Voices of Women in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
Abby Bradley (Brown Belt Head Women’s Coach at Legion Jiu Jitsu Hendersonville)
I have been training for about 10 years. I started in 2003, took a long break at blue belt, and started training again shortly after the birth of my son in 2015. My WHY for training has changed throughout the years. I’ve been a college kid looking to stay in shape, a postpartum mother simply wanting an hour to do something for myself. Now, I train because I want my kids to see me work hard for something. I want my daughter (and all the young girls training) to see a woman leading a jiu jitsu class. I want my kids to know that when you struggle and work hard to earn something, that’s where true value is.
I also train because some of the closest friendships of my life were started on the jiu jitsu mats. The sisterhood developed on the mat is like no other. Training jiu jitsu has made me a stronger person, both physically and mentally. Training jiu jitsu is the best gift I’ve ever given myself. It is HARD, but it is so incredibly worth it.
Jiu Jitsu has been proven to be the best martial art to train for self-defense purposes because it uses leverage and timing over speed and strength. And let’s be honest, women are much more likely to be assaulted than men. So, for any woman wanting to learn the tools to defend herself, jiu jitsu is the best option.
Starting jiu jitsu is a huge leap out of your comfort zone, and for many women it’s a leap too far to train in close contact with men you don’t know. Our women’s classes help bridge that gap. We are a group of women of all ages training together. We have students from middle school to college, career women, new moms, competitors, hobbyists, and everywhere in between. We have classes three days a week, so even if you don’t want to ever take a co-ed class, you can still successfully train and learn to defend yourself.
Dawn Lowery (Brown Belt Head Women’s Coach at Legion Jiu Jitsu Murfreesboro)
Training Jiu Jitsu has been one of the best choices that I have ever made. It has shown me parts of myself that I was unaware of and has brought upon an immense amount of self-pride. As a female, I have never felt any lesser than any of the male trainers nor have I ever been treated any lesser than the male trainers. I have been very fortunate to of had coaches that have always pushed me past my comfort zone and continued to believe in me when at times I had doubts. Jiu Jitsu is hard on the body and hard on the mind, but it will continuously remind you just how mentally strong you are. There is no better timing, no needed athletic ability, and no perfect shape to start training, Jiu Jitsu will accept you as you are and open your eyes to who you are and what your capable of.
As a female to learn Jiu Jitsu is both empowering and self-motivating. I can understand some women not wanting to train because they feel self-conscious about their body, maybe they just feel it’s a male sport or maybe they fear getting hurt. I had some doubts before starting but once I finished my very first class I was completely fascinated to train again. Starting Jiu Jitsu at a later age has opened my eyes to an entire new side of myself.
Somewhere being a mom and a wife, I lost part of my identity, everyday life was to continuously do for others, and I had kept putting myself to the side. Once I started training, the mats offered me personal time. That one hour of training placed me somewhere else and offered me an outlet to reset and do something for myself. With every passing training session, I kept finding something new out about myself, I learned I was stronger than I thought. I learned that I enjoyed being pushed passed my perceived limits both physically and mentally. I learned I really enjoy other people and watching them achieve their goals. Jiu Jitsu is not just a sport; it is a path. Jiu Jitsu will change you; it will teach you self-defense, it will teach you humbleness, it will teach you dedication. But above all it will leave you with an overwhelming amount of pride within yourself.
Women from All Different Backgrounds
Our women’s program is growing daily! Some of the women that train with us are police officers, lawyers, nurses, therapists, or full-time moms. Some have been involved in sports their entire life, for others, trying a Jiu Jitsu class was a huge step out of their comfort zone. Jiu Jitsu is an empowering and practical martial art that develops realistic self-defense techniques, as well as introduces you to a positive group of women who instill the idea that you are worth defending!
