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Just a Girl 2013 Moments!

12/27/2013

2013 was a great year for Just a Girl! 3 State Champions, 3 World Champions, Abu Dhabi Pro Trails Double Gold and tons of bling from local tournaments as well, several of my "little" ladies are featured in magazines and Future Fighters 2014 Female Fighters Calender and as a Company we excelled, sending out apparel and gis all over the World!

On a personal level, in addition to receiving Pan Am Gold, Masters
Worlds Gold and my Purple Belt, I also gained some wonderful new friends through
"Just a Girl"! The ladies I sponsor ALL have a special place in my heart! My
girls are all such amazing roll models as well as phenomenal athletes! Some
facing their own personal battles as well as the battles on the mat! Some
balancing work, school, health, financial difficulty and family issues
and still making Jiu Jitsu a huge part in their lives!

I have also had the pleasure of seeing my girls class grow and watching some of
my female training partners develop their games! I love to see excitement on the
face of a student or newer white belt as they learn a new technique! The look of
the Jiu Jitsu addiction taking over!

It's so awesome to see how the Jiu Jitsu World has filled with female athletes, probably doubling since I started training! I think personally I am most inspired by seeing Mom's and even Grandma's taking BJJ on, I know starting Jiu Jitsu in your 40's or even in your 30's is rough on the body (and the family life) but, is also a great stress relief and a great way to wind down a hectic day! Keep it up girls!

I want to close this blog by congratulating my son Tyson on also receiving his Purple Belt this year and my Boyfriend Andrew for receiving his Black Belt! I'm VERY proud of you both!
I also want to thank my family for all of the support they have given me since the start of this journey! My daughter Tori has helped me with my "Just a Girl" booth and comes out for support to almost all of my competitions! My parents, who don't like to watch (they're scared that one of us may get hurt) have been VERY helpful with baby sitting and pushing my products! I wouldn't have been able to do many of the things I have this past few years without your help!

Exciting Moments of 2013

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Winter Wonderland

12/24/2013

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Every time I travel, I realize how sheltered I have been. I'm so easily impressed by every little thing I experience. This past week I experienced Colorado for the first time (along with a little New Mexico and Utah along the way). Andrew, Seth, Stampy and I took a long road trip to visit Andrew's family.
What was supposed to be a 10 hour drive, took about 13 due to a missed turn off when it was my turn to drive (no, I haven't lived this down yet) the drive was much longer but far more scenic! My mistake landed us in one of the most treacherous canyons in the states "Red Mountain Pass" if you know me, you also know that I have a SEVERE fear of heights! So...I closed my eyes through many of the scenic views but, I what I did see was AMAZING!!! My favorite site was the many frozen waterfalls and the little towns in the base of the canyon. I did survive without a single panic attack, which I'm sure Andrew is happy about and I'm glad I got to witness Red Mountain Pass but, I don't care to ever see it again!

When we arrived in New Castle, where Shelley & Donnie live (Andy's Parents) Seth couldn't wait to get the snowboard strapped on, he spent the rest of the evening going up and down the hill in the backyard, making sure Stampy didn't miss out on the fresh powder!

Seth was a natural on the slopes, tearing it up like he'd done this before, speeding down the mountain, even going off jumps! We spent the weekend sledding, snowboarding, ice skating and Andrew and I even got a little BJJ in while I assisted Andrew in teaching a 2 day seminar at the local gym. All in all, a great weekend with Andy's Family and some of his elementary school friends that he still keeps in touch with.
Thanks so much Shelley and Donnie for a wonderful time and one of Seth's greatest weekends of his life!
Can't wait to see Colorado again this Summer!

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Kristens Photos

12/13/2013

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I'm happy to announce that Kristensphoto has asked to continue my sponsorship for 2014!
I'm planning on having an exciting tournament season in 2014 as I get a chance to try out my new Purple Belt skills among the best! I will be taking on Pan Ams and Worlds again this next year. It's awesome to have some great photos when you compete and Kristen is GREAT at it!
Kristens Photos offers tournament photo packages to all, not just sponsored athletes, she will focus on your matches and provide you with amazing memories! http://kristensphoto.com/
In addition to taking beautiful Jiu JItsu photos Kristen also does portraits, wedding, family and more!
Thanks Kristen for keeping me on for a second year! I'm very happy to be part of the team, which consists of some of the best BJJ Practitioners in the World!

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Lucky 13

12/9/2013

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It seems that 13 may be my LUCKY number!
2013 has turned out to be one of the best years of my life!
Those of you who are close to me, know that I had a very rough 2012. Maybe its true that good things come to those who wait.
My 2013 started on New Years Day with the 1st "I love you" from my boyfriend Andrew. (Andrew is not a big fan of PDA so I'm sure I will get a hard time for posting this, sorry Babe ;) But, it was just the 1st of many thing that made my 2013 a great one!
March 22nd, 2013, I went to CA to compete in Pan Ams, with the intent to just compete to say "I did Pan Ams" and ended up bringing home the Gold!
April 2013, my company "Just a Girl in a Jiu Jitsu World" started to take off, with daily sales of t-shirts and Just a Girl items, we later introduced "Eminence Kimono", a gear company for ALL (not just girls) which is starting to do very good as-well.
October 2013, after swearing off competing (I get severe anxiety when competing) I went to Master/Seniors Worlds and again was able to secure the Gold. This competition season was very good to me and I feel very blessed to have had such great training partners and coaches to help me and push me on a daily basis.
Last night was the icing on the cake of my 2013. The night started off with my son Tyson receiving his Purple Belt, Tyson has been a blue Belt since I started Jiu Jitsu and has trained very hard and done amazing in tournaments, winning several Gold medals and facing some of the best in the toughest weight division in this sport (typically having at least 20 opponents locally and well over 100 nationally) I'm so proud of Tyson and being able to live this journey with him is unexplainable!
I also received my Purple Belt last night! I have to say, this was the biggest accomplishment of my adult life. I don't typically put my age out there but, for those of you who don't know, I'm 40 something, so training 5 plus days a week sometimes twice a day is rough on the body! I won't say I don't feel it (or pay for it) later but, I try my best to push through and train my hardest. I'm not sure if this accomplishment has set in completely yet considering it was an emotionally draining night and I still haven't came out of the fog yet.
The evening was topped of with my boyfriend Andrew receiving his Black Belt! Andrew has been a Brown Belt since we 1st met. He is so dedicated, not only to his own training but to his students! Going above and beyond just teaching classes. Andrew LIVES Jiu Jitsu! I feel really lucky to be his "side-kick" and experience this lifestyle with him. Seeing Andrew receive his Black Belt last night, along side of my 2 other instructors Jesus Jose and Andrew Brittin, was such a great moment, very emotional for all who attended and know how hard these 3 work and all they do for us! VERY PROUD of you all!!!
Also receiving new belts last night: JT Tores, a guy who has been doing no-gi for quite awhile and has transitioned to gi, which he took to very easily, JT is the most polite and respectful guy, always calling me ma'am, received his Blue Belt. Yesenya Villafuerte, one of my favorite training partners who has also become a great friend, received her Orange/ Black Belt. Bobby Torres (who will surely grow into another great training partner) received his Grey Belt. Andre Rodriquez, a "kid" who gives me a run for my money daily, received his Green Belt. Noah Briggs and Brandon Wade, two guys who very consistently put in hard work and dedication on a daily basis received their Purple Belts!
The Journey to Purple has been a whirlwind of hard work, pain, fun, anxiety but, most of all GOOD times with people who have made an impact on my life on and off the mats! Thank you to everyone who has been part of this great experience!

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