Monthly Archives: August 2016


Meet the host of Girls in Gis Texas Farmers Branch-Desarai Meyer

  Desarai Meyer, Des or Desi as her friends call her grew up throughout the Midwest and East coast in places like Indiana, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Colorado, Oklahoma, and she currently resides in Texas. When Desi isn’t on the mats, she works as an administrative assistant for a surgical center or you will […]


Love the person I’ve become because I fought to become her 4

The Olympic Games really had me thinking about a variety of things this year. I have always wanted to be in the Olympics.  I love to swim, but I am no Michael Phelps. In high school when we did our gymnastic portion of P.E. my teacher told me that I […]


The History of the Shaka and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Although all  Martial Arts have traditions, have a legacy and have a rich history, no two Martial Arts are alike. There are many aspects of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) that separate it from the rest.  Could it be the fact that it is the most effective martial art when it comes […]


Breaking the Cycle with Jiu-Jitsu: Beth Thrasher

The women of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu are known to create a community of encouragement for one another. Beth Thrasher of Jackson, Mississippi a purple belt under Joe Savion has taken it a step further. Wingfield High School is home to Vector Jiu Jitsu, the passion project of Beth and her […]


Never Apologize For Who You Are: Hillary Van Ornum 3

When we first embark upon the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu journey, we typically do it for our family, our friends, or ourselves.  As women and nurturers, though, it changes somewhere along the way.  We still do it for ourselves but we also see the bigger picture.  We see how the camaraderie […]


Girls in Gis Texas-Spring Recap & Photos

  On June 12th Ground Dwellers BJJ hosted Girls in Gis in Spring, Texas. Thirty-four women and girls came together for a day of fun and BJJ. Two brave souls venture onto the mats for the first time. Sisters Loralei (13) and Sierra Miller (14) along with Aaliyah (13) and Angelina (10) […]