Mental Health, Uncategorized

How Grappling Helped Repair My Relationship (With My Body)

The week of February 22 – 28, 2021 is recognized as National Eating Disorders Awareness Week by the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA).

*Content warning: the following post discusses disordered eating & exercise habits.

Disordered eating & exercise habits are a product of mental dysfunction—not ‘healthy habits gone too far’. Grappling taught me to value the benefits of nourishing my body for performance over monitoring the scale.

keep reading!
Motivation, Training

Best Foot Forward: Changing Course for Training in 2021

When I meticulously drafted my plans for 2020; including competitions I hoped to enter, seminars I would travel to, and nutrition and strength-building programs I would follow to meet those goals… I expected to hit some bumps in the road. But the challenges I anticipated coming across were far more manageable–balancing my workload, nursing injuries, maintaining focus during practice.

keep reading!
Lifestyle, Reviews

REVIEW: Arm Bar Soap Company’s Alpha & Omega Mega Bar

In the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu community, you’d be hard pressed to find a grappler who hasn’t come across the Arm Bar Soap Company label with their promotional presence among the sport’s top athletes. But will a luxury soap make your jiu jitsu any better? The short answer is no; but it does promise to keep you in the game longer by preventing skin infections before outbreak–allowing you to stay on the mats and off the sidelines.

keep reading!
Fitness, Gear, Reviews, Training

My MUST-HAVE Fitness Items for Home Workouts

I have dropped serious cash on my home fitness equipment–and this list only includes the items I consider the most essential in my workout routine. I consider it a worthwhile investment due to the fact I have been able to completely replace membership to a commercial gym, and I put in a ton of hours with my home workouts.

However, you don’t have to spend a fortune on getting started–most importantly, you need to consider what you’ll actually use, and the intensity & wear you’ll put your gear through before purchasing top-of-the-line equipment. That’s why I’ve also included some budget & DIY suggestions so that you can access all the workouts that I do without the upfront cost.

keep reading!
Apparel, Gear, Reviews

4 Small Shops Female Fighters Will LOVE

Supporting small businesses is more important than ever–and an amazing way to preserve the grappling community by helping fellow fighters succeed. These are just a few shops I have purchased from that have high-quality gear & accessories you won’t find anywhere else.

For the female fighter who’s used to unisex styles and products geared toward male athletes, I wanted to take time to highlight the shops that cater to women in the martial arts community.

keep reading!