bjj lifestyle


Living In The Now

  Do you ever get stuck thinking too far down the road? If only this would happen then I could move forward. Or, Once I reach this goal, then everything will fall into place and I’ll be happy. It can be easy to think our outside circumstances hold the keys […]


Training With Your Significant Other

  Not everyone has trouble training with their significant other and that’s wonderful.  I’m genuinely happy for them. I am not one of them.  I am one of those, that no matter who wins or loses the match, or who is drilling the move while the other is the dummy, […]


Inspired By The Next Generation 1

 

Once you become a parent your life is forever changed. You take on a life-long job of loving, protecting and supporting your kin. Our influence as parents encourages our children, but often they end up inspiring us as well. Christy Synan’s daughter Hailee did just that. Ten years ago Christy was motivated by watching her youngest daughter Hailee train Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

“I remember thinking ‘Wow! She’s really a tough little lady!’” Christy said. “The more I educated myself about jiu jitsu, and watched a few other women train, I decided I must try it. Once I hit the mats, I never turned back.”

Fast forward 10 years later and Christy and her husband Kevin, who is a Roberto Traven black belt, now own Fighting Chance Fitness in St. Augustine, Florida. Jiu jitsu is a family affair. After taking some time off, her daughter Hailee returned to training regularly and competed for the first time in nine years at the Atlanta Winter International Open. Her other daughter, Aubrie, also trains occasionally to keep up on her self-defense skills. And her son Julian is a partner in the academy.

“I believe that people become complacent with their lives and accept limitations,” Christy said. “Jiu jitsu will open doors that most people don’t realize were even there — let alone closed. It allows a person of any age to push through and past the most difficult of mental and physical barriers.”

Christy says she has become healthier, happier, and more confident and focused through jiu jitsu. Although Christy is a firm believer in the benefits of jiu jitsu, she says the one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work for all females. She believes that you have to listen and learn what each female is looking in their training.

“Everyone’s journey is different and a lot of the time people don’t even realize they are missing something until it is introduced to them,” she said. “I always address that the camaraderie of your fellow jiu jitsu family is unparalleled.”

 

Author:

shamako3

 Shama Ko

Girls in Gis staff writer

Shama Ko is a brown belt with Gracie Humaita out of Austin, TX.  She has been a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner since November of 2003.  She is a photographer, writer, community organizer and activist. She heads the Girls in Gis organization or as she calls it the “movement”. She describes herself as both a lover and a fighter. She loves to laugh and not take life too seriously.


Keep Calm and Jiu Jitsu On-Aimee Olds

Do you avoid social interaction, live in your head and worry uncontrollably? Have you ever had a panic attack? Well you are not alone. Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the U.S., affecting 40 million adults in the United States age 18 and older which is just […]


The Sooner You Start Failing the Sooner You Start Succeeding-Daynin Dashefsky 2

We idolize those in the is world that have achieved what we describe as success and strive to become them. However rarely do we hear about the failures that led to the success we see today.  The road to success is never easy and the sooner you start to fail, […]


More Than a Clothing Company-É Nois Clothing

É Nois Clothing is more than a clothing company. Based in Los Angeles, California they are craftsmen who pride themselves on unique design, and creating their own pieces. But great product aside- they are truly working to making Brazilian Jiu Jitsu for the people. The campaign #BUYONEGIVEONE was the brainchild […]


Finding Strength in Solidarity-Jessica Dobbs

Even in this big world we live in it is easy to feel alone in our struggles. The challenges of life can often cripple us, make us frustrated and sad. Reaching out and finding others that have or are going through the same experience won’t take away the pain, but […]


The Mental Art of Jiu Jitsu

The gentle art of Jiu Jitsu takes more than a physical toll on its practitioners.  The mental aspect of training, and competing is one that athletes are constantly trying to overcome.  One such practitioner is Australian- Tina West of Fortitude Wellbeing.  She is a blue belt under David Marinakis and […]


Building People Up-Jen Russell

There are people in this world that are born to lead and those that are meant to follow. Not everyone is meant to lead and we need followers as much as we need strong leaders. After all a chief is only as strong as their tribe. There is something deep […]


Is The Writing On The Wall?

There are so many reasons we are all drawn to BJJ. Not only is it an individual martial art that allows us to evolve, there is a sense of belonging and being a part of a team. There are physical and mental strengths we gain and an emotional support we find […]