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The impact of BJJ on sexual trauma recovery

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu doesn't seem like a pathway to sexual assault recovery. Often characterized by male dominated gym settings, sustained...

Jiu jitsu: my constant through a decade of grief

On November 9, 2015, I stepped foot on the mats in my first ever jiu jitsu class. Why do I remember that date? I don’t have an eidetic...

The Lion and the Turtle: Life with Bipolar Disorder

On the second floor of the building where I work there is a painting; I look at it every day as I try to climb six flights of stairs,...

Solidifying Mental Wellness through Jiu Jitsu

Before I began my jiu jitsu journey, I felt that I didn’t have to invest in my own mental health. This is ironic because I manage a...

Beginner's Guide to Being Kind to Yourself

With so much content online, I’ll frequently lose track of where certain ideas come from. One of the posts that totally resonated was...

Survive and Escape: Rolling with Jiu Jitsu and Mental Health

For as long as humans have drawn breath, we have done two things shockingly well: fight and worry. The earliest hominins constantly waged...

Surviving the Jiu Jitsu Hiatus

I felt hopelessly stuck when my life’s circumstances piled on to the point where responsibilities took over all recreation, aside from...

Mental Illness and Homelessness

In November 2021, after participating in a series of social justice initiatives and volunteer work, I began the small grassroots...

The Mask I Hide my Anxiety Behind

I look around yearning for someone to approach me to ask me to roll, but no one does. I continue to try and will people over to me...