Jiujiteira Magazine Apr/May 2022

JIUJITEIRAMAGAZINE.COM

issue fourteen | apr/may 2022

Heart
of Gold

page

20

APR/MAY 2022 cover story 20

Journey to Glory

sections: 32
34
FINE AS WINE 38
Competition After 45 40
42
BY ALMINE BARTON

GIRLS IN GIS
Don't Make Jiu-Jitsu Your One & Only

BY SHAMA KO

OUT OF THE CAGE
I Am an Outlier at My Gym, Now What?

BY SAMANTHA SCHELL

BEHIND THE LENS
Bellator Press Conference

BY BLANCA MARISA GARCIA

ASK THE DOC
Hip Pain

BY CHRISTINE FLETCHER

THIS issue: 4
PUBLISHER'S CORNER
A Moment in Time 28
CLOSE CHOKE
Lila Smadja-Cruz 44
COMMUNITY DIRECTORY 46
JIUJITEIRAS AROUND THE WORLD

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CRIS CYBORG: CHAMPION OF HEARTS 40
“I love to fight, and I always want to be the champion, but to be the
champion of people’s hearts for me is the most important,” says Cyborg

PHOTO BY BLANCA MARISA GARCIA

JIUJITEIRAMAGAZINE.COM | J I U J I T E I R A MAGAZINE | 3

EVELYN SUTTON is on a mission APR/may 2022
to uncover and promote the universe
of women in one of the deadliest ISSUE № 14
martial arts in the world.
PUBLISHERs

PUBLISHER’s corner &

A Moment in Time king's table
studios
Not one, but three young women in our Gabi Pessanha is an inspiration, born in
community have accomplished what seemed humble beginnings with all odds stacked Creative Director & CEO
impossible only a decade ago. If you follow the against her. If you are familiar with the slums Evelyn Sutton
Jiu-Jitsu competition circuit you know what the (favelas) in Brazil, you can appreciate what an
buzz is all about. The superstar Jiujiteiras are enormous obstacle she had to overcome to be writers
Nathalie Ribeiro, Gabi Pessanha and Mayssa in the United States and the significance of her Almine Barton
Bastos. All three are positioned to conquer the accomplishment today at only 21 years old. Blanca Marisa Garcia
IBJJF Grand Slam in 2022 in the women's black- Life in the favelas is dangerous, unstable and Chris Fletcher
belt division, a task of Herculean magnitude. unpredictable, particularly where Gabi comes Charlotte McKinley
These ladies are only one gold medal away from, the infamous Cidade de Deus (City of David Sutton
of experiencing, what could very well be, the God), a place where the police is afraid to go Evelyn Sutton
greatest moment of their professional careers. to, ruled by ruthless drug lords and where
To become an IBJJF Grand Slam champion you elementary school-aged children are criminals Girls in Gis
must win the four largest and most important who shoot to kill. Jiu-Jitsu offered her a way Katie Egan
tournaments of the year; Europeans, Pans, out, a path to a better life and this young lady is Samantha Schell
Brazilian Nationals, and finally Worlds. All creating a masterpiece with that opportunity. Sophia McDermott
of these events take place in the span of six And then there is Mayssa. A veteran of the Vanessa Waltz
months, from January to June, and there are no competition circuit, Mayssa has been one Yvone Duarte
breaks or room for injuries or mistakes. You of the most dominant competitors in her
must compete, overcome every athlete in your division since earning her black-belt in 2018. proofreading
division and win gold consistently back-to-back. A well-respected and feared opponent, she fits Edgard Esperança
As athletes, their accomplishments are great, her nickname "Pequena Notável" (Remarkable
however what they mean for all women in Jiu- Little One) and has been nothing short of sales managers
Jitsu is even greater, they inspire us and propel phenomenal this year. Priscilla Vaessa Montes
us forward. They are proof that women are in Jiu-Jitsu empowers women by breaking gender
Jiu-Jitsu to stay, as experts on the mats, breaking inequalities and stereotypes. This is a moment (Texas)
records, making history, and creating legacy. in time to celebrate and be proud to be part of
Through a myriad of trials and sacrifice, this movement. When one of us wins big, and photography
these ladies are now enjoying time in the sun. takes women's Jiu-Jitsu to higher evolution and Blanca Marisa Garcia
Nathalie, who graces our cover, is an example greater recognition, we all win! Elliot Brownstein, EBMedia
of resilience. After facing off Ffion Davies and Glory awaits Nathalie, Gabi and Mayssa just Evelyn Sutton (cover photo)
losing to her four times, Tata finally defeated around the corner at IBJJF World 2022 at the
her nemesis and won her second world Walter Pyramid in Long Beach, CA. Michelle Chopp
title at Pans — just one of the breath-taking
performances she delivered this year. HEADQUARTERS/FLORIDA OFFICE:
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AUGUST 20, 2O22
| SATURDAY 12PM |

MARCUS

BUCHECHA
ALMEIDA
Seminar
13 x Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt World Champion
IG: marcusbuchecha

carlson gracie jiu-jitsu team melbourne, fl

IU JITSU M

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happenings

RISWEarriorThe women of STO RY BY EV ELY N SUT TO N
of a PHOTOS BY ELLIOT BROWNSTEIN, EBM

Rise of a Warrior is an organization that continues to support women
in combat sports and MMA. Recently, two particular matches stood
out: an intense title fight between Miriam Nazar and Evelyn Romo
where Nazar, a proud Mexicana athlete, mother of two girls took the
victory with a display of technical excellence and a whole lot of heart (pages
7-9); while Tiahna Guyen dominated the entire match and took the win over
Samantha Ramirez (pages 10-11). Congratulations to the athletes who put on
an incredible show! Follow Rise of a Warrior on IG: riseofawarriormma

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PHOTO BY SUBMISSION HUNTER PRO

