Here’s Ronda Rousey uncomfortable for a change.

Weeks before defending her UFC bantamweight title in only 14s against Cat Zingano, Rousey had to face the cameras on a beach.

According to her, she was the first MMA fighter to pose for the traditional Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition.

‘I’m not much of a model, so I have to act like I’m sexy when I look at the camera,” said Ronda about the photo shoot.

Ronda Rousey is slowly returning to training after a knee surgery that sidelined her for sometime.

In the meantime, the UFC female bantamweight champion said a few things that created a buzz in the fighting community.

Following the controversy with female BJJ champions that responded to Rousey’s comments that she would beat any female grappler in the world under any rules, Ronda said that it wouldn’t be out of the question for her to accept a grappling superfight in the likes of Metamoris.

Today, a video of a rolling session between Ronda and also UFC fighter Gilbert Melendez surfaced on the web.

Take a look and see how ready Ronda is to come back to MMA and maybe face BJJ champions like Bia Mesquita, Hannette Staack, Luiza Monteiro and others.

Leka Vieira vs. Kyra Gracie at the 2005 Worlds

One of the biggest names in female Jiu-Jitsu is coming back to competitions.

Three-time world champion, Leka Vieira announced this week on Facebook that she will compete again in 2015.

The GRACIEMAG.com went after the black belt to know a little more about this decision to return.

“I decided to come back for personal reasons. I want to test myself and see how har can I get after all this years I was away,” says Leka, who teaches and trains at Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Valencia, in California.

She took a look back in time to remember her last appearance: “My last competition was the 2005 Worlds at the Tijuca Tenis Clube, when I won my third world title. It’s been nine years away.”

Already training for the return, Leka has been paying attention to the current scenery of female black belts: “I wouldn’t say that Jiu-Jitsu changed since I last competed, but it evolved for sure. Sincerely, I don’t want to name any girl that I would like to compete against, once this generation of fighters is amazing. I am a fan of all this girls”.

Leka wasn’t specific about what competition will be the one chosen for her return, but it won’t take very long: “I want to comeback early next year. I’ve been training a lot and I’ve paying attention to all the details. I’ll be back in the adult division that’s for sure but I still haven’t decided in what weight division.”

First, take a look at Philip Westman’s film about the Alliance fighter who like so many other girls was once shy, and is now an athlete brimming with health and friends. Afterwards, comment: how do you train to compete and win in Jiu-Jitsu? How many hours do you dedicate to winning each day?

http://vimeo.com/45334141

Competitors gathered on the mat for the commencement ceremony. Photos by Mannie Romero.

The year 2012 has been a historical one thus far for women’s Jiu-Jitsu. With the addition of a masters division and one all for the brown and black belts, it’s clear to see that the women’s movement in Jiu-Jitsu is growing faster and stronger with every event. Leading a strong campaign for Jiu-Jitsu among the fairer sex, purple belt Kristina Barlaan, along with GD Jiu-Jitsu Events and the AZSBJJF, promoted the maiden Copa Bela: All Female Jiu-Jitsu Tournament on April 21. Arizona’s inaugural girls-only competition proved to be an inspiring and empowering event for the many ladies in attendance.

The first-ever Copa Bela begins.

“Today we gathered 36 women on the mat to compete. There may be some people out there who think that this number is small, but this is only the beginning of something beautiful and much bigger. When the IBJJF promoted the first Pan Jiu-Jitsu Championship, they didn’t even have 200 competitors and now there are close to 3,300. I’m focused on the future, and I beleive in steady progress. I want to give these women a well-organized event that follows the standards of the IBJJF. I’m not looking for 100 competitors right now. I’m looking to build the community over time, and when that happens, Copa Bela can gather hundreds of women,” stated the determined Barlaan.

Dias received Special Recognition for being the pioneer for women's Jiu-Jitsu in Arizona and being a role model for all women in the sport.

To commemorate the occasion, the 1st Copa Bela started with a Commencement Ceremony in which all the competitors gathered on the mat area to be addressed for their dedication and love of the gentle art. For many, it was an emotional moment, especially for Luciana Dias, who was given a Special Recognition Award for pioneering women’s Jiu-Jitsu in Arizona. Taken by surprise by the award, Luciana, affectionally called Luka, gave a motivational speech, all the while fighting back the tears of joy that come from being validated and honored by your peers, friends, family, students, and aspiring champions:

“You don’t have to be just the stay-at-home Mom that cooks, cleans, and watches the children. You can be more, and Jiu-Jitsu let’s you do that.”

Luka shares a tearful but happy embrace with step-daughter Mackenzie Dern.

