Being raised as a girl set me up for frustration later in life . I didn’t grow up wrestling, arguing and fighting for my place in the world.
Joining a co-ed martial arts gym in my mid‑40s, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) and self‑defence felt intense, awkward, and honestly a bit terrifying at first. However, I quickly realised it was exactly what I needed to step into a more confident and self-assured identity.
What changed everything was doing it alongside other women and nonbinary folks — laughing through the weirdness, checking in on each other, and slowly realizing we were all getting braver together.
Grounded Femme Collective exists to create more of those spaces: where we can face uncomfortable things in good company and come away with new skills, real confidence, and genuine friendships.
I want to thank my teachers Jo Maisonneuve and David Dash for giving me the skills to lean into the discomfort, and share the gift of BJJ with a wider community.
Grounded Femme Collective 