By Terra Avilla
I know I’m doing a shameless plug this week, but I just can’t help myself – I’m bursting with pride over our women’s jiu-jitsu class here in Lassen County!
What started as a tiny group of two brave ladies rolling around on mats has blossomed into a full-fledged sisterhood of submission.
We now have about 10 regular attendees each week, with new faces popping in all the time to see what the fuss is about. And let me tell you, the fuss is real.
When we first started this free women’s-only class, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Would anyone show up? Would they run screaming after realizing jiu-jitsu involves a lot of close contact with sweaty strangers? But these Lassen ladies proved they’re made of tougher stuff.
After a year of offering these free classes, now our mats are filled with women of all ages and backgrounds, bonding over their shared love of choking each other (safely, of course).
We’ve got moms who can transition seamlessly from changing diapers to changing guards… yes, you should see how beautiful it is to see a woman carrying her toddler during our warm up around the mat!
There are grandmas who have traded in their knitting needles for arm bars. Even a few local businesswomen have joined us, learning that boardroom negotiations have nothing on a well-executed triangle choke.
Sure, jiu-jitsu is an incredible full-body workout. But our class has become so much more than that. It’s a place where women can let loose, build confidence, and discover inner strength they never knew they had, and women of ALL skill sets and fitness levels are WELCOME.
We laugh together as we fumble through new techniques, celebrate each other’s victories (no matter how small), and occasionally commiserate over the inevitable bruises and mat burns. There’s something uniquely empowering about realizing you can defend yourself against someone twice your size – even if that someone is just your overly enthusiastic training partner.
One of the best things about our class is the supportive, judgment-free environment. Here, it’s perfectly acceptable to sit on your friend’s face or grab a handful of her sweats. In fact, it’s encouraged!
We’ve created a space where women can push their limits, make mistakes, and yes, sometimes accidentally knee each other in the face – all while building lasting friendships and unshakeable self-confidence.
So ladies of Lassen County, consider this your official invitation to join our merry band of martial artists.
Whether you’re looking to learn self-defense, get in shape, or just find a new way to bond with other awesome women, we’ve got a spot on the mat for you. And the best part? It’s always free! That’s right, you can experience all the joy of being twisted into a human pretzel without spending a dime. Where else can you get that kind of deal?
Come see why we’re quickly becoming Lassen County’s worst-kept secret. Who knows? You might just fall in love with jiu-jitsu – and this amazing community of women WHO SUPPORT OTHER WOMEN we’re building – as much as I have. You will see why it’s one of the reasons I love where we live.
(We meet every Monday at 5:30p.m. at Grappling Bear, 2100 Main Street. (Just come on in!)