It seeems that besides competing against an opponent, Copa Bela provided a number of women the opportunity to compete against and overcome the obstacles in their lives. For some, it would be their first time competing. For others, it would be their first time winning a match and becoming a champion:

“This tournament has been a dream come true. I had five matches today, and this is my first time ever winning a match, winning my weight division, and being in the finals of the absolute. To make it even more perfect is the fact that I also get to share the podium with my daughter!” exclaims blue belt and mother of five Seta Reupenny (Relson Gracie).

Mackenzie Dern and Sophia Drysdale before the toe-hold exchange, from which Mackenzie left the victor

The highlight of Copa Bela was the world class competition in the brown/black absolute division for a $1000 payout. In the first semifinal match-up, black belt Sophia Drysdale (Drysdale BJJ) faced young Brown belt Mackenzie Dern (Gracie Humaita), with Mackenzie securing her spot in the finals via toe hold. On the other side of the bracket, newly promoted black belt Tammy Griego (Gracie Barra NM) matched up against the smaller Tracey Goodell (Atos). Although the underdog in the face-off, Tracey earned her victory with an advantage over the heavyweight. The final match, between Mackenzie and Tracey, proved to be a technical battle, with each fighting for grips and dominant position. With an exchange of positions and submissions, Mackenzie was crowned the champion by racking up four advantage points.

Tammy Griego battling the aggressive guard of Tracey Goodell

Standouts:

Alicia Sandoval and Nana Hosokawa both won their weight (medium heavy and light feather) and the absolute in the purple and blue belt divisions, respectively. Their wins helped secure BJJ Revolution top spot on the podium.

Mackenzie takes home the gold, the big bucks and the goodie bag sponsored by FighterTech supplements.

Team Results:
1st BJJ Revolution
2nd Relson Gracie
3rd Nova Uniao

Valente Bros with grand master Helio Gracie. Photo: SporTV.

The gentle art is a body guard that’s with you 24/7 and never complains, armor ready for use anywhere the need may arise.

The problem is that the only ones who understand that are the ones who train and study Jiu-Jitsu as a means of self-defense every day.

THERE ARE TIMES WHEN ONLY JIU-JITSU SAVES YOUR SKIN

Take for example the Valente brothers, who were recently on two Spanish-language television programs in the United States and reinforced the idea that at times only Jiu-Jitsu can save you, demonstrating extreme self-defense situations. Even for women and children.

Check them out in the video below, and find the school teaching quality Jiu-Jitsu nearest you.

Gabi at Rio de Janeiro tryouts for Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship: she has been unbeatable in competition Jiu-Jitsu. Photo: Carlos Ozório.

The female fighter of the hour, team Alliance’s Gabrielle Garcia has a few missions for 2012. If you want to know: winning weight and open weight at the 2012 Pan, ditto for the Worlds yet again and a third championship win in Abu Dhabi, at the professional competition with backing from the government of the United Arab Emirates.

On the first weekend of March, there’s the heavily anticipated Abu Dhabi tryouts in Brazil (sign up here), and the Fabio Gurgel student, despite already having qualified, is confirmed to be there. Find out what’s driving her to compete, and learn a bit more, in the following interview:

Having beaten two opponents at the Rio tryouts, you are through to the World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship in Abu Dhabi. Why compete in Gramado in March then?

For several reasons. I love competing. It’s in my blood, and of course the prize money and coming up with a solid result is really important, but I think the main thing is to put my Jiu-Jitsu to the test; there’s no better place for that than at a tournament. Another reason is that I want to help my training partner Andressa Correia to get to Abu Dhabi too.By competing and eliminating some of the tougher girls, I can help her make it to the final. Every day she makes the trip from Bragança Paulista to train with us in São Paulo proper; she’s worth it.

And your family will be watching from the stands…

Exactly. It will be a pleasure to compete in Rio Grande do Sul, where I was born, and competing with my family there watching is quite a motivator. This year my parents and a lot of friends will go; it’ll be a great party, and I can’t disappoint them. If I’m well trained, there’s no reason not to compete.

(Check out Gabi at the 2011 Pan:)

FEMALE JIU-JITSU STOCK UP

Do you see anyone out there with a real chance of beating you in the near future?

It’s always best to keep down to earth and know that there are always people out there training hard to beat me. I feel I deserve to be in the position I’m in and the titles I’ve won because of my dedication; but all that is already in the past. Each match is a new challenge; I respect all my opponents and I face each of them as if it were the fight of my life. I hope things keep working out; I know there are really good and well trained girls, but I am ready and will always be really headstrong. I’ve never been so confident before in my life.

What do you see happening in female Jiu-Jitsu this year? Do you feel there’s still room to grow?