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HAPPENINGS

Yara Nascimento is
crowned ‘Queen Of
Mats’ in Abu Dhabi

in one of the most challenging jiu-jitsu
arenas in the world, the Brazilian
jiujiteira left her competition in the dust

ara Nascimento won champion, Nascimento is currently the A display of superior technical skills
the coveted title of only heavyweight to defeat Gabrieli Pes- was evident in all of the matches which
‘Queen of Mats’ at the sanha, the Abu Dhabi World Professional showcased the very best of international
fourth edition of the pop- Jiu-Jitsu Championship (ADWPJJC) women's Jiu-Jitsu. After defeating Rafa-
ular championship held as champion and now Abu Dhabi Queen of ela Bertolot in the final, Nascimento had
part of the season-ending Abu Mats (ADQOM) heavyweight champion. this to say of her accomplishment: “This
is as good a reason to rejoice as any. I
Dhabi Grand Slam World The all-female event also featured, Julia can’t describe how thrilled I am. Win-
Tour finale, the prestigious Boscher, a three-time Abu Dhabi Grand ning the title means I was able to surpass
tournament was highlighted by Slam champion, Ingridd Sousa, gold the best in my sport and for that I need
incredible performances from promi- medallist at the 2021 ADWPJJC, and to thank my technical staff for providing
nent black-belt champion Jiujiteiras. Thalyta Silva, who delivered and im- us with everything in terms of training
pressive performance at ADGS London.
A four-time Abu Dhabi Grand Slam and support.” Y

STAY INFORMED ON EVERYTHING THAT IS HAPPENING STO RY BY EV ELY N SUT TO N
IN THE UNIVERSE OF WOMEN'S JIU-JITSU AND MMA: PHOTOS BY AJPTOUR
JIUJITEIRAMAGAZINE.COM
MORE INFO: AJPTOUR.COM

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COACH TALK ELEVATE YOUR JIU-JITSU

Tomoe
Nage

the sacrifice throw

The Tomoe Nage is one of the most
popular throws in Judo and is used to
throw the opponent over your head. The
Tomoe Nage is one of the original 40 Judo
throws and it has a long history in the
sport. Although primarily a Judo technique,
Jiujiteiras will enjoy incorporating the Tomoe
Nage in their game for it plays well into the
rules of competitive Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Shown here is a traditional Judo throw the Tomoe Nage,
a front sacrifice throw. This is initiated off of a guard pull.

KAT IE E AGA N is a brown belt training out of Seattle, WA at
Foster Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, a One Jiu Jitsu affiliate as both an athlete
and an assistant coach. She has notable wins on Nogi Worlds,
Nogi and Gi Pans, Master Worlds, Europeans, American Nationals
and F2W. She is a referee for IBJJF, F2W, and Grappling Industries
and runs Women Who Roll. IG: womenwhorollbjj

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BREAKING IT DOWN

▶ First Katie initiates grips with one hand ▶ As she is throwing her partner she is
on the collar and one on the sleeve behind bringing her legs towards her chest to get
the elbow near the tricep. the power to propel them over.

Tomoe Nage (Circle ▶ Next, she takes a step to make an angle ▶ To finish the move Katie is ending in
Throw) is a Judo rotating towards the arm with the elbow knee on belly, pulling up with the sleeve
technique that is sleeve grip. grip and punching down with the collar
categorized as a front grip. Her foot on her partners abdomen is
sacrifice throw (Ma ▶ To initiate the throw Katie falls on her off of the ground and hooked around their
Sutemi). The technique is back close to her partners hips. From there hip while her knee is pointed towards her
referred to as a sacrifice the same side foot as the collar grip goes to partners chest. In a competition she would
throw because the the opponents hips to throw her opponent be awarded four points, two for the the
practitioner applying it over her shoulders onto their back. takedown and two for knee on belly.
falls back while throwing.
SCAN THIS QR CODE
WITH YOUR PHONE'S
CAMERA TO WATCH
T H E ST E P - BY- STE P
VIDEO TUTORIAL

Total Competition Points: 4
2 for the the takedown and 2 for knee on belly

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HAPPENINGS

PAN 2022

photo essay highlights

PH OTO S BY E VE LYN SUT TO N

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JIUJITEIRAMAGAZINE.COM

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COVER STORY

Heart of

Gloryjourney to

STO RY A N D PH OTO S BY EV ELY N SUT TO N

n the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competition circuit, the year of 2022 will forever be known
as the year female athletes achieved what seemed nearly impossible only a
decade ago. Three shinning stars have illuminated the scene since the first
major IBJJF event of the year and have stayed in the spotlight: Nathalie Ribeiro,
Gabi Pessanha and Mayssa Bastos — these Jiujiteiras are all positioned to win
the legendary IBJJF Grand Slam, which means winning all four major IBJJF events
in the same year: Europeans, Pan Americans, Brazilian Nationals and World.
Get to know these talented athletes who have taken women's Jiu-Jitsu to a whole
new level of expertise and be inspired by their journey from trials to glory.

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nathalie ribeiro

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MAIN ACHIEVEMENTS (BLACK BELT) orn November 6, 1992, in the "Cidade Maravilhosa"
(Wonderful City) of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Nathalie
• IBJJF European Open Champion (2022) Ribeiro, commonly known as "Tata" Ribeiro is cur-
rently at the top of the lightweight division, with 2022
• IBJJF CBJJ Brazilian Nationals being the most successful year of her career, yet.
Champion (2022) A prominent figure in women's Jiu-Jitsu, Nathalie received her
black belt in 2018, and since then has been a consistent presence at IBJJF events, NoGi
• IBJJF Pan Champion (2022) tournaments and supefights like Fight2Win. Nathalie solidified her status as one of the
top female grapplers in the world after significant wins at major events and UAEJJF
• IBJJF Pan Champion (2021) Grand Slam including her victory at PAN 2022 when she defeated her nemesis Ffion
Davies, who she had previously lost to in four matches, in an intense battle for the gold.
• IBJJF Pan Champion No-Gi (2021) Growing up, this Brazilian beauty was dedicated to sports competing in gymnastics,
swimming and trampolining, and starting BJJ at 8 years old. Both her parents train
• 2nd Place IBJJF World Championship Jiu-Jitsu and family has always been an important support system of Nathalie's journey.
No-Gi (2021) After becoming a mother, Tata stopped training for three years. Once she returned, her
dedication and commitment to the sport was evident.
• 3rd Place IBJJF World Championship With a powerful, and highly technical style, Nathalie is a fan-favorite, who consistently
(2021) delivers must-watch performances.

