By Terra Avilla
I’ll be honest… I totally underestimated Terrah.
Back when I knew her as Terrah Desselle, our interactions were so limited that I really didn’t have much of an impression at all. Just one of those “we know each other, but not really” situations.
Then one day, she walked into my women’s-only jiu jitsu class—and I am so, so thankful she did. Because what I got to see after that was the real Terrah.
She’s kind in a way that immediately puts people at ease. She’s funny—quietly, but with perfect timing. And she’s fierce… not in a loud, look-at-me way, but in a way that shows up when it matters. You feel it when you train with her.
But honestly, one of my favorite memories with Terrah wasn’t even on the mats.
It was the drive back from a tournament in Reno.
You know how road trips can either feel really long… or somehow not long enough? That one felt like the second. Somewhere between Reno and home, we went from “training partners who are getting to know each other” to feeling like we’d been friends for years.
Just easy conversation, real conversation about being wives,being moms, being girls. All of it. The kind that doesn’t feel forced or surface-level.
It felt like talking to an old soul. And the more she shared, the more I realized just how much depth she has.
Terrah has had so many life experiences, especially through her work as a doula. She’s been there for people in some of the most important, vulnerable, and life-changing moments they’ll ever experience. That kind of work shapes a person. It gives you perspective, patience, empathy and she carries all of that with her and it’s so so obvious after like 5 mintues with her.
You see it in how she shows up for people.
She’s what I’d call a true “girl’s girl.” She supports other women, lifts them up, and creates a space where people feel seen and encouraged. That’s not something you can fake—it’s just who she is.
And if you asked Terrah how she’d want to be described, I’m willing to bet her answer would be simple: a good mom.
And she is. No question about it.
She’s also an incredible wife, a dedicated doula, and someone who pours herself into the people she loves in a way that’s pretty rare.
I’ve genuinely cherished getting to know her on and off the mats. Those unexpected connections, the ones that sneak up on you, are a big part of why this place means so much.
Turns out, sometimes the best people aren’t the ones who make a big first impression…
They’re the ones you’re lucky enough to really get to know later. And we’re better for it.
