Blog Archives

Food for the Hungry

1/24/2014

Food For The Hungry

In partnership with Food For The Hungry, my
Church, Horizons sends a team to Bolivia each year. This year's team will
be heading to a new community of Toro Toro in June.
Andrew and I really wanted
to be able to go on this trip but, between our business and getting married this August, we just can't swing it but, we do want to help out the team that is going
by giving them a donation to help with their travel costs and needs.
We have designed a T-shirt that not only supports the Church Team but, also has great
meaning to us as competitive Jiu Jitsu practitioners, with the proceeds going to Horizons Bolivia Team.
Get yourself a cool shirt and help out a
great cause at the same time!
Get yours at http://www.justagirlbjj.com/jag-swag-store.html
Mens Shirts available at www.EminenceKimono.com

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"DREAM" BIG!

1/20/2014

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The 1st annual "Dream" All Girls Open mat for 5-15 year olds had an amazing turn out with over 50 girls in attendance, some from as far as Las Vegas and Northern CA.
Just a Girl in a Jiu Jitsu World sponsored this non-competitive BJJ event for young girls to meet up, train, learn and bond. This all girls event was held at Siege MMA in Peoria AZ. With the help of Yesenya Villafuerte and Destiny Cazares , we spread the word through the community and enlisted some awesome female BJJ Practitioners to teach and mentor the next generation of "female phenoms"
In addition to getting in some rolls with their friends and competitors these little ladies got a chance to win some cool BJJ gear from OSS Physical Therapy, JAG, Concas, Girl-Jitsu, Gi-Soap, Girlz BJJ Lifestyle, Girlzilian Femjitsu, Aggro Brand and Roxanne Modafferi's new book (with a personal message from Roxanne) There were also 2 free entries given out for the 9th Arizona International Jiu Jitsu Open courtesy of Gustavo Dantas and Girlz BJJ Lifestyle!
A great time was had by all and we look forward to the next one!
Thank you to all of the Moms/BJJ ladies that came out to help us! You are GREATLY appreciated!

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Kids & Stage Fright

1/17/2014

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I don't know if it's just me or if everyone feels this way but, when I did my 1st tournament after receiving my blue belt, I felt this extra pressure, a feeling of:
"am I out of my league?"
"will my skills look like blue belt level?"
"should I be competing yet?"
I trust the judgement of my instructors and I feel like if they think this is where I should be, then I AM good enough to be here but, still the pressure was on for this to show under the anxiety of a competition.
Well....I survived and I actually won this tournament.
A few days ago, a father of a little girl I teach came to me and said his daughter was having a melt down after receiving her grey belt, she is planning on competing next month and is worried she isn't good enough to compete at that level and that her instructors and I would be disappointed in her.
I didn't realize until then, that kids feel this same pressure. I think some of them feel it and don't even realize what it is. My son, who was 7 when he competed the 1st time, would get in a bad mood the day of competition but, didn't seem to know why. Another little girl from my gym would cry through the entire match. I assume this was their way of displaying that same feeling I feel.
I was surprised to hear that this little girl, who just received her grey belt, knew exactly what she was feeling. I plan on talking with her this weekend and telling her of my experience when I 1st received my blue belt, my advice is "Trust your instructors judgement! They feel you deserve to be at this level. You may go out there and get beat or you may not. Either way, you got out there! Something many people never do. Putting yourself out there is the toughest part, your instructors and peers will be proud of you just for that! Do your best, have fun and LEARN!"
I know first hand the fears of competing but, I also know the incredible feeling when it's over and you HAVE done your best! (and for me it also means I can eat) ;)
Win or lose its a huge accomplishment and I have no regrets of any tournament I have done.

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Tis The Season

1/15/2014

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Well, it's that time again.....Tournament season! With one BIG difference this year....I'm going in as a Purple Belt!
Don't get me wrong, I am very excited to have received my Purple Belt but, with it comes a whole new level of competition, a new level of expectations and a new level of the pressure (I put on myself). As many of you know I struggle with performance anxiety. I do how-ever push through this and compete anyway. I keep hoping a day will come that I feel excited and at ease heading on to the mats but, as of yet, this has not happened.
On another note, time to get healthy! Eat, sleep and train in tournament mode! Time to push your training partners and vice versa. Looking forward to a great 2014 Tournament Season!
See ya on the mats!

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Shoot for The Moon

1/12/2014

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Less then a week from now I will have the opportunity to spend some time with some awesome little ladies that share my passion for Jiu Jitsu
at the 1st Edition of "DREAM", all female open mat for girls ages 5-15,
hosted by Just a Girl with help from
2013 Kids Worlds Champion &
NABJJF World
Champion Orange/Black Belt
Yesenya Villafuerte
and 2013 NABJJF World
Champion Yellow Belt
Destiny Cazares .

