rape


Supporting Survivors on the Mats

If you participate in any of female grappling groups on social media, you’ve no doubt seen the stories about coaches or teammates who have been accused of inappropriate behavior, domestic violence and/or sexual assault.  While many of these posts have to be labeled with the word alleged, it’s no secret […]


Finding Strength in Trauma 1

Only a small percentage of people understand what it is we do, this sport called Jiu Jitsu. Very few get it for what it really is; many others portray it as violent or find it invasive. I’ll admit it I too saw it this way, but now it is one […]


How to Coach Sexual Assault Survivors 1

Look around your BJJ class. One or more of your students could be a sexual assault survivor. About twenty percent of women, five percent of men, and nearly fifty percent of trans or non-binary folks are sexually assaulted at some point. In this article, I use “she” as a shorthand […]


‘Welcome home. It’s good to have you back.’ 11

I was gang raped at fifteen. I was a freshman in high school. My assailants did not serve time. No one believed me. I changed schools. I grew older. Life marched on. I moved to Seattle Washington at thirty. I was stalked by two different men while coming home from […]