• IBJJF Pan Champion No-Gi (2020) Follow on IG: tatawribeiro

• 2nd Place IBJJF Pan Championship 29-14-0 (W-L-D)
(2020)
Lineage: Carlos Gracie ▶ Helio Gracie ▶ Rolls Gracie ▶ Romero Cavalcanti (Jacaré) ▶
• 3rd Place IBJJF European Open (2020) Leonardo Vieira (Leozinho ▶ Lucas Leite ▶ Nathalie Ribeiro
Team: Checkmat
• 3rd Place IBJJF Pan Championship
(2019) JIUJITEIRAMAGAZINE.COM | J I U J I T E I R A MAGAZINE | 2 3

• IBJJF World Champion No-Gi (2019)

• IBJJF Grand Slam LA Champion (2018)

• IBJJF Las Vegas Open Champion (2018)

• IBJJF San Diego Open Champion
(2018)

• IBJJF Dallas Spring Open Champion
(2018)

gabi pessanha

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MAIN ACHIEVEMENTS (BLACK BELT) orn and raised in one of Brazil's most dangerous
slums, "Cidade de Deus" (City of God) favela in Rio
• IBJJF World Championship (2021) de Janeiro, today Gabrieli Pessanha is widely recog-
• IBJJF Pan Championship (2021/2022) nized as one of the most promising female BJJ athletes
• IBJJF European Open (2022) of her generation but her love and dedication for Jiu-Jitsu
• IBJJF South American Championship wasn't something that came easy to her.
(2020) An athletic child, growing up Gabi played soccer, trained judo and danced ballet. In 2010,
• CBJJ Brazilian Nationals (2022) she was introduced to BJJ by a local athlete named Marcio de Deus who started a commu-
• AJP Abu Dhabi World Pro (2021) nity outreach program to keep the favela kids away from drugs and violence by training
• AJP Queen Of Mats (2020) Jiu-Jitsu instead. Gabi started training but she was not an immediate fan of grappling,
• AJP Grand Slam, RJ (2020) and felt uncomfortable with the close contact nature of the sport. However Coach Marcio
• AJP Grand Slam, LDN saw her true potential and became a powerful mentor for Gabi, encouraging her not only
(2018/2020/2022) to train consistently but to give competitions a try. Gabi displayed an amazing natural
aptitude for Jiu-Jitsu and started winning national level tournaments from the start. Hav-
Follow on IG: gabrieli_pessanha ing competed since her teenage years at both IBJJF and UAEJJF events, Gabi has earned
numerous titles, including World, European, Pan American, and Brazilian National. She
was promoted to black belt in 2019, at the age of 18, becoming one of the youngest
professional BJJ women black belts in the world.
After a hard loss in 2016, she became more focused and ambitious. Her dedication
earned Gabi her first IBJJF Grand Slam win in 2018 as a purple belt. Now she is getting
ready to do it again. From humble beginnings to the top of the world. Gabrieli Pessanha
is a true inspiration that hard work and dedication can make dreams come true.

49-2-0 (W-L-D)

Lineage: Carlos Gracie ▶ Helio Gracie ▶ Rickson Gracie ▶ Renam Pitangui ▶
‘Pitoco’ Jordan ▶ Rogério Poggio ▶ Marcio de Deus ▶ Gabrieli Pessanha
Team: InFight JJ

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mayssa bastos

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MAIN ACHIEVEMENTS (BLACK BELT) women's roosterweight favorite, Mayssa
Bastos has ruled the division since receiving her
• IBJJF World Championship (2019/2021) black belt in 2018. Having won three of the major
• IBJJF World Championship NOGI IBJJF events this year, the opportunity to finally
(2018 /2021) conquer the Grand Slam shines bright for the
• IBJJF Pans Championship NOGI Brazilian athlete from Niterói, in Rio de Janeiro.
(2018/2021 /2022) Before BJJ, Mayssa trained Judo at 12 years old with her father and brother. The tran-
• CBJJ Brazilian Nationals NOGI (2018) sition to Jiu-Jitsu was natural and young Mayssa quickly fell in love with grappling,
• IBJJF American Nationals (2018/ 2022) spending all of her free time perfecting her skills on the mats and putting them to the
• IBJJF Pans Championship (2019/2020) test at local tournaments. A fierce competitor, Mayssa is an undeniable force to be
• AJP Abu Dhabi World Pro (2019) reckoned with and has earned the respect and even fear of her opponents with multi
• IBJJF European Open championship titles at IBJJF European Open, Pan and UAEJJF Abu Dhabi Pro under her
(2019/2020/2022) belt. By the age of 23, Mayssa had already won almost every single major BJJ tourna-
• IBJJF Asian Open (2018) ment multiple times in both Gi and NoGi. Small and mighty, she is as knowledgeable of
• AJP Grand Slam, MSK (2019) the gentle art as she is passionate.
• AJP Grand Slam, TYO (2018) In 2021, Mayssa won FloGrappling's Who's Number One Championship defeating 10th
• AJP Grand Slam, MIA (2020/2021) Planet legend Grace Gundrum and became Eddie Bravo Invitational (EBI) first straw-
• AJP Grand Slam, RJ (2018) weight champion that same year. This year, in February, she won ADCC Submission
• WNO Championship (2021) Fighting 2nd South American Trials and has qualified for the 2022 ADCC World Champi-
• EBI 18 – The Strawweights (2018) onship. Winning the Grand Slam will be a nice addition to her already jeweled crown.
• 2nd Place IBJJF Pan Championship Follow on IG: mayssabastos
(2021/2018)
79-10-0 (W-L-D)

Lineage: Luis França ▶ Oswaldo Fadda ▶ Monir Salomão ▶ Júlio César ▶ Mayssa Bastos

Team: GF Team

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close choke

A NoGi Trailblazer

Passionate about women’s self-defense and Jiu-Jitsu,
Lila Smadja-Cruz, is one of the top female competitors
and pioneers in the sport. As one of 10th Planet HQ’s
original and longest training students she is the 3rd black-belt
under Eddie Bravo. In 2016, she co-founded the original
10th Planet Women’s Self Defense program stationed
out of 10th Planet Pasadena where she runs the
Fundamental Program and Kids Program.

