Check out my banner with Travis Stevens who just won Silver at the Olympics!!!!
The Master World Championships was an epic event with so many amazing highly seasoned competitors. I was honoured to be asked at the Fuji booth to sign and meet and greet. I met some many amazing people and saw so many familiar faces. This BJJ world is a small world and we all come together from every country to enjoy the passion that we all share. Good vibes.
Rana, the first lady from Jordan who achieved her 3rd Master World title.
I am honoured to be teaching a seminar at The Stronghold, Cobrinha Academy on Sunday September 11. Catch up on some bjj techniques and then hit the beach!!! I will be teaching transitions from on top as well as some spider guard concepts as well as touching on diet and weight loss. To book your spot contact Mike at mike@strongholdsd.com. Tickets can also be bought on eventbrite : https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sophia-mcdermott-drysdale-seminar-tickets-26833967118?aff=es2
The Master Worlds Lifestyle camp is under way. Each of my Lifestyle camps has a different feel to it because of all the amazing unique ladies who attend. This camp is the International group. I am very blessed to have Rana who is the first lady from Jordan, Itzel, the first lady from Mexico, Yvonne originally from Germany, Eva originally from the Czech Republic and finally Diana, who is the only USA representative!!!. It is incredible how jiu jitsu unites us regardless of country, language we speak, belt rank and team. We are all here together to celebrate the love of this sport and build this sisterhood.
As fitness professionals, we are keenly aware that women are routinely given mixed information about training during their pregnancy. Unfortunately, this is partly due to the remaining stigma whereby pregnancy is treated as if it is an illness and women are expected to rest all the time and never exert...". http://www.otpbooks.com/sophia-drysdale-training-pregnant-…/ This my second piece about training women while pregnant. In this article I list situations and conditions to look out for as well as exercises that are a big no-no. BUt this noes not mean to stop exercising!!! Exercise has a myriad of benefits for the mother and the developing baby, which will help throughout pregnancy and during her labor, birth and recovery. Exercise or training programs need to be modified accordingly, rather than being stopped altogether. So just because there are things we need to look out for, that doesn't mean that pregnant athletes should stop their training and doing what they love.
My article published in Breaking Muscle magazine discusses the myths about training for a six pack, or toned, flat abs. So many of us can get the definition on the upper portion but still have a little pooch on the lower belly. Check out my article where I demonstrate exercises that work the lower half of the abs too! http://breakingmuscle.com.au/au/strength-conditioning/5-exercises-for-fully-defined-ab-muscles
Demonstrating BJJ techniques with mackenzie Dern. Photo courtesy of Osu.
The Camp in Mexico was a huge success with 45 women on the mat. Ladies from Mexico, other South American countries such as Colombia and the USA attended to enjoy the experience of training with other women and learning from two black belt World Champs. Mackenzie and I took turns in demonstrating techniques and since this is the 3rd camp we have taught together, we quickly adopted our usual roles of me being the serious mamma bear and Mackenzie being the fun one full of games, laughs and surprises. Tgether we balance each other out.
Queens of the mat in Mexico.
Lola was also awarded her blue belt which is an awesome achievement considering she has a one year old baby. She is living proof that you can be a new mother but still make time to do the things you love.
Lola on receiving her blue belt.... Lots of tears of gratitude.
When not on the mat we had time to do some sightseeing and enjoy some Mexican food. Mexico is such a busy place, packed full of action.
Out and about in Mexico.
After the camp the ladies participated in a tournament where there were over 30 competitors!. This is quite a big deal for a women's only competition and it is a testament to how much this sport has grown and how it has progressed with help of leading ladies such as Itzel Bazua who organised this all.
For more updates on camps and events in Mexico, check out Itzels' organisation, Ma'at. She is hosting camps, tournament and bringing other black belts out on a regular basis to help grow the sport in her country.
Rachel earning her black belt and the Master World Championships
I am so happy to be a part of this movement of empowered women empowering women through jiu jitsu. My first stop a couple of weeks ago was Tennessee where I was the guest at the Girls Gone Gi Camp, an organisation that was founded by Pan Am and World Champ Rachel Morrison Casias who is a pocket rocket black belt who somehow survives pretty much on Pepsi??? lol
Izel Bazua: Mexico's highest ranked female and a pioneer for the sport with all her camps, competitions and refereeing.
My next stop was Mexico where I taught the camp alongside none other than Mackenzie Dern for the Ma'at Association founded by Itzel Bazua who is a brown belt, the highest rank in BJJ in Mexico who is an absolute pioneer for BJJ in her country and is making a big difference. Hats off to these ladies who are paving the way for women in BJJ and who are making a difference in the community. These ladies are providing opportunities for other women to learn and grow and are building the sisterhood that is getting stronger and stronger each year.
I trained throughout both my pregnancies which meant that I could get my pre baby body back sooner. Here I am at the beach with my second baby who was about 7 months old.
Many of us ladies will be a mum at some stage in our lives. But many of us are athletes too and if not we enjoy working out. Too often health professionals tell us that we can't exercise when pregnant since there are too many risks. I think today the problem is that pregnancy is treated like an illness and not like just another phase in a woman's life.
My article discusses all the changes that occur during pregnancy, everything from how the hormones affect us, to the structural changes and the development of the baby. Knowledge is the key and if we equip ourselves with knowledge then we can modify our training programs accordingly to still have an effect yet safe workout or training session. There is no need to stop. Our lives don't have to be on hold just because we are creating another inside us!
