child Roman, so I had to put it on the back burner. After my third child was born, I was determined to get back on the mat and stick with it and I have been completely hooked ever since.

Your husband is a black belt, you’re a brown belt, do you both work at the academy? Do your kids train as well?

Kylie, our oldest, is 13 and an orange belt. She is also my favorite training partner. Roman, 9, is a yellow belt and Kieran, 5, trains sometimes when he is not busy being a superhero. Matt, my husband, teaches all the classes at Bakersfield BJJ, I help with the kids classes and run our women’s program. It is a family affair, we all work there. I also have a day job, I’m a second grade teacher at Horace Mann Elementary School in Bakersfield.

Is it hard to train and work with your husband?

My husband is amazing, he is my coach, my mentor, and my best friend. We are both easy-going, so working together goes pretty smoothly. We don’t fight until about a week before a tournament. Stress levels go up especially when we are both hungry! Immediately after the competition and some pasta and dessert, everything is good again. We are at the point now that we have become used to the competition cycle and the mood swings it brings.

How did the Riveters ladies BJJ group start?

The Riveters was actually my way of introducing women to the awesome sport of jiu-jitsu. Many times I had witnessed women walk into the academy wanting to learn self-defense or sport jiu-jitsu but the number of women who stuck around was very small because of the overwhelmingly large male population. Many women were intimidated to roll with men especially when they had no idea what they were doing.

We try to make women feel comfortable and gain exposure to jiu-jitsu techniques and practice. After a few months, many of the women who started in the women only program, switch over and train with men and do quite well. When they know what to do, it is not quite so scary! Rosie the Riveter seemed the perfect icon for this type of group, one that empowers women to do something that is traditionally male dominated.

How often do you compete?

At the blue and purple belt level I tried to compete once a month. I got promoted in October and just did my first tournament as a brown belt. I will continue to compete as often as possible. Competing makes me stretch my limits and makes me stronger emotionally and physically. It’s not about winning necessarily but about challenging myself. I want to improve as a competitor and a coach. Each time I compete I gain a new experience I can share with others. I learn lessons about jiu-jitsu but more about life, about committing to something, about reaching for goals, and about preserving through seemingly impossible situations.

I am many times torn between being a mom and a competitor. I’ve had to listen to my baby screaming for me while it was my turn to walk onto the mat, which was heartbreaking. But I’ve also gotten to see the looks on the faces of my kids after winning. They are there with me through this all and I’m hoping to teach them to follow their dreams and jump in with both feet.

Any tips for busy moms who say there is not enough time for training or working out?

There is always time! The time we take for ourselves, even if it’s only an hour a day, helps us to be better parents, better spouses and better employees. Working out is not an option for a busy mom, it’s a necessity. Work out at home after the kids are in bed, get up 30 minutes early, whatever you need to do but do it, so that you are capable of giving to the others. The hardest part is the first five minutes and

You are also the organizer of SoCal women open mats that have grown tremendously in the past year. How did you get into it and how do you come up with all the fun names for each event?

About 2 years ago I met an amazing girl named Cecily Garcia Fischmann at a tournament. We competed together and then a mutual friend got us talking. Cecily had a plan to organize open mats in southern California because she wanted more female training partners. She explained her idea and I was excited to start working with her in making the open mats a reality. Word got out and women were eager to come and train in a non-threatening environment. We started with about 20 ladies at the first open mat in June 2011, and this year we’ve had over 50 participants at several of our events. It is an amazing sight to see such a number of women rolling under one roof!

Cecily has moved back to the East coast now leaving SoCal WOM in my hands. Each open mat brings its own flavor and experience, but never fails to provide good training opportunities for women who love to roll, whether they are a brand new white belt or a black belt. The open mats are always fun, always free, and sure to provide meaningful relationships in the world of women’s jiu-jitsu. The funny monthly names are a group effort. Sometimes the hosting school gives me ideas, sometimes my thirteen year old daughter or my husband share their brilliance, and other times I just think of a move that I have been working and put it with the month: Darcember, Septarmbar!

You won Masters 2012 purple belt double gold this year. What are your plans as a brown belt in 2013? What are the plans for Riveters and SoCal open mat for 2013?

2012 was an amazing competition year for me! I never dreamed that it would be possible for me to win PANs and Masters Worlds in the same year. Both of these experiences were once in a lifetime gifts from God and I was so lucky to have been able to share them with my family. This year I’m going to continue to train, and compete, and see what happens. This is a sport, it is not life. It is what allows me to be the best person I can be and manage my many responsibilities. I like to keep things in perspective. If I win, but sacrifice too much, then it’s not really winning. If I lose, and my family is still healthy, then who cares? It is all a balance game.

SoCal Women’s BJJ will continue to host open mats for females of all ages and experience levels. We are always looking for new academies to host in the pursuit of keeping SoCal WBJJ open and welcoming to girls from any school or team.

The Riveters will continue to build a solid foundation of knowledge in jiu-jitsu. We will use the sport to gain confidence in life and to better play the roles we have inherited. Whether we are doctors, teachers, secretaries, stay at home moms, or teenage girls, jiu-jitsu and our involvement in the sport will help us give our best to those whom we spend our time with.

Thanks Jill and Happy New Year!

~ News, events, ideas and all things Fenom

Fenomenal Woman Kristin Mikkelson

Love Mom

Amazonian Women’s Jiu-Jitsu

Fenomenal Woman Linford Murao

Hug Department: Always Open

Fenomenal Woman Liz Sussan

Pacific Northwest Grapplin’ Gals

Hannette Staack and Fenom Kimonos Pro-Partnership

Fenomenal Woman Debra Ibarra

Fenomenal Woman Jill Baker

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