STORY & PHOTOS BY BLANCA MARISA GARCIA

JM: How long have you been training few months of living a double life, I was going JM: Talking about the quintet, that is one
to training and then going to wedding dress of the very first international all-female
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu? fittings. It was super fun and it made me not cards, correct? How did you feel about
LC: I’ve been training Jiu-Jitsu for worry so much about my wedding. I had a performing with the other ladies?
12 years and I am the third black belt LC: Yes, it was! Honestly, it was like a sister-
under Eddie Bravo. hood between us. It was one of the best ex-
periences of my life. All five of us have such
JM: What do you think about Medusa different backgrounds, we come from five
different worlds, five different personalities
Female Only Jiu-Jitsu? and we just all connected in this really inter-
LC: I love it! I think it’s super exciting and I esting way because there was a lot of quality
really hope to get to be on the show in the time, we were all together, just us and Eddie,
near future. I’m dealing with a couple of who is the best icebreaker, he was making
injuries right now but hopefully once I get us laugh on the way to the venue, press in-
them situated I can be on Medusa. terviews, all the things we had to do. It was
a really great experience. We all got to know
JM: How long did it take you to each other and forged a bond the five of us
are going to share forever, for sure.
earn your black belt?
LC: About 9 years. JM: Did you ever envision that you
were going to be running your own
JM: During that time you were engaged to great performance at EBI, I didn’t take home school in Pasadena?
the win but that’s okay, it was still fun. Then LC: Not really. I definitely envisioned having
a black-belt, Erik Cruz, who is your hus- I got married a week later and got my black- my own women’s self-defense program
belt after my trip to Japan with the all-female somewhere and flourishing that but not
band now. How was that experience? quintet when I went with Liz Carmouche, necessarily owning a gym. But then my
LC: It was interesting. I started training be- Elvira Karpinnen, Grace Gundrum, and husband Erik “Compella” Cruz and Eric
cause of Erik. I was taking private lessons from Fabiana Jorge. It was such an awesome trip Ramey, my husband’s business partner, had
him, he got me into the sport and showed me and after we came back from that trip I got
the ropes. I fell in love with the sport and with my black belt from Eddie Bravo.
him, obviously. And then I did the all-female
EBI 12. I was getting ready for it and my
wedding was a week later. It was a really epic

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Watch Lila Smadja-Cruz and the
Quintent compete at Fight Night
3, April, 2019 in Japan and more
exclusive video content:

Scan the
QR code:

been talking about opening a gym, 10th weight class to start and see how that goes. all women based. I definitely think Eddie
Planet Pasadena, for about a year before it It would help more smaller competitors do Bravo really opened the doors for women
happened. We knew then this was going to ADCC trials. in NoGi to compete at the highest level. I
be a part of our journey together and we was watching the most recent Medusa from
were lucky enough to have Eric Ramey be a JM: What do you think is best for Jiujitei- home and some of the girls I had never even
part of it as well. It’s been a blessing to have ras who just started BJJ but who are con- heard of before, and they were amazing!
this family that we created here in Pasadena. tinuously training and competing? Do you It’s so great to see all these up-and-coming
feel they should go to high end IBJJF and young women showcasing their skills, their
JM: In the past couple of years (because of ADCC competitions automatically or do heart, dedication and hard work to the sport
the pandemic) have you seen an increase you think they should start with smaller on a major stage.
in women enrollment? local tournaments first?
LC: I’ve seen an increase in women enroll- LC: For anybody just starting out in Jiu-Jitsu JM: What are some of the fun things you
ment but not an increase of women staying they should start with smaller local tour- enjoy outside of Jiu-Jitsu?
consistent, which has always been the strug- naments and work their way up because it’s LC: I love spending quality time with my
gle. It’s definitely my goal, passion and drive only going to give them more experience, family and close friends who are like family.
to get women not only to enroll but to stay more mat time. Nowadays we have so many Life is short so you really got to take in all
consistent with their training. When they more opportunities for women to compete the goodness of your family and friends. Be-
come in for a women’s self defense program in smaller tournaments – we got NAGA, sides that I like to eat and cook, my favorite
or seminar, they leave feeling amazing and we got SubFighter and many more other dish to make is bolognesa. I love cooking
they often sign up, but then only come to tournaments in between, I think it’s great! and having people come over. I also have a
one or two classes. I know for me personally, I started with all sweet dog I love, Moca, he’s always with me
these small tournaments. I think it’s nice to
JM: What are your feelings in regards to have these small ones first before you hit the and enjoys hanging out at the gym. Y
ADCC being one of the oldest tourna- big stages of EBI, Medusa, Combat Jiu-Jitsu,
ments, the “Olympics of Jiu-Jitsu” and yet ADCC, IBJJF… those small ones are a great “It’s definitely
having only two weight classes for women? ladder to the top. my goal, passion
LC: Now that there are more women com- and drive to get
peting, I definitely think there should be JM: How do you see the future of women women not only to
at least one extra weight class. I’m on the in NoGi? enroll but to stay
smaller side of the 115lbs weight class, and I LC: I have high hopes for the future of consistent with
believe for ADCC the weight class for wom- women, especially in NoGi. I know that Gi their training.”
en is 135lbs and under so for people like me, is still more popular for women but since
Grace Gundrum or Danielle Kelly who are Eddie Bravo has brought up EBI, Medusa
really tiny it’s very hard to go against women and Combat Jiu-Jitsu – maybe they are
who are cutting down from 150lbs to get to interested in getting into MMA after – that
135lbs. I think ADCC should open at least has been giving women more opportunities
one more division in the women’s lower to compete in such a great forum where it’s

3 0 | J I U J I T E I R A MAGAZINE | JIUJITEIRAMAGAZINE.COM

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FINE AS WINE Want MORE? Read "Fine as Wine" online:
jiujiteiramagazine.com/category/fine-as-wine
Competition
After MANY OF US
COMPETE TO
FILL IN THE

“GAPS”

OF OUR LIVES.
WHATEVER IT IS,
THERE’S NO RIGHT OR
WRONG REASON TO
DO BJJ, OR COMPETE.
BUT, IT IS IMP ORTANT
TO B E R A D ICA LLY

HONEST

WITH YOURSELF &
UNDERSTAND YOUR

“ WHY.”

HERE’S SOMETHING DIFFERENT ABOUT 45. I can’t quite put my finger on it. I didn’t think
it would feel any different than 40. But, it does. Something peaked at 45. Or, should I say
“settled.” Everything inside me feels more settled. I guess I thought I would know more
about life than I do. The difference is, I’m more okay with not knowing. I’ve embodied more
the attitude of “If it flows into your life, let it. If it flows out of your life, let it.” I no longer force things
that feel strained, or “not there.” One-sided relationships (of any kind), be it business, friendship or

romantic, I just let run its course. I no longer try to hold on, when nothing is there to hold onto.

*Nothing written in the “Masters Column” A L MIN E BA RTON is the creator of Hips & Grips Jiu-Jitsu &
is to be taken instead of medical advice Climbing Camps for women. A purple belt under Professora
from your health care provider. Please Amanda Loewen, Almine is a licensed acupuncturist &
consult your physician before engaging in certified fitness trainer who has been treating & training pro
any physical activity, or partaking of any athletes for 23 years. IG: @alminebarton
vitamin, herb, or supplement.

