Author Archives: fenomkimonos

Michelle Nicolini Women’s BJJ Seminar Tour

09 Monday Jun 2014

Posted by in News and Events, Women's BJJ

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On June 1, at the 2014 IBJJF Worlds, Michelle Nicolini added yet another world champion title to her impressive list of achievements. She is the only woman who has won world championships in light feather, feather, medium heavy, and open weight classes. Her latest win over Tammi Musumeci was the most talked about match of the 2014 championship, and the devastating arm lock she applied on her opponent was a submission most of us had never seen.

armlock

Michelle Nicolini is spending the rest of the month of June teaching Brazilian jiu-jitsu for women on both coasts. She is in Massachusetts, at Worcester MMA, June 9-14. The following weekend you can catch a women’s bjj seminar with her in San Francisco, at Ralph Gracie BJJ, and back to the East coast for the Grappling Girls Guild camp June 27-29, in Washington, DC. Don’t miss the opportunity to train with the most decorated black belt competitor, and learn the secrets of her annihilating submissions.

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Black Belt Corner with Michelle Wagner

23 Friday May 2014

Posted by in Fenomenal Women, Women's BJJ

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michellewagnerMichelle Wagner is one of the first American female black belts in the Pacific Northwest. She is a second degree black belt under the infamous Giva “The Arm Collector” Santana. Michelle started training in April 1998 to keep herself busy after ending a 7-year relationship. She was headed to a karate class when a friend derailed her plans, and took her to jiu-jitsu class instead. Jiu-jitsu became a big part of her life even though the instructors were hard to find. Her biggest influencers over the years were Marcelo Alonso, Juliano Prado, and Giva Santana.

She received her black belt from Marcio “Mamazinho” Laudier in 2007, and currently trains, and teaches part-time at Foster BJJ in Kent, Washington. Michelle focuses on helping her female students, and has been teaching women’s jiu-jitsu camps in Seattle area for the past couple of years. She has also hinted that a comeback to the competition scene is not out of the question.

What was the most challenging belt level for you?

The most challenging time for me in jiu-jitsu was during my years as a blue belt. Our academy was unexpectedly shut down, and that left us wondering what we were going to do next. There were not many choices for us because jiu-jitsu was new to the Pacific Northwest, and academies were few and far between. Eventually some of my team mates were able to find a garage where we could train. That grew into a new location, and into a new BJJ school. Although we still had challenges keeping instructors at the new location, we made do with who we were, and what we knew until we finally had someone to stay and teach for 6-7 years.

What advice would you give to women who have a hard time in training?

Michelle Wagner_B

Don’t give up! Find one reason that will make the difference for you. If BJJ is your passion, you will find a way to prevail, and make it past even the toughest challenges. Don’t be afraid to say NO to the person who doesn’t get what rolling with technique means. In all my years of training, my biggest pet peeve is rolling with people who just have to win at all cost. They are not worth your time or energy. Don’t be afraid to be straight up about it either. They are going to realize it some day on their own so you might as well be the first one to let them know.

Beautiful Submissions

15 Thursday May 2014

Posted by in Women's BJJ

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As the biggest tournament of the year, IBJJF World Championship 2014, is getting close, athletes are doing their last-minute drills fine-tuning their best escapes and submissions. The competition in women’s jiu-jitsu is tougher than ever, and last year’s victory does not make winning this year easier. The ones who strive to be better even when they are the best will prevail. The true champions must also be prepared to live with the failure. Having the courage to step on the mat knowing that there is a possibility of defeat separates them from the rest of us.

Winning by advantage points is getting more and more frowns lately. Some believe that the only way to really win is to submit your opponent. Others believe that a win by points or advantages is just as valuable. Many times the competitors are so even that the referee has to decide which competitor had greater offense, and came closest to scoring a possible point. Leaving it to the referee’s hands will most likely make the loser replay the match in her head over, and over, wondering what she should or could have done. Anyone who trains knows how hard it is to submit someone who has been training as hard as you, if not more. It takes great timing, technique, and the right amount of intensity to catch your opponent. There is nothing gentle in a submission but it’s beautiful and admirable.

It is exhilarating to win by submission. It is even greater if a photographer captures the exact moment when the opponent’s hand is tapping. Here are some of our favorite submission shots. We hope you like them!

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Black Belt Corner with Leticia Ribeiro

29 Tuesday Apr 2014

Posted by in Fenomenal Women

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lettyLeticia Ribeiro started her jiu-jitsu training in Brazil, at Gracie Tijuca academy, in 1994. She fell in love with the sport, trained 2-3 times a day, and received her blue belt in three months. Leticia holds nine world championship titles, seven in gi, and two in no-gi. She has been competing at the Worlds ever since the women’s divisions were introduced in 1998. She received her black belt from Royler Gracie, and Vinicius Aieta in 2000, after winning her first title in the black belt division. In 2008 she moved to California, and started leading Gracie Humaitá female team. In 2013 she opened her own academy, Gracie South Bay. Leticia is a third degree black belt, IBJJF Hall of Famer, and one of the busiest instructors teaching women’s jiu-jitsu seminars and camps all over the world.

