Tuesday Apr 01, 2025

#04: Being Brave For Yourself: Two Female Besties Chatting About Jiu-Jitsu Experience ft. Chelsea Ottaviano

You know that moment when you’re starting something new, heart pounding, wondering, “Can I actually do this?” Yeah, we’ve been there — on the mat, in life, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. 

In this episode, I am joined by my Jiu-Jitsu bestie, Chelsea Ottaviano, to talk about what it’s really like to start Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu as a woman. Just so we’re clear — we are not experts; we’re just two blue belts figuring it out as we go. But what we do know is what it feels like to push past the fear, the injuries, and the “Am I even cut out for this?” moments. 

So, if you’ve ever been curious about stepping on the mat or even just trying something totally new and outside of your comfort zone, this episode is for you. Let’s talk about the mindset, the challenges, the awkward first rolls, and why finding your training bestie might just be the game-changer you need. Let’s dive in!

In this episode:

(02:56) - Our Journey into Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu + What Made Us Stick to It
(05:49) - Finding Balance vs Setting Priorities
(12:27) - What it was like to walk into the gym for the first time
(28:20) - Our Very First Competitions (and what we wish we knew beforehand)
(32:11) - Learning to Be Comfortable Being Uncomfortable
(40:49) - The Role of Physical Therapy in Jiu-Jitsu
(43:40) - Jiu-Jitsu: A Mirror for Your Strengths and Weaknesses

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