3 2 | J I U J I T E I R A MAGAZINE | JIUJITEIRAMAGAZINE.COM

That lesson is there in a physical gave him a sense of deep relief. He began to These issues are pretty specific to midlife
manifestation in the two sports compete. “I wanted an excuse to be at the rollers. Even though the master’s division
that I love: JiuJitsu & Climbing. gym more, because of how good I felt there. age bracket starts in the 30’s, the above 2
You have to learn to let go, not I told myself if I competed, then I would scenarios are what you’ll see more with mas-
“over-grip,” & train your sensitivity to know need to train harder & attend more classes. ter’s athletes in their mid 40’s on up.
when it’s beneficial to hold on. And, when it Thus, being at home less by myself.” Many midlife rollers that I’ve spoken with
hurts to do so. The highest suicide rate between men and shy away from competing. Or, they do it less
How does the “Let it flow” mentality apply women is undoubtedly men. That, in and of and less every year. Perhaps it’s rising comp.
to competition then? Competing is so itself, is a large topic of conversation. But, costs, the increased gym hours needed to
goal-oriented, with focused “blinders” on. loneliness was the #1 reason cited. compete, the higher risk of injury (& slower
Kind of the opposite of “let it flow.” Or, is it? I always tell people, “JiuJitsu is NOT your recovery rate), or other more mid-life ap-
When I ask my fellow Masters athletes about therapy. It can augment and support thera- propriate life priorities.
their “WHY,” when it comes to competing, py. But, it’s not to take its place.” There is no “right or wrong” to competing.
the answers seem to feel different than it We’re all responsible for understanding the I just suggest folks understand their “Why,”
would if they were in their 20’s & 30’s. core issues we’re using BJJ to self-medicate and get honest with it. I think that raw hon-
Many of us compete to fill in the “gaps” of for. And, it’s OKAY. We ALL do it. But, we esty with one’s shortcomings, or reasons for
our lives. These “gaps” can take many forms: need to break the stigma and talk about doing something comes easier with age.
family issues at home, loneliness, proving you what holes we’re filling in our life with the Life has handed you several doses of harsh
“still got it,” or feeling a “second leash on life” added competition training classes, and reality by the time you hit your mid 40’s.
through a new sport. Maybe you didn’t make hours on the mat. I don’t see anything The “illusion veil” has been peeled back
the cut to go pro in another sport. Maybe wrong with self-medicating with good many times, often in a painful way. There’s
JiuJitsu is filling the gap for community you things in your life. I just think the awareness also a deeper internal “well” of experience
long for. Whatever it is, there’s no right or of WHY you’re doing it, is important. and wisdom to draw from. This is helpful in
wrong reason to do BJJ, or compete. But, it is When you know your “Why” you can pick sports like BJJ. If the goal is “technique over
important to be radically honest with yourself appropriate training partners for where strength” (& by the way, it is for climbing as
& understand your “WHY.” you’re at emotionally. That could be “comp well) then, age is on our side. No matter how
I’ll give you two examples. In mid-life the mode,” or it could be simply drilling. many weights we lift, or how many push-
reality is that you start to come to terms with Another friend of mine, we’ll call her “Lin- ups we do, the truth stares us daily in the
people beginning to pass away. Spouses, sib- da,” stated to me that she chose to compete, mirror: our bodies are changing. It’s time we
lings, family, co-workers. This becomes more due to menopause. She said, “I was having use this to our advantage on the mats.
frequent with each passing year. hot flashes all day. I felt ancy and wanted This can be a more focused awareness on
I had a gentleman friend, in his 60’s describe a way to “channel” the anxiety that came technique, discrimination with training
to me that, after his wife passed away, the along with the increase in hot flashes. BJJ partners, understanding how many days a
palpable sense of quiet and loneliness in the has always taught me to breathe through week to train, and how hard to train. I didn’t
house became unbearable for him. He began anxious situations. The gym was a place I even think about those things, until I hit my
to frequent his BJJ gym more. At first, he felt like I could control that feeling.” That 40’s. Now, its forefront in my mind, and I
didn’t know why he had such an impulse to made sense to me. Her BJJ gym was a place don’t think that’s a bad thing at all. In fact, I
attend more frequently. Then, it dawned on she associated with feeling empowered and feel myself getting more “efficient” with each
him. The background music of the gym, the being able to control anxiety. She wanted passing year. I’m becoming a more intro-
laughter of the kids coming out of kids class, more of that feeling-being in control. Her spective person. A quieter person. A person
the comradery on the mats with his team- body was feeling out of her control. She whose needs have been distilled down to
mates. He no longer felt alone. For an hour then, signed up for a competition. Knowing what’s important. This walks around with
a day the noise and people in close quarters full well she would need to spend more me in life, but I also witness this in my game
hours in the gym to feel prepared. The on the mats.
"We need to break thought of feeling in control more brought Let us each celebrate our “Why,” no matter
her relief. It took her mind off the out-of- if it stems from loneliness, pain, ambition,
control process her body was undergoing. curiosity, or all of the above. Our life expe-
riences tumble us like an agate, polishing
the stigma and talk us as we go. As the wisdom adage states:
“Maybe it’s not about becoming anything.
about what holes we’re filling in our life with Maybe it’s about unbecoming everything
that isn’t really you, so you can be who you
the added competition training classes, and
were meant to be in the first place.” Y
hours on the mat... the awareness of WHY

you’re doing it, is important." JIUJITEIRAMAGAZINE.COM | J I U J I T E I R A MAGAZINE | 3 3

GIRLS IN GIS

5 Reasons Many of us work all day and our salvation
Why Not to comes from knowing that Jiu-Jitsu is there
Make Jiu- waiting for us at the end of the day. But what
Jitsu Our if Jiu-Jitsu wasn’t? That is what many of
One & Only us struggled with during the pandemic. We
found that we had a big hole that training
once filled and many of us were left feeling
empty inside not knowing what to do with
ourselves. We were lost and longed for what
we once had. But if we could find this relief
elsewhere, would this loss have been as big?