Which belt level has been the most challenging for you?

White belt was the hardest for me. When you start training, you don’t even know how to move your body. Everything is new, even hip escape, and shrimping are difficult movements. When you get closer to the blue belt things become easier. You start to understand the game more, have better control of your body, and breathing. That’s when the fun really starts! I felt that after my first armbar. I thought: I love it, I want more!

Photo: Leka Vieira

Photo: Leka Vieira

Tournaments were tough back when I started training. There were only two divisions, and all belts together for women at the first Worlds in 1998. After a few years they separated blue belts, later on purple belts, and now we have all belts separate. I’ve seen the evolution of the women’s jiu-jitsu from the very beginning. I’m very happy with the progress. We have lots of good, technical fighters now. When I was a white belt, we did not have a lot of girls but I was lucky to have Leka Vieira to look up to. She was always two belts ahead of me, and had her female team. She has always been a huge inspiration for me.

What advice would you give to women who have a hard time in training? 

ARMBARS AND CHOKES_B

My advice to all the women who train BJJ is to keep going! Be confident, and be patient with yourself in the learning process. The hard times will pass, and the armbars and chokes will come. It is great if you want to compete, but it is also okay if you don’t want to compete. Jiu-jitsu is for everyone, it will help you in different aspects of your life.

It takes away all the stress at work, kids, family, and everything else that can disturb your day or sleep. Many people say that they don’t go to train because they are too tired from work. To me it sounds like an excuse. No excuses! After work get your gi, and go to class. I can guarantee that you will feel much better after training. Enjoy being on the mat not just to train but to enjoy your team who is your new family because your jiu-jitsu academy should be your second home. Good luck and good training!

Hello, Summer!

22 Tuesday Apr 2014

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Summer is the season that you look forward to all year, gripe about when it arrives, and are sorry when it’s gone. – Anonymous

As the weather warms up, sweaters and boots are packed away into the far corners of the closets, and colorful shorts, tank tops, and flowy dresses come out to play. Flip-flops are the go-to footwear in summertime. You can never have too many pairs!

Make some memories this summer in pretty Fenom flip-flops. Get a pair for now and one for later, and enjoy the sunny season.

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Black Belt Corner with Kris Shaw

01 Tuesday Apr 2014

Posted by in Fenomenal Women

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Kris-ShawOur Black Belt Corner series continues with Kris Shaw. She started training in 1997 in Texas but soon moved to Manhattan Beach, California, for work. In California Kris continued her training under Rigan Machado, and received her blue belt, and purple belt from him. In 2000, Leka Vieira came to Rigan Machado’s, and founded the legendary womens jiu-jitsu team. Despite not speaking any English, Leka built a very successful team, and the ladies won some major trophies. Kris was an active competitor at that time, and won several championships in Brazil, and the US. In 2004, Leka established her own academy, which was the first all female academy anywhere. Kris followed her instructor to the new academy, and received her black belt from Leka in May of 2005.

Currently she trains under Mauricio “Tinguinha” Mariano, and a few months ago was promoted to 2nd degree black belt. Kris is a mother of four young daughters, the owner of BJJ Legends Magazine, and on top of that teaches kids’ BJJ classes.

Which belt level has been the most challenging for you, and how did you overcome the challenges?

Black, black, black! Definitely black belt! My ortho is telling me that I have to quit training forever! I have a bad knee, and I need a knee replacement but I’m too young for the surgery, so it’s a catch 22. I feel my game slipping away. I want to feel the glory days, and run through everybody but now everybody runs through me. I have family commitments that I try to balance. The other weekend I was at a kid’s birthday party but I really wanted to check out Five Tournament. I don’t compete anymore, and I don’t own an academy. I’m getting older, and the white belts are getting younger.

You don’t really overcome getting older but I do make up for it by networking. I reached deep down, and figured out that the reason I still do jiu-jitsu is because of the people. We have a special, magic bond. Fight someone and you know that person. You can’t lie while you’re sparring. The pretenses are stripped away, and pretty much if you hang through a competition class, I like you!

What advice would you give to women who a have hard time in training?

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Is it your inner defeatist monologue? If you have an hour to get to class, and you’ve planned to go to all day, and that voice starts, you can’t go because if you leave now you will be late. You can’t go now because the couch is so comfortable. You can’t go now because the dog will miss you. Recognize it, turn it off, and go to class. Don’t argue with it, just turn it off! Everything else is out of your control, whether or not you get to class is within your control.

