I first tried Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu when I was 19 (I turn 30 this year). Back then, Ronda Rousey was at the top of the food chain, Gina Carano had crawled so Ronda could run. These women didn’t just dominate; they reshaped MMA and combat sports for women. Ronda wasn’t just an athlete; she was a force. She made people take women’s fighting seriously, and made armbar finishes look effortless. I trained for about a year before college and finances pulled me away. BJJ is an expensive hobby, add injuries, and it’s a luxury.

At 28, I finally came back to it. This time, I had a job, stability, and the ability to commit to something that demands so much from both body and mind. My body… my poor, poor body. Some days, I feel like I’m improving, like I finally understand the language of movement. Other days, I leave the mat frustrated, unsure if I’ve learned anything at all. But no matter how sore, how exhausted, or how lost I feel, I keep showing up, because it’s fun, because it challenges me, because in struggle, we grow.

As one of the smaller women in class (among the six or so of us who train), I’ve come to deeply appreciate the women who show up for this sport. It is physically and mentally demanding in ways that are hard to explain unless you’ve been in it. But I hope more women join. Please, if you’ve ever been curious, try it. You might surprise yourself.

For now, I’ll keep showing up, learning, unlearning, and relearning.