The pandemic was a of benefits Jiu-Jitsu has to offer time to figure out what really friends we end up with and have
time for us to re-eval- is long and that is largely why matters to us as a person and a tendency to isolate from those
uate our lives and it is the fastest growing sport/ not just as a Jiu-Jitsu player. that don’t share our interest. The
reminded us of what art. This sport helps people find more we submerge ourselves in
really mattered. As many of us themselves and their strength. We Although the pandemic is final- the Jiu Jitsu world, the less time
have now returned to training, become more confident and self ly coming to an end that doesn’t we have to do “other” things
perhaps it is time to assess if we aware. We discover our self-worth mean we should lose sight of and, honestly, the less we have
are as well-rounded as we could and, even maybe, a new identity, what was learned. Instead we to talk about and the harder
be so as to not fall into the same but this can be a slippery slope. can continue to dive deep into time we have relating to others.
patterns as before. Here are a few getting to know ourselves. We
reasons to consider not making We can quickly blur the lines might just discover something Just because we love Jiu-Jitsu
Jiu-Jitsu our whole world. between reality and the illusion new about ourselves. doesn’t mean it has to be our
we’ve created. Our new found one and only. During the pan-
1. Expanding self-confidence and self-worth 2. Social demic many of us reconnected
who we are: can easily become wrapped up Support: with other things we once loved
in both our “accomplishments” to do. Some of us even devel-
A lot of us come to Jiu-Jitsu and our “failures”. In our little During the pandemic many of us oped new interests, hobbies and
searching for something, or that world of Jiu-Jitsu we might be had an opportunity to connect even found something that we
something finds us. Maybe we somebody...but who are we in with the people who really like just as much, if not more
were bullied as kids or made fun the rest of the world? matter, those that matter most than Jiu-Jitsu. Although training
of. Maybe we come from abusive and realize what they mean to us. is back on for many of us, it
relationships or homes. Maybe Not having the academy at our Maybe for the first time in a long doesn’t mean we have to go all
we’ve always felt like an outsider. fingertips gave many of us an time. Having a strong support in again. Having a variety of in-
Maybe we’ve never felt athletic. opportunity to check in with system is key to being human. terests not only makes us more
Maybe we’ve never felt strong. ourselves and get in touch with After all, we are social creatures. well-rounded, it also broadens
When you step on the mats, it who we are at the core. Who we our horizons, allows us to tap
doesn’t matter who you are or are without our metals, praise However, the longer we are in into different communities and
where you come from. The list from our instructor/teammates, Jiu-Jitsu, the fewer non-Jiu-Jitsu make new friends.
and the community. It was a

3 4 | J I U J I T E I R A MAGAZINE | JIUJITEIRAMAGAZINE.COM

3. Supplementing 5. Being Well
our Fitness: Rounded:

For many of us who solely rely on Jiu-Jitsu The bottom line is Jiu-Jitsu is AWESOME!
as our exercise, choking each other or dislo- The benefits are incredible and it works!
cating another person’s joints is a lot of fun. However, just like chocolate, it makes you
That is largely why a lot of us do it, right? feel good and satisfies our hunger, but we
Things like going to the gym, running, and can’t just live off it.
lifting are definitely not quite as much fun
for some of us, but exercise is necessary to Taking time to evaluate if we are truly bal-
live a happy and healthy life. anced helps us out on many levels. Are we
Instead of dreading a gym working out spending too much time on the mats and not
when we can’t train, why not try something enough taking care of our responsibilities?
new like Yoga, Pilates or stand up paddle Instead of a release has Jiu Jitsu become a dis-
boarding. Exploring other alternatives that traction? Slowing down to connect, learn, be
are both enjoyable and get us moving are honest with ourselves and discover who we are
not only a good way to keep in shape when allows us to evolve, broaden our horizons and
training isn’t an option, it will help to sup-
plement our training and even improve our ultimately become a well rounded person. Y
Jiu Jitsu in the long run.
How many times have you heard that
4. Managing Jiu-Jitsu is my THERAPY? A lot, right?
Mental Health:
Well, there is A REASON for it.

How many times have you heard that
Jiu-Jitsu is my therapy? A lot, right? Well,
there is a reason for it. Not only is it a fan-
tastic way to exercise our bodies and mind,
but it also relieves stress which makes us a
better person off the mats. The day to day
challenges of our lives can be intense...and
in the middle of a crisis they are even more
so. Many of us are still dealing with the
aftermath of being out of work, losing our
business, losing loved ones and are worried
about paying bills, putting food on the table
and gas in our cars with the astronomical
inflation on top of our usual stressors.

Jiu-Jitsu checks a lot of boxes when it comes SAVE 30% WITH CODE:
to helping with our mental health, but maybe
it shouldn’t be our only outlet to maintain our JJMAG30
mental health. Maybe it’s a good idea to use
it as a supplement to therapy, prescriptions,
and non-traditional methods. When was the
last time you did a check in with yourself to
see where you really are? Maybe it’s time to
make an appointment or explore new means
to maintain our mental wellbeing. Especially
after everything we have been through.

JIUJITEIRAMAGAZINE.COM | J I U J I T E I R A MAGAZINE | 3 5

happenings

Girls in Gis
Spring Tour
2022

Girls in Gis sprang into action this past March with its
first tour of 2022! The Girls in Gis Spring Tour ventured
west into Utah and Idaho for the first time ever! The tour
kicked off in Boise, Idaho at Suples on March 19th with
special guest black belt instructors Heather Woods of Atos and Me-
lissa Campanella of 208 Jiu-Jitsu. Girls in Gis also teamed up with
Jiu-Jitsu Hair Problems to provide hair braiding services to partic-
ipants. A record number of women and girls from all across Idaho
came together for the Girls in Gis Idaho-Boise Tour event.
The event kicked off with a warmup lead by Holly Lewis of Suples.
It featured what could be described as “familiar” BJJ warm up
movements and drills, but with a unique twist by incorporating the
Suples Bulgarian bags, pads, and equipment. The warmup was an
innovative take on a Jiu-Jitsu warm up and effectively showcased
how Suples equipment can be utilized to improve movement and
build strength.
Heather Woods took the lead by opening the event with some next
level shin to shin action that was sure to be a game changer. Her
attention to detail and hands-on approach to instructing showcased
her skill as a top-level athlete. Her NoGi session was not only one
that blew minds, it was one that was not to be missed.
Melissa Campanella closed out the instructional portion of the event
covering some fundamental guard passes that benefited practi-
tioners of every skill level. Her experience as a coach and instructor
were undoubtedly top notch and it was a pleasure having the oppor-
tunity to highlight and feature both of these rising stars. This might
have been our first Girls in Gis event in Idaho, but surely it won’t be
our last!
But wait…there’s more!!
The Girls in Gis Spring Tour final stop was in Salt Lake City, Utah
which brought together yet another record number of jiu jItsu wom-
en and girls together. Seventy women and girls from all across UT,
CO, and ID came together at Combat Arts for an event that featured
incredible Jiu-Jitsu from Amy Campo and Miyo Strong. There was a
definite feeling of solidarity in the air.