Of course, there’s always room to grow. This year the brown and black belts will compete separately at the big tournaments, unlike in previous years. That shows how many more girls there are competing now. I hope the prize money increases for girls too; we train a lot and deserve the same respect. I feel there’s still plenty left to grow. There are other signs of that, too: in August of this year I’m going to teach a seminar and be godmother to the first all-female championship, in Fortaleza. After the 2012 IBJJF Worlds, I’m going to do an all-girl training camp in Florida, USA. These things show how our Jiu-Jitsu is growing with every day.

On his return to gi-clad combat, André Galvão celebrates gold at Houston Open. Photo by Mike Calimbas.

The lightweight Laurah Hallow owned the absolute purple belt division at the Houston Open, an IBJJF tournament that took place this weekend. In her weight division, however, the Paragon rep came up against an athlete who, as if having technique weren’t enough, is married to and trains with André Galvão, the superstar from team Atos who you can see below against team Lloyd Irvin’s James Harbison in the medium heavyweight semifinal.

Now check out Angélica Galvão against Laurah Hallock in the lightweight final; learn from both of them and let us know: what to you is the best part of matches between girls? What do you learn from them?

The grandmasters Carlos and Helio Gracie

Helio Gracie always preached about how Jiu-Jitsu did not come to be as a weapon for the strong, but as a means of empowering the weak, the women.

Now, the brothers’ thesis has prevailed, and the fairer sex is as powerful through Jiu-Jitsu as ever, as the following video of our GMA in Texas  João Crus’s (Carlson Gracie) lady students reveals.

JIU-JITSU, SELF-DEFENSE AND CONTROL

In this training session, women of all ages keep in shape, express themselves and have fun doing entertaining self-defense techniques. All to, if need be, be in control of a situation.

If you like watching from afar but haven’t yet gotten a taste of the Jiu-Jitsu you read so much about, give yourself a chance. Find the nearest school, wherever you may be.

Ecuador, a land of landscapes, simple and interesting people, and Jiu-Jitsu / Publicity photo

Find inspiration in the lessons and eyeful images from the Jiu-Jitsu trip championship-winning duo from team Alliance Gabi Garcia and Luanna Alzuguir took to Ecuador, and try to remember: what was the last place you and your Jiu-Jitsu partners visited to compete, teach or learn?

Let us know about your own travel and exchange of experience in the comments field below. That too is what Jiu-Jitsu is about.

Over 60 ladies showed up for the second Inspire open mat. Photo: publicity.

What brought you to first put Inspire together?

Originally, my thoughts were concentrated on promoting a women-only Jiu-Jitsu tournament, but then a local female Jiu-Jitsu enthusiast voiced her opinion to me saying that there are many ladies who want to roll with other women but were intimidated by the idea of competing. I worked from this suggestion and within a week I was setting up the very first Inspire.

You were able to gather women from many various schools. Was this difficult to do?

Not at all. The Arizona Jiu-Jitsu scene is lucky to not have rivalries or even that much politics. The women here are also very supportive of each other, so it was just a matter of spreading the word. I also try to have Inspire hosted at different schools. The 1st Inspire was hosted at Megaton’s school in Phoenix with Mackenzie Dern and Luciana Dias. This time I moved it to a Gustavo Dantas affiliate school in Mesa.

What are your goals with Inspire?

At first, it was just to have a comfortable training atmosphere for Jiu-Jitsu women to meet and train with each other, but as I see the open mats growing, I want to be able to offer more. I want to host more female-friendly events like weekend day camps, workshops, seminars, and eventually a tournament. The more events I can offer to help bring women together the more opportunities women will have to further enjoy Jiu-Jitsu.

Do you think you are on the right track to accomplish those things?

The open mats help women break past their fears and outer shell and really help them to want to put on a gi and roll. That is the first and most important step and I really believe I am accomplishing that. This past weekend I had grandmothers, mothers, and daughters training with each other. One of my greatest supporters is in her 50’s and then I also had younger ladies ranging from 13-15 who will be the future ambassadors of the sport. I was also very happy to see many mothers coming to Inspire to introduce themselves to the sport that their children or husbands have fallen in love with. It’s a great feeling knowing that a woman who had never trained before can come to an open mat and have her life change.

Other than Inspire, was there anything else that made the day more special?

Inspire was actually on the day of my 25th birthday. I really couldn’t ask for a better gift than to celebrate what I love with the female Jiu-Jitsu community. I hope that in 75 years, when I’m 100 years old, that I can still be healthy and strong enough to keep Jiu-Jitsu in my life, whether if I’m teaching or, God willing, competing.

Anything else you would like to add?

I would like to thank Tigers Lair AZ for allowing me to host Inspire at their school and the sponsors: Strongvon Tournament Systems, Fenom Kimonos, GD Jiu-Jitsu Events, AGGRO Fight Gear, I Tap Boys, and CTRL Industries. Also, a huge thank you to all the ladies who came out to support. Inspire would be nothing if they didn’t come out to roll.