the interview

1) What are some of your memorable experiences with fighting (either being in them or watching them) from growing up?

That's a pretty tough question because i didn't start any sort of fighting training until November of 2006. So im going to answer it two ways, when i was really young my father did judo and i canremember going to his tournaments and watching him beat black belts even though he was only a brown belt. As for a like personal experence i thinkit all happened recently, my coach now tells people im a coaching assistant, i help with kids classes at times, and just having a realization that im starting to make a difference in peoples lives.

2) How did you first get involved in BJJ, how long have you been involved, and what are your
goals in that sport for the near future? (Oh and are you going to the Arnolds again this year?)

I first got involved in BJJ in November 2006, after a friend showing me the website b/c i had been talking about needing self defense, i had had some bad luck in the past and needed some form of protection. So i've been involved for not much over a year. My goals at this point in time is to learn as much as possible, my coach, Marcello, wants me to go to Mundials and thinks i will do really well , so that is a big goal. Yes I will be at the Arnolds this year! It will b my first tournament as a blue belt and im gonna make a splash!

3) What are your favorite submission holds, and why?

I adore loop chokes, Marcello learned them from the creator of them, and has some amazing little secrets, tricks, and it's just crazy! Eh's taught 3 of them in the past week and i cant wait to try them out in training and competitions.

4) What or who inspired you to write your poems "Lines" and "Love"?

the poem "Love" is kind of a poem i wrote to all of my ex's that ever said they loved me. because i've had quite a few that have said it, but havve hurt me very very badly in the end. and it's almost a point where i'm wary of someone who says it to me.
"Lines" what motivated me to write this one, well it was a person that very few people know about in my life, just because it is hard to explainhow i know him, how i met him, and just who he is in general. we've never had sex, just a tension that has been there probably since we met in the summer, just never acted on it, and not sure what will happen. again a person who is there for me and that no one who knows me knows. but he knows who he is, and knows it's for him.
If you read my blogs and haven't read those poems, they can be found on my other blog. navitas86.blogspot.com

5) How do you think your life would be different if you had stayed in Illinois?

The area i was born in was a very rural community, not much of anything, only one high school for the whole county, not much of a choice for sports. I would not have fallen in love with the water, never taught swimming lessons and realized i wanted to work with kids. i would have had no exposure to brazilian jiu jitsu because there was no even decent sized town around. so i would have prolly been one of those small town girls who graduated high school got pregnant and started a family, not that thats bad but i just love the idea of traveling and living life and training too.