3 6 | J I U J I T E I R A MAGAZINE | JIUJITEIRAMAGAZINE.COM

Anne Casstevens, a strength and Catch the next Girls in Gis tour this
conditioning coach, started off Summer. Dates coming soon!
the event with a warmup. The
fluidity of her movement rhyth-
mically led the group through a
series of exercises and poses. This
made for a smooth transition into
some no gi leg locks led by Miyo.
For many this was their first
introduction to leg locks. A small
layer of the foundation was laid
for beginners with the tiny details
and mechanics of several leg lock
setups Miyo introduced and some
cracks were filled in for those
with more experience. It was a
crowd pleaser all around.

The event then closed out in
the gi with some leg drag passes
led by Amy Campo. Her years
of experience were apparent
in both her technique and her
teaching style. She provided a
new approach to fundamental
movement and focused in depth
on the details. This event not
only showcased the diversity
and talent that Utah has to offer
but brought representation to
the rapidly growing community
of women and girls in Utah. It
was the first Girls in Gis event of
many more to come.

As we see the number of women
in Jiu-Jitsu rising, we often forget
that it isn’t the case everywhere.
In many areas worldwide there
are still women out there em-
barking on this journey alone in
their gyms. However, through
coming together at Girls in
Gis events women and girls in
Jiu-Jitsu learn that not only are
they not alone, but they are also
a part of something much larger
than themselves and there is a
huge sisterhood ready to support
her. Girls in Gis tours are made
possible by online donations,
merchandise sales and donations
made at events. To support the

cause visit girlsingis.com. Y

PHOTOS: BOISE IDAHO > JOHN HOSICK � UTAH > KORI LAUREL

out of the cage I Am an
Outlier at
My Gym,
Now What?

Too old? As a Jiujiteira, you are already an outlier at
your gym by being a woman in the sport.
small? slow? Add in certain other factors like age, size, and
outside factors such as family and home life
BIG? or occupational hazards, and now you might
fall into a very specific subset of people who
Wofrmagialen? ? train, and if you are at a smaller gym, you
may be the only one there who falls into that
3 8 | J I U J I T E I R A MAGAZINE | JIUJITEIRAMAGAZINE.COM demographic. Man, it can be tough.

Walking through those doors on day one can be
incredibly intimidating. Sometimes those nerves
are exacerbated if you are what is considered
an “older” grappler just starting out with all the
young bucks out there. Your body simply doesn’t recover as quickly
and the ability of the elasticity to bounce back from repetitive train-
ing sessions dwindles on the daily. You also may wonder how the
coaching staff will place any emphasis on those who are more ma-
ture when it comes to learning a new skillset or even possibly com-
peting one day. Will they only divert their attention to the youthful

Wcompetitors? Or do you stand a chance at that same knowledge?
ith the influx of Masters divisions at all of the
major tournaments and competitions, it is clear
there are a growing number of active competitors
inching towards the silvery side of things. It’s
unfortunate if someone finds themselves at a gym only dedicated to
the spring chickens of the sports. To grow old is a luxury, and the
only guarantee in this life is that time will always pass regardless.
Someone newer, younger, more agile, stronger, and more athletic
is always clamoring to take the top spot, so keep pushing forward
regardless of the year of your birthdate.

As women, society not only It’s hard to walk into a gym with your It’s always hard to be the first. The first
places on emphasis on being head held high for the first time, when woman, the first female heavyweight,
young and beautiful, but our you know you are unfortunately going the first female over 50, etc. But
figures and our weights as well. to stick out. 99% of gyms and the someone has to be the first, so why not
Heaven forbid you are deemed too large people in those gyms do not give one iota of allow yourself to be the trailblazer that other
and overweight, or too scrawny and skinny a care about the way you look or any other girls and women coming up in the sport
because “only real women have curves.” It detail of your appearance. Jiu-Jitsu gyms will look up to and aspire to one day be like?
seems to be a woman in this day and age mostly work hard to generate a welcoming Every outlier starts sometime, somewhere,
means you can never win. The world loves environment and a healthy atmosphere, and and with the growth in this sport, will one
to draw comparisons between women in if you have been one of those to experience day be just like every other practitioner. You
an unfortunately toxic gym, I hope that may be the first, but I guarantee, you won’t
Tsimilar fields and frankly, it sucks. doesn’t deter you from seeking out training be the last.
ake any high level tournament
where the biggest names in the fe- Eelsewhere. HUNGRY4MORE?
male division take each other on. very black belt in Jiu Jitsu once
The comment sections are riddled stood exactly where you did, un- Follow this column online:
with arm chair losers denigrating every facet sure about themselves and maybe jiujiteiramagazine.com/
of their appearance and clamoring to leave even slightly intimidated by those category/out-of-the-cage
their entitled input rooting for the woman around them and worried that they were
they deem to be more beautiful. Lo and holding others back from their training. But
behold, if you are what is classified as a “big- these black belts continuously trained and
ger” woman, these sad little men will come kept showing up and helped to pave the way
out of the woodwork to call you horrible for others that would one day be stepping
names and compare you to burly monsters.
If you are feeling inadequate with the man- into their footsteps. Y
hood between your legs, I am sure there are
simpler ways to state that than putting down Every black belt in Jiu Jitsu once stood exactly
powerful femme fatales, but I digress. where you did, unsure about themselves and
maybe even slightly intimidated by those
around them and worried that they were
holding others back from their training.

"As women, society
not only places
on emphasis on

being young and
beautiful, but our

figures and our
weights as well."