This event is being put together to allow young, female Jiu-Jitsu practitioners to spend
time on the mats with other girls, while also learning some fun new techniques and making new friendships.
The Ladies will get a chance to meet other young ladies that share the same love of Jiu Jitsu.
This will be a non-competitive atmosphere where girls can bond, train and have some fun on the mats. We will have several female, colored belt representatives from Arizona schools at the event to help with the supervision and teaching of the girls.
Special Guest Instructors:
Black Belt Luciana Dias
Purple Belt Nana Hosokawa
Purple Belt Lisa Marie Pages
Purple Belt Seta Reupenny
Blue Belt Kayla Reupenny
and many other amazing female athletes!

Can't wait to see you all there!

YOU MUST BE REGISTERED TO PARTICIPATE! NO WALK-INs!

ALL participants will have the chance to win raffle prizes from:

Just a Girl in a Jiu Jitsu World

Eminence Kimono

Gi-Soap

Girlzillian Femjitsu

Girlz BJJ Lifestyle

Girljitsu

Future Fighterz

Concas

Aggro

and more!

"Shoot for the moon.
Even if you miss it you will land among the stars."
- Les Brown

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This is who I am

1/3/2014

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Listen to your elders advice. Not because they are always right but, because the have more experiences of being wrong...

One thing I have never claimed, is perfection. I have also never claimed to have lived a divine life. I will say that I grew up with wonderful parents and step-parents who revolved their lives around us kids. We played team sports, took music lessons, I was a gymnast, my brother played baseball and they were always very involved. We had sleep overs and parties and went on camping trips. I had a great childhood filled with many happy memories.
My life, once I hit my late teens, took some rough roads and I made some bad decisions. I had my daughter, now 26 when I was just 17. I raised her as a single Mom I did have lots of help from my parents but, I lost my childhood and missed out on many things like prom, graduation ceremony, teenage freedom and friends. I love my daughter and wouldn't change a thing but, it wasn't easy! I also had failed marriage's, anyone who has gone through this knows it is heartbreaking, sad, scary and costly, and even worse when your children are involved.
I have made some bad choices in my life, I've done many things that I wish I could go back and change but, I can't....What I can do (and have done) is be the best "ME" I can be now! I can't fix the past but, I CAN fix the future!
I have received many e-mails thanking me for being a great roll model for women and little girls in the BJJ community. I read these messages and it makes me smile although it sometimes hurts my heart when I think of the person I once was. I sometimes feel guilty for being called a roll model, I think "I was not such a great person in the past, should I be considered a roll model?"
Well, the more this runs through my head I think "YES! I should be!" My past is the past, I have faced the things I have done wrong, I have asked for forgiveness and I do all I can to make the right choices now! I beat myself up for many years, felt guilt, pain and anxiety. Not anymore! I am not the girl from my past.
I am a good mom, grandma, daughter, friend and fiancé! I still give my 20 year old son my last $20.00 for gas, even if I don't have any myself. I run out and do a photo shoot for my daughter and her friends even when I'm suffering from a migraine. I get up from a deep sleep because my 9 year old wants dinner....again. I give my fiancé the last bowl of my favorite ice cream without even telling him there's no more, because I love him. I even sleep in the most uncomfortable position all night because my dog looks so cozy in the spot he is in. But, more important then all that, I try to do what's right! I am loyal and faithful, I live my life productively, I think before I act, I put others first, I go to church, I follow God, I volunteer my time, I try to encourage and support others and I am an honest and kind person.
The things you endure in your life make you who you are! This is who I am now!

EVERYONE is a roll model...try and be a good one!

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Just a Girl's Fiancee

1/1/2014

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Just when I thought my 2013 couldn't get any better....He asked, "Will you Marry Me?" and of course, I said "YES!"
Last night Andrew got down on one knee and popped the question, this was the 1 year anniversary of the 1st time he told me he loved me! My ring came from my Grandmother, it was given to her over 40 years ago by my Grandfather and it means so much to me to wear the ring that came from two people who had a very big impact on my life. We did modern it up a little, having it dipped in white gold.
Andrew does likes to take his time in all he does, this was a little testing on my patience (since I was ready to marry him shortly after we met ;) ) But, I have to say he is very worth waiting for! I couldn't have asked for a more amazing man to "ROLL" into my life! The passion we share for Jiu JItsu gives us an even closer bond and I consider him my best friend out of the gym as-well.
I love you Babes! and can't wait to be "Mrs. Drewjitsu"

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