About Jiu Jiu!
My name is Julia. You can email me at julia@jiujiubjj.com.
I began my BJJ journey at age 33 in Seoul on June 1, 2010 as a complete non-athlete weighing 205 lbs. I received my blue belt from DukYoung Jang, black belt instructor at Jiu Jitsu World on May 27, 2011. I herniated a disc in my back in October 2011 and for the following six months sat in the sidelines watching and learning. I am currently a 4-stripe blue.
Currently I live in Virginia and train at MAMMA’s Boys with Diego Bispo. I am moving to Colorado Springs in July 2017.
Find me on the Internet!
- Jiu Jitsu Forums under the name scifigal.
- Instagram, username jiujiubjj
- Twitter, username jiujiubjj
Life passions: Teaching, having amazing experiences, BJJ, weight lifting, cross stitching, and science fiction (mostly costuming).
Life highlights: Witnessing Heejin Lee becoming the first woman in Korea to receive her BJJ black belt, participating in GISHWHES, losing 1/3 of my body weight, having a BJJ article written about me, going on a BJJ tour, bench pressing 50 kilos, volunteering with Peace Corps in Ukraine for 2 years, meeting They Might Be Giants, seeing Paul McCartney in concert in Kiev, getting SCUBA certified in Okinawa Japan, adopting a cat from Ukraine (her name is Miau-Miau), learning Russian, learning to play the cello and viola, completing my MEd in TESOL, watching every episode of every Star Trek series (excluding animated /fan-made stuff), watching all 10 seasons of Star Gate, and getting married just before I turn 39.
Me with Korea’s first and only female BJJ black belt!
Life goals: Getting down to 130-135 lbs, earning my black belt in BJJ, learning a third language at a conversational level, retiring in Malaysia, living in Brazil for 3+ months, paying off all my student loans, paying off my credit card, potentially completing a PhD, being a super kick-ass wife, mom, and auntie.
Random facts: I collect camels, I have 9 tattoos and counting, I have watched more television than most, I am known to a group of people as “Wonder Woman,” I am part of The Cult of Scott Bakula, I love K-pop (BIG BANG!) and nerdy parody songs, and I love wearing makeup.
BJJ Milestones:
April, 2015 Becoming a coach for BJJ beginners
August 11, 2013 Highlander Medal at King of Grappling
June 14, 2013 Promoted to 4-stripe blue belt
October 18, 2012 Promoted to 3-stripe blue belt
September 28, 2012 Promoted to 2-stripe blue belt
June 11, 2012 Promoted to 1-stripe blue belt
October 22, 2011 Herniated a disc in my back
May 27, 2011 Promoted to blue belt
April 7, 2011 Promoted to 4-stripe white belt
October, 2010 Joined Jiu Jitsu World.
July 25, 2010 Started this blog.
July 18, 2010 Highlander medal in women’s 86+, obligatory silver in student Tournament: Campeonato Keiko Sports in Korea 2010.
June 11, 2010 Joined Jiu Jitsu Forums.
June 1, 2010 Started doing BJJ
My Nerd Support!
Errhead, Über-Bakulon and bartender of The Cult of Scott Bakula, is for help with all the html coding, email setting up-ness, and general website nerd-fu that makes me tap. (I’m convinced the “h” in html stands for “headache”). He’s my own personal Hardison.
http://family-mat-ters.blogspot.com/
My blog is finally up. Please let me know what you think.
Hey there,
I just want to say that I enjoy reading your blog! I recently took up BJJ and I have fallen in love with the sport. We share similar passions as well in regards to international travel and learning foreign languages.
Best,
Urban Nomadista
P.S. Your youtube video on how to fold a gi into a purse with a carrying handle was awesome.
BJJ is SO addictive! Glad you liked the video. I found one on making it into a backpack that was cute. 🙂
Nice blog. Big fan of both bjj and Korea — I’m a middle-of-the-road blue belt from the middle of America who’s been around the (south) Korean peninsula three times now, mostly chasing the old trails of Buddhist monks up into the mountains.
Anyhow, keep doing your thing.
Thanks, Vince! I appreciate it. Glad you liked Korea. Did you have a chance to do BJJ while you were here?
Hi! Ran into your blog somehow. Grad student here from Manila, professional boxer, just got into BJJ today. Love it! I’m glad you’re pushing forward towards a passion, nothing beats that. You have a lot of heart, and I’m sure you’ll win more tourneys soon! Hope boxing is in your agenda too! Best regards!
Hi Rob! Welcome to the addiction! Nope, I have no plans to hit people in the face.
Punching people in the face is easy; it is getting punched in the face that is not so fun.
Hello
I was doing research for being new to JJ and your blog was really helpful and I wanted to thank you. Here is a video that I worked on with my friend who has been doing JJ for a while and wanted to share this- Hope you enjoy it
http://youtu.be/JIvEfBrw2RE
Take care
Rua =)
Thank you for the kind words! How long have you been doing BJJ?
Hey, Julia!