Self-doubt is horrible, and it affects us all. It still creeps up on me. Again, you have to recognize it to stop it. Here’s where a BJJ BFF (best friend) is the helpful. My BJJ BFF has gone through the same things I have, and vice versa. It’s funny because it’s like a script. I tell her, “My instructor didn’t even LOOK at me today!” And a week or a month later, she will tell me that her instructor doesn’t even know if she is alive. So if you can, get yourself a BJJ BFF.

Retail therapy. Buy some new gear. You have to go to class if you just dropped $180 on a new gi! Now counter that with some philanthropy. Give an old gi, give a new gi, go to a grapplethon, and roll for charity. Go to a women’s open mat and help a white belt.

I definitely don’t have all the answers but I hope you stay on the mats and reach your goals!

Southern Regional Championship

28 Friday Mar 2014

Posted by in Women's BJJ

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WBJJF is hosting Southern Regional Championship, a womens Brazilian jiu-jitsu tournament, on Saturday, March 29th. This is a no-gi and gi tournament for all ages and experience levels. It is shaping up to be the biggest event of its kind with nearly 100 competitors signed up.

The tournament benefits Rescue Her, a charity that fights human trafficking. Human trafficking is the third largest international crime industry behind illegal drugs, and fire arms trafficking, and it generates a staggering 32 billion dollars a year. Approximately 80% of trafficking involves sexual exploitation. It is a modern-day slavery that victimizes children as young as 3 years old. Rescue Her raises money for prevention, intervention, and desperately needed after care both in the US and abroad.

Fenom Kimonos is sponsoring the event by providing cash prizes to the expert divisions. Purple, brown, and black belt ladies have a chance to win up to $500.00, depending on how stacked the brackets are. Come out to see the best Texas jiu-jitsu women in action, and support a great charity!

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Messy Hair, Don’t Care!

04 Tuesday Mar 2014

Posted by in Women's BJJ

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Who wants to take a picture after a long, sweaty work out? Jiu-jitsu women do! No make-up? No Photoshop? No problem! These ladies have a cool, messy hair, don’t care attitude, and they are definitely comfortable in front of the camera. The cheerful pictures are a great contrast to glossy, overworked magazine images that girls, and women are seeing every day. The women seem to be having a genuinely good time, and the photos make you wish you were there.

Back in 2011 SoCal women started the trend of taking group pictures where everyone was trying to choke the person next to them. Now most seminars, and open mats end with a friendly group choke or some other creative shot.

Here are some of our favorite pictures from women’s jiu-jitsu events. We hope you like them!

The Original Group Choke

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The Riveters

riveters

Australian Heart in Gis

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The Circle of Chokes

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The Tower

brutepyramid

The Jump

jump

The Zigzag

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Sweaty Betties

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Secret Meeting

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Raise the Roof

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The Wave

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Happiness

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Black Belt Corner with Luciana ”Luka” Dias

28 Friday Feb 2014

Posted by in Fenomenal Women

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Luciana “Luka” Dias was born on December 4, 1962 and began her martial arts career in judo under Petrucio Monteiro while studying physical education. About two years later, in 1986, Luka met Wellington “Megaton” Dias who introduced her to BJJ at a summer camp in Rio de Janeiro.

She started training jiu-jitsu with the Machado brothers in Teresopolis City, and earned her blue belt under them in August 1988, and her purple belt in February 1998. Yes, it’s not a typo, it took Luka 10 years to go from blue to purple because of work, moving, and life general. After graduating from the university she moved to Florida in 1989. Luka and Megaton reconnected in the US in 1996, and Megaton became her mentor, coach, and husband.

Luka has been an active competitor in judo and BJJ for decades, her most recent tournament being the IBJJF European Championship in 2014. She is one of the highest ranked female black belts in the world, and a huge supporter of women’s jiu-jitsu.

What was the most challenging belt level for you?

luka

I would say purple and brown were definitely the most challenging belt levels for me. Purple belt was hard because I felt more advanced and, wanted to prove more to myself and my professors. It was the rank where I felt more power, and that my technique was solid. It was also most challenging time in my competition career. I had to compete against brown and black belts. We did not have enough women in the sport so the brackets were combined from purple to black.

The brown belt for me was more about focusing on getting my black belt. It was the time to refine and polish the techniques. I received my brown belt in 2001, and was finally awarded my black belt in 2003 by Royler Gracie and Megaton.

What advice would you give to women who are struggling?

D

Ladies, we all have hard time in training but remember that you are strong, and you can do multiple tasks. Never stay away from the mats too long because the longer you are out, the harder it is to come back. Injuries are common in our sport, you have to get used to it. Treat your injuries well, and listen to your doctor!

Try to have a good quality workout, and follow a health- conscious diet. Each day is different, some are good, some are not so good but try to learn something from your professors and higher ranked teammates every day. Respect to earn respect!

Most importantly, be humble about your success, don’t try to be all that! Remember where you came from, and all the people who helped you along. Help the ones who are struggling. Your good qualities will appear with humbleness. Always be honest and true to yourself. Keep training hard! Love you all!!!