Something powerful has rolled in …

Trauma-Informed
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Program

They said to her, “You’ll never withstand the storm.”
And she responded, “I am the storm.”

Current Intro Team Groups

• Sunday afternoons from 12 to 1 pm

  Reserve your spot for Sunday group starting May 26. (3 spots left)

• Tuesdays from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm

  Reserve your spot for Tuesday lunchtime group starting July 9. (4 spots left)

• Wednesday evenings from 5:30 to 6:30

  Reserve your spot for Wednesday evening group starting June 12. (4 spots left)

Intermediate Team Sessions

*Completion of intro 12-week program is required to participate.

• Sunday afternoons from 1:30 to 2:30 pm

• Wednesday evenings from 6:30 to 7:30 pm

• Tuesday mornings from 10 to 11 am

What’s Jiu-Jitsu?

Jiu-jitsu is a grappling (ground) martial art, made popular by the Gracie family of Brazil. Called “the gentle art,” jiu-jitsu uses leverage and momentum for escapes and holds rather than relying on size and brute strength. The techniques are designed so that even people with smaller bodies or physical limitations can execute them effectively. It also doesn’t require you to use strikes (punches, kicks, eye gouges, etc.) to keep yourself safe. Both Lauren and Lindsey have trained jiu-jitsu for four years and have experienced positive changes in their senses of self, level of confidence, and physical bodies.

What are the benefits?

• Understanding your body’s own power: Jiu-jitsu is about learning how to move your own body in protective ways. We never fully realized or believed in the strength we possessed until we started training.

• Connecting mind and body: One beautiful aspect of jiu-jitsu is that it helps practitioners to be completely present in the moment—with both your mind and your body focused on the flow of the technique. It also helps to build trust that your body can keep you safe, in a way that just talking about it can’t accomplish. You can actually feel your experience of your body changing.

• Building stress tolerance: People who practice jiu-jitsu often talk about how it helps you to get comfortable in the uncomfortable, or “embrace the suck.” On our safe mats, you’ll be able to put yourself in uncomfortable positions and then learn to breathe, think, and work through them like a puzzle. This helps to reduce panic and increase feelings of control and capableness. It’s also OK to cry, rage, or freeze here while you learn. We’ve both cried on the mats before—out of adrenaline or frustration or both. There’s no shame in our game.

• Increasing confidence in communication: The jiu-jitsu mat is a wonderful place to practice expressing how you feel, asking for what you need, and setting boundaries for yourself. For example, with a simple high five + fist bump, you communicate, “I’m ready. Let’s go.” And with a tap, you get an immediate stop. It’s amazing how working on these skills translates into our lives off the mat.

• Developing playfulness: Living in survival mode, full of fear and hypervigilance, it’s nearly impossible to relax enough to let ourselves have fun. But on the mat, we often laugh, joke, sing, and swear as we work our way out of uncomfortable places. Learning not only to “embrace the suck” but also to feel safe enough to play there is a huge relief.

• Being part of a team family: One of the top reasons for training jiu-jitsu is the community that comes with it. Working through techniques with your training partners creates a trusting bond like no other. We need each other to learn and grow, and we draw strength from the journey together.

Who can join The Storm?

Any person age 13 or older, who identifies as a woman, transperson, or gender nonbinary person. We are all one team, but beginners can choose to train with women only or in a gender-inclusive small group. You do not need to identify as a trauma survivor to participate. Everyone can benefit from a trauma-informed approach to training. If you are a survivor, it’s helpful to also have a counselor while participating in this program, just for an additional level of support, but it is not required.

Do I need any experience?

Nope. We will start with the most fundamental movements and build from there.

Do I need to buy any gear?

No. Wear comfy bottoms like sweatpants or leggings and a supportive bra. When you join our team, you’ll get a free t-shirt. That will be our training “uniform.”

How much does this program cost?

It is $60 for each month of training (4-5 one-hour sessions per month). Registration is due at the first class of each new month. You can stop anytime.

What’s the time commitment?

We will always support your freedom of choice, and we feel very strongly about protecting that, so there is never any obligation associated with The Storm. We suggest that you give the program 3 months (12 classes) to be introduced to all your foundational jiu-jitsu skills. At that point, you can continue to train with us as part of an intermediate group or you can stop.

Is this real jiu-jitsu? What will I learn?

Yes, it absolutely is. We’re an affiliate of Focused Fight Team, and the Brazilian Jiu-jitsu technique curriculum we use is the same that’s taught at all FFT gyms across the US. Our initial 12-week program is designed to teach you all the fundamental body movements of jiu-jitsu, as well as introduce the basic techniques required for your first “stripe”—which is the measurement of rank in a traditional jiu-jitsu gym. The Storm doesn’t have belts or ranks, but you will earn a bracelet for every personal and team goal you meet, so you have a memento for your progress. After training with us, if you choose to eventually transition to a co-ed team in our FFT network, we will help prepare you to test for your stripe so you can step onto their mat already having your first mark of rank. Or you can stick with The Storm forever. We’re cool with that too.

Ummm... It sounds interesting but I’m kinda scared.

That’s OK. Trying anything new can be intimidating, and we were scared, too, when we started. Stepping onto the mat the first time is hard, but each time you do it, your confidence will grow. Your emotional and physical safety in this program is extremely important to us, which is why The Storm is designed to be

• Intimate: Training groups will be limited to 4-5 people per session to allow for individualized attention. It’s also our hope that you will build trust and friendship with the other members of your small group.

• Consent-Based: You will NEVER be pushed or forced to participate in anything you don’t feel ready for or don’t want to do.

• Individualized: We’ll start as gently as you need to. There are plenty of things we can learn with zero physical touch involved, for example. We will also work at the pace that feels comfortable to you.

How do I join?

Send us an email to set up a consultation session. At that time, you’ll meet with Lauren to talk about your personal goals. She’ll answer any questions you have, and we’ll find a weekly training time that works for your schedule.

For more information on the transformative power of jiu-jitsu, we recommend reading Dr. Jamie Marich and Anna Pirkl’s Transforming Trauma with Jiu-Jitsu (North Atlantic Books, 2022).