SAMANTHA SCHELL, "The Wolf Queen" is a BJJ brown belt under Team
Rubao Carioca at Schell Shock BJJ in Fuquay Varina, NC. She's a professional
atomweight MMA fighter and writes a weekly blog: WolfQueenMMA.com.
In her spare time, she enjoys cooking & baking and besides her title belts,
her color-coded self-written cookbook is her most prized possession. You
can reach her via DM on Instagram @wolfqueenmma

JIUJITEIRAMAGAZINE.COM | J I U J I T E I R A MAGAZINE | 3 9

BEHIND THE LENS

with Blanca Marisa Garcia

Last month, Bellator MMA held a special
pre-fight press conference for Bellator
279: “Cyborg vs Blencowe 2”, which I
had the opportunity to attend. An icon
of women's MMA, Cyborg had this to say: “I love
to fight, and I always want to be the champion,
but to be the champion of people’s hearts for me
is the most important." Also in attendance during
the press conference were current featherweight
champion AJ McKee, Patricio “Pitbull” Freire,
Vadim Nemkovand Corey Anderson. For more
photos and complete coverage visit:

jiujiteiramagazine.com/2022/04/

cyborg_press_bellator277

4 0 | J I U J I T E I R A MAGAZINE | JIUJITEIRAMAGAZINE.COM

EXCLUSIVE CONTENT:

WATCH EXCLUSIVE BEHIND-THE-SCENES INTERVIEWS
WITH THE LADIES OF MEDUSA 2:
JIU JITE IR A MAGA Z INE .CO M/CAT EG O RY/ E XCLUSIV E-INT ERV IEW

BLANCA MARISA GARCIA is an award-winning professional photographer
with over 30 years of experience. A purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Blanca is
a prominent member of the BJJ community, working closely with athletes
and promotions such as EBI, Medusa, High Rollerz, and media Jiujiteira
Magazine and Gracie Magazine. Contact her: [email protected]

ask the doc QUESTIONS?

Please send them to
[email protected]

Your question could be chosen
and answered in this article.

HIP PAIN AND THE

Sneaky Tensor
Fasciae Latae

ILLUSTRATION BY DUSTIN SCOTT Some types of hip pain can
come on gradually and
progressively worsen until
the front of one or both hips
become painful during Jiu-
Jitsu and even while sitting
or sleeping. A leg shield
requires quite a lot of gluteal
and core strength, however
when someone is passing
our guard, we ask our body
to bring any and all muscles
around the hip joint to help
strengthen our shield.

Greater trochanteric pain femur) and the iliotibial band (ITB) The gluteal muscles, specifically
syndrome presents as causing repetitive microtrauma of gluteus maximus and medius, are
chronic pain over the the gluteal tendons that insert on made up of type I fibers and the TFL
front, side or back of the the greater trochanter. This then is predominantly made up of type
hip that is made worse by activity or causes inflammation, degeneration, II fibers. (2) Type I fibers are called
lying on the painful side. It is most and increased tension of the ITB. slow twitch and considered to be
likely caused by repetitive friction (1) The tensor fascia latae (TFL) is postural muscles that help stabilize
between the greater trochanter (a the muscle at the front of the hip and can be active for long periods
bony bump on the outside of the that is the top of the ITB. of time.

C HRIS F L E TC HE R has her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from the
University of Iowa and owns Combat Arts Physical Therapy in Spokane,
Washington. She is a purple belt under Newborn Cascao Jiu Jitsu, and is
happy to answer your questions regarding musculoskeletal injuries.
Email those to [email protected]

4 2 | J I U J I T E I R A MAGAZINE | JIUJITEIRAMAGAZINE.COM

Type II fibers are called fast twitch mus- MISSED AN ISSUE?
cles and can quickly generate force but
also fatigue quickly. CATCH THEM ALL ONLINE

Women with lateral hip pain, compared JIUJITEIRAMAGAZINE.COM
to women without hip pain, have signifi-
cantly smaller gluteus maximus, medius, JIUJITEIRAMAGAZINE.COM | J I U J I T E I R A MAGAZINE | 4 3
and minimus with fatty infiltrate in the
gluteus maximus and minimus.

The TFL was similar in size in both
groups and had no fatty infiltration (3).
When a muscle has fatty infiltration, it
usually indicates that the muscle is not
being used.

The TFL is a muscle that is both on the
front and the side of the hip which gives
it a lot of mechanical advantage for both
bringing the hip up (flexion) and out to
the side (abduction). When the gluteal
muscles are weak and cannot counter
the muscle activation of the TFL, the hip
gets artificially pulled up (flexed) and
rolled in (internally rotated). Basically
the TFL runs amuck and takes over as the
stabilizer of the hip joint. Considering it
is a small, fast twitch muscle, it was never
meant to do this job which leads to pain
and weakness.

We need our leg frames to be strong as
Jiujiteiras, and if we have underactive
gluteal muscles and an overactive TFL,
not only will our leg frames get crushed,
but we are at a high risk of develop-
ing hip pain, potential gluteal muscle
tearing, and eventually osteoarthritis. So
please keep working on strengthening

your gluteal muscles and core. Y

The content in this article is for
informational purposes only - it is not

intended to delay or substitute for
professional medical advice, diagnosis,

and/or treatment. The content is not
intended to promote understanding of
various musculoskeletal injuries. Content
may not apply to your specific condition
or symptoms. Always seek the advice of
your physician or other qualified medical
professional for any question you have for

a medical condition.

REFERENCES
1. Reid D. The management of greater trochanteric pain syndrome: A

systematic literature review. J Orthop. 2016 Mar; 13(1): 15–28.
2. Flack N, Woodley SJ, Nicholson HD. Fiber type composition of the

hip abductor muscles. Anatomy. Feb 2021.
3. Cowan RM, Semciw AI, Pizzari T, Cook J, Rixon MK, Gupta G, Plass

LM, Ganderton CL. Muscle Size and Quality of the Gluteal Muscles
and Tensor Fasciae Latae in Women with Greater Trochanteric Pain

Syndrome. Clinical Anatomy. Volume 33, Issue 7, Oct 2021.

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1. CARLSON GRACIE TEAM MELBOURNE, FL:
4 6 | J I U J I T E I R A MAGAZINE | JIUJITEIRAMAGAZINE.COM These are some of the fierce ladies who

represented women's Jiu-Jitsu with excellence at the
Annual Carlson Gracie Spring Camp in Melbourne,

Florida. After three days of intense training, learning
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the ladies got to hang out, share mat stories and
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women's BJJ, Melissa is a veteran of the competition
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joins the president of Brazil, Jair Messias Bolsonaro
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“28th March For Jesus” in her hometown of
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Jiujiteira Magazine's founder, Evelyn Sutton,
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Samantha "Wolf Queen" Schell as she was in the
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