Page 18 - Issue 3

GRAPPLER Summer 2019

UNITED IN

SISTERHOOD

OPEN MAT

GrapplerMag’s Editor-in-Chief (and resident
tamborine frontman) Brandon Ibarra welcomed his first
child into the world this past December. Three months
later he and his wife were back on the mat.

Why?

Jiu Jitsu is a habit and they want to establish a routine
their daughter can one day follow. When I told him I
was going to cover “United in Sisterhood,” Florida’s
statewide female-exclusive open mat, he wanted to hear
all about it. Both of us thought an event like this could
have the potential of turning anti-dude really quick. Even
if it was just throwing shade toward the guys in the room.
There was none of it.

Melissa Lohsen and her husband David founded
Pretty Dangerous Women when they opened Darkwolf
MMA in Orange City, Florida back in 2015. The idea was
simple: hold a female-only open mat where women
could train with other women. She reached out to gyms
and spread the word any way she could.

Written By:
TIM KLINE
Photographed By: @tjks06

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