About

Welcome to Small Girl, Jiu Jitsu World! If you love Jiu Jitsu (or even if you don’t…yet!), this is your place! Jiu Jitsu is a wild ride, and being a female in the Jiu Jitsu world is an experience all it’s own. I love Jiu Jitsu, and I love writing. Together, this site was born.

My Story

My name is Jessica and I somehow, after years of protesting, developed an intense love for Jiu Jitsu. I started into the world of Jiu Jitsu almost 6 years ago. I had trained stand-up and LOVED Muay Thai from the beginning, and I figured this would be no different. From the get-go, I was drawn by the community that Jiu Jitsu offered, and I wanted in. As a homeschool mom of four, I had to navigate children and training , which as anyone can imagine, was a tricky feat! Turned out that although I WANTED to love Jiu Jitsu, I had a hard time making that come to life. But still, I stuck with it.

At almost a year into my journey, a changing of schools and thus, a changing of coaches, forever changed the trajectory of Jiu Jitsu for me. The first private lesson I had with Ray Price (SBG), I was certain to inform him that I didn’t actually like Jiu Jitsu (I’m all for honestly, afterall), and from then forward, Ray proceeded to win my heart for Jiu Jitsu.

The first time that I really remember LOVING Jiu Jitsu was about the time I got my blue belt, which means I put in almost two years to a sport that was somewhat “meh” for me…that’s some serious persistence. I SO wanted to love Jiu Jitsu, and I loved the community that it offered so much, that it was worth pressing forward.

I’ve always been on the smaller side. I’m 5’5″ after my grown-up growth spurt (who knew that was a thing?), and currently weigh around 135 (which is actually BIG for me as typically sit in the mid 120’s). I was the only female in our gym for a long time, and then that slowly started to change. I’m still regularly one of the smallest on the mats, which brings its own considerations and issues, but Jiu Jitsu is for everyone. That includes me, and that includes you.