For All The New Girls

We have a ton of new girls in The Academy right now which is awesome! The only downer, is half of you only do Muay Thai.

Obviously, we don't want to force people to do Jiu-Jitsu....... But.......

I just want to make sure you are making an informed choice.

Both styles give you a ton of benefits.

They both are great for fitness. They're both learning a new skill/activity. They both happen in the same amazing environment. They both give a sense of accomplishment.

But....

Muay Thai has NOTHING to do with self defense

Kickboxing is cool as hell. And for sport fighting it is a neccessity. But, striking styles only occur in 2 scenarios.

1: Your opponent AGREES to do it to.

2: You're better than them at grappling and can therefore negate it and force them to strike.

Hmmmmm.

Seems like in both scenarios, you better know how to grapple!!!!!

Add this to the facts that punching is the luxury of a taped hand, and most women's self defense scenarios start with grabbing, and NOT a "You ready? You ready? Lets GET IT ON!" scenario.....

BJJ starts to seem like it's pretty important!

Ok, so what keeps more Women out of it?

Well, mostly its just the damn Awkwardness of the training in BJJ.

How do we combat it here for our girls? Well, we have best environment for,  and the most experience in, working with women. We produced one of the best female fighters of all time in Amanda Buckner.

 

And more recently, one of the toughest girls in the New England area in Maria Rios.

Here's Amanda, Maria, and Academy Alum Jill Valenzueala (for fight that appeared on Nat Geo!)

And it's not just young, tough chicks that we transform. We have a few in their late 40s/early 50s that not only do self defense...... But one has even joined our Olympic Weightlifting Team, and taken 3rd at her first meet!!!!

 

Yes, we are comfortable, and confident helping women develop their "New Selves"!

Even past our supportive, experienced environment, we have even started a "Womens Only" BJJ training session, to help more women with their process of working through starting this sometimes intimidating journey into the grappling arts. 

So, if you're one of our newer girls, that has only dared to try kickboxing..... 

Or you haven't even gotten in the door for that......

Please, do yourself a favor, and just take the first step. The resources, and support you'll find here, are literally, like nowhere else in the world.

 If you have any questions Please ask in the comments section. And, if you're one of our current, or former, female students, please comment and let these ladies know how it is!

-Jay

 

Comments

[jen]

Unless this is a kids' class, they are WOMEN, not "girls" - it's not 1950.

[Tracy doherty]

We, the GIRLS that attend the academy take no offense to the posting from one of our outstanding coaches. In the short time that I have been going to the Academy I have mentally become a stronger person. The academy has not only taught me a few things on defending myself, but has taught me many lessons about life and has shown me that I can do things for myself That i never thought possible. I can stand on my own two feet... I don't need to be called a woman for that. I have "family" at the Academy and it a pleasure to work side by side with the guys an girls (not needed to say men and women). As a relatively new student I would love for you to step up to the plate and come in and check out the hard work we all put in. Come see how respectful we all are to each other. Join us and you will see that we are more then just a gym. And If its really that important to you I will address you as woman because our coaches believe in us respecting one another, as well as ourselves... And we will all respect you. Please come check us Jen

[Jeanne Levesque]

Jen, I by no means intend to start any sort of flame war. However, after talking with Jay and some other female students, I feel that your comment requires a response. First, did you read beyond the title? Jay also uses the terms woman, female and ladies. Second, woman is a rather formal term that is more appropriate in a corporate setting. A gym is a casual, informal setting. I am an intelligent, well-educated female who is by no means offended by the word "girl" I feel I speak on behalf of all the chicks who attend the Academy regarding this. I agree, this is NOT 1950, this means we have taken great steps in not classifying the female gender solely as woman. In my daily life I am referred to as a girl, chick, dude, lady, whatever and prefer this over woman. My male AND female friends all call each other dude. It's a compliment, not an insult. When I guy calls me "dude" he sees me as an equal, not a "woman" who might rank below him socially. One final point, in the martial arts schools I have attended (and I have been training for 10-12 years), no female has EVER been referred to as a woman. It is an old-fashioned term has no place in an informal situation. I, for one, am proud to be one of Jay's girls.

[AJ]

"A rose by any other name would still smell as sweet."-William Shakespeare

Jen seems to be missing the entire point. Perhaps removal of the large post wedged in her ass will help her refocus on Jay's point and less on his word choices.

I'm a girl. I have girl power. I have girl friends. When I go out, it's often with the girls. Jay is reaching out to females, women, girls, chics, hoes, etc. to come try a male, man, guy, boy, dude etc. dominated sport. Whatever his choice of words, his intent was NOT to be disrespectful. If you knew Jay, you would understand that.

Despite all facts pointing to Jen being a dip shit of sorts, even Jen will find a welcoming, non PC environment in which to hone her skills at lightening up as well as learning to defend herself.

[Maria]

despite Jen's negative focus on the article......

Jiu jitsu really is amazing it has changed my life and me and all for the better. I am very fortunate to have found the Academy. In all the years I have been training and the different schools I have been to the Academy has been the school most focused on having an amazing environment for females.
Jiu jitsu is the most realistic form of self defense you will ever learn. and it's super fun to do so it's all in all a double bonus! And I'm sure once you try jiu jitsu you will love it :-)