I want to write an article about your story, a really good compilation in portuguese of your landmarks, achievements, and obviously hard moments you have been through. If you can send me an e-mail e-mail so i can send you back some questions and stuff.
It will be a cover to the online magazine, and a really good way to make people see that its not impossible to move and change things. What you say?
Hugs!
Sent you a reply!
Hi Julia!
I’ve been following your blog off and on and its been great reading about all fo your different experiences in different places. I had a question about teaching in Korea and also finding places to train BJJ. I’m not sure of the exact job that you are doing but I was wondering if you had any advice about teaching english, what to look for/avoid and also where some schools are that are good places to train.
Thanks for your help,
Libbie
Thank you so much! I am a teacher trainer. This means I cannot AT ALL speak about what it is like teaching English in Korea. I have no idea about where to work or even general advice. My advice is to look on Dave’s ESL cafe.
I will be updating my blog with more reviews of BJJ academies. It would be awesome to eventually get all of them! 🙂 However, I can definitely say – make it to a teamwide training on a Saturday at 3pm at Apgujeong academy. You’ll be able to talk to John Frankl and he can help advise you, and it’s even possible that the instructor will be there!
[…] jiujiubjj DOT com. Simple and sweet! [curses – it is not receiving email! argh] (Thank you to my nerd support for helping […]
Hello Julia!
I stumbled upon your blog today, and I found myself reading back up to your very first entry:)
Your BJJ journey is interesting (and very much entertaining). I’ve been wanting to try out a combat sport with a belt system.
I’m just waiting for some papers and I’ll be heading off to Japan to teach English to kids. I got interested in your blog because I was worried about trying to learn BJJ or judo in a country that speaks little English.
Continue inspiring!:)
I’m so glad! I hope you try it and like it! You should give it a go in your home country so that you can learn some of the SUPER basics in your native language. It may be helpful to look up some super simple vocabulary and know what a few things are when you go in – it will make it a little bit easier.
Things I’m talking about: closed guard, half guard, side control, “pass someone’s guard”, armbar.
I’ve heard that in Japan there are a few BJJ places that won’t allow foreigners, so be aware of that. There are a bunch of BJJ clubs there, though, and I might be able to find some information if you need it.
Welcome!
Even online I feel a very friendly vibe from you! Thank you for being so nice. I will let you know what happens in Tokyo. I hope I don’t make a fool out of myself by trying to train in a gym that won’t allow foreigners.
Take care! 🙂
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Julia,
I love your blog! I’ll be heading to Seoul for a few days from Japan, and I hope I can get some training in. I’m only a blue belt myself, but I love training BJJ whenever I travel. Great way to make friends and learn new techniques.
I look forward to reading about your progress!
Brent
Awesome! If you’re on facebook I can invite you to the Korean Jiu Jitsu group so you can find jiu jitsu near where you’ll be staying, or if you know I can post and find a club near you! Please keep in touch. You can message me at julia at jiujiubjj.com
I enjoy reading your blog, it inspired me to start my own. Feel free to follow along and comment. http://merge93.wordpress.com/
Hi Shadow – so this is not the correct place to pimp your blog. I specifically have a post made for doing that. You are welcome to write about it there – this one will be deleted.
This comment felt very spammy. The “check out my blog” plus a link = what spammers do. To bypass that, connect with the person whose blog your are posting on. That way it feels more like a conversation than an advertisement.
Good luck to you!
I’m sorry that I put the post in the wrong section, and I apologize that it looked spammy. That wasn’t my intention.
No problem – I didn’t think so, which is why I shared my observations. ^_^ Did you find where to share about your blog? It’s under a post called “Pimp your BJJ blog here” or something like that.
Rereading my comment I realized it looked harsh – definitely not my intention either! ^_^
Just beginning to make my way through your site. I like your style and perspective on writing. I added your blog to my blogroll, so I’ll be checking back daily.
http://www.jayjitsu.com/bjj-blogroll/
Keep up the good work!
Jay
[…] About […]
[…] you to DK for translating […]
Julia you’re my inspiration to achieve two goals: Learn to speak English and weight loss through BJJ.Teria how you explain how you divide during the week their physical activities? How many times a week u practice BJJ and how many times a week weight lifting? And again as a 38 year old Brazilian learn English? Any tips?
Hey, what’s the best way to contact you offsite?
Julia at jiujiubjj.com works!
I’ve been following your blog and I am so glad I found it! You’re an inspiration! I’m very new to BJJ and Muay Thai… and I am hooked! Thank you for sharing your story!
Raynen, thank you so much for your kind words! BJJ and Muay Thai are a good mix – very complementary. Are they both taught at your school?
4 stripe blue means you’re so close to purple!!! GO for it!
I hear what you’re saying, and my brain thinks you make sense, but my heart doesn’t believe you. 🙂
Thank you for writing such informative blog posts about older beginners. I am 49 and have no background whatsoever in martial arts. You are an inspiration.
You are absolutely welcome. I love the community of BJJ, and I love how the Internet helps bring together folks who would otherwise feel isolated.