
Hosted by Girls in Gis · EN
The Girls in Gis podcast is dedicated to providing a voice for women and girls in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Our goal is to entertain and inform our listeners while bringing recognition to women and girls in the grappling arts.

Cat Discianni is the co-owner and head instructor of jiu jitsu at New Asgard Martial Arts alongside of her husband and she is a Tac Team Black Belt under Paramount BJJ. Cat enjoys competing and coaching all people in jiu jitsu, especially women and started her teaching career as the women’s class jiu jitsu instructor at Paramount as a blue belt. She holds multiple notable competitive accolades including being a 3x No Gi World Champion and a No Gi Pan American Champion. She also has a full time job as the Director of Nursing at an assisted living facility. She can be found playing with her pet skunk and dog in her free time.Learn more about Girls in Gis:Homepage: https://www.girls-in-gis.comEvents: https://www.girls-in-gis.com/events/Shop: http://www.girls-in-gis.com/shop/Donate: http://www.girls-in-gis.com/donate/Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/GirlsinGisFacebook Official: https://www.facebook.com/GirlsinGisTwitter: @_girls_in_gis_Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/girlsingis/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/girlsingis

Alexa Yanes is the Founder of Open Guard Collective (formerly the Groundwork Foundation) and a driving force behind its mission to create meaningful, community-driven impact through Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, education, and global outreach.With over a decade of training, Alexa has competed professionally at the highest levels of the sport around the world. Her accomplishments at black belt include winning the 2024 IBJJF Pan American Championship, reaching the finals of the Abu Dhabi World Pro, and earning multiple Abu Dhabi Grand Slam titles, among many other podium finishes. She has competed, refereed, and worked events at the sport’s most elite levels, giving her a deep, well-rounded understanding of Jiu-Jitsu both on and off the mat.Beyond competition, Alexa has taught seminars internationally, sharing her technical knowledge and competitive experience with athletes across different countries and cultures. She has also worked extensively in Jiu-Jitsu and MMA media, event operations, and brand partnerships, contributing to promotion, storytelling, and community engagement within the combat sports world.Based in Las Vegas, Nevada, Alexa trains alongside championship-level professionals and remains embedded in one of the world’s most competitive combat sports hubs. Learn more about Girls in Gis:Homepage: https://www.girls-in-gis.comEvents: https://www.girls-in-gis.com/events/Shop: http://www.girls-in-gis.com/shop/Donate: http://www.girls-in-gis.com/donate/Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/GirlsinGisFacebook Official: https://www.facebook.com/GirlsinGisTwitter: @_girls_in_gis_Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/girlsingis/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/girlsingis

Michelle Marciniak is 14 years old yellow-white belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, out of Las Vegas. She began training jiu jitsu when she was 9 years old. Toward the end of 2023, her and her brother began training at Diamond Grappling Academy where they currently train today. Around the same time, she started getting more serious about her competition. In addition to all the local tournaments, they started traveling for superfights and many of the larger national tournaments, such as ADCC and IBJJF. Recently she started to wrestle as well. Throughout this wrestling season, which was her first, she still consistently trained and competed in BJJ. Now, that season has ended, and her competitions will be more jiu-jitsu/grappling focused once again. She is also a full time student who plays cello in her school’s orchestra. She is so grateful for the opportunities she has had so far that got her to where she is today. Learn more about Girls in Gis:Homepage: https://www.girls-in-gis.comEvents: https://www.girls-in-gis.com/events/Shop: http://www.girls-in-gis.com/shop/Donate: http://www.girls-in-gis.com/donate/Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/GirlsinGisFacebook Official: https://www.facebook.com/GirlsinGisTwitter: @_girls_in_gis_Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/girlsingis/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/girlsingis

Emily Kwok is a multiple-time IBJJF champion in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, an early veteran of women’s MMA, and one of the sport’s pioneering female athletes. A school owner and head instructor at Princeton BJJ, she brings over two decades of experience on and off the mat. Emily has been a driving force in creating space for women in the sport — co-founding Groundswell Grappling Concepts in 2008 as the first all-female BJJ camp, becoming one of the first women featured in BJJ instructionals , and continuing to organize women’s camps and gatherings that have helped shape the community over the years. Beyond the mats, Emily is a performance consultant and coach who draws on developmental psychology, fine art training, and the perceptual skills honed through a lifetime in martial arts to help individuals and teams operate at their highest level. She is also a devoted mother to three great humans and wife to fellow black belt Gerry Hurtado.Learn more about Girls in Gis:Homepage: https://www.girls-in-gis.comEvents: https://www.girls-in-gis.com/events/Shop: http://www.girls-in-gis.com/shop/Donate: http://www.girls-in-gis.com/donate/Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/GirlsinGisFacebook Official: https://www.facebook.com/GirlsinGisTwitter: @_girls_in_gis_Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/girlsingis/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/girlsingis

Elizabeth is a dedicated and driven 9-year-old athlete who actively competes in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and wrestling. Known for her discipline, coachability, and competitive spirit, she approaches both training and competition with focus, resilience, and a genuine love for the sport.Her training spans multiple world class programs across Florida and New York. She represents Alpha Miami Grappling out of Miami Florida and develops strength and conditioning at Craftsman Gym in Boca Raton.In New York, she sharpens her Gi Jiu-Jitsu at Igor Gracie Academy, trains No-Gi at Renzo Gracie Warwick, builds her wrestling foundation with GPS Wrestling, and expands her overall skillset through MMA training at Legends Martial Arts.Understanding that peak performance requires mental strength as well as physical preparation, she works closely with Erin Herle to develop confidence, focus, and resilience both on and off the mat.In addition to her competitive journey, Elizabeth proudly serves as a BrandAmbassador for Braus and ChickJitsu, representing brands that align with her values of empowerment, positivity, and youth development in the sport.Outside of training, she enjoys spending time at the beach, surfing, and skiing. She loves to read and help cook with her family, embracing a balanced lifestyle that supports both her athletic growth and personal development.With a strong support system, a diverse and high-level training environment, and a passion for continuous improvement, Elizabeth represents the next generation of grappling athletes—combining skill, heart, and character in everything she does Learn more about Girls in Gis:Homepage: https://www.girls-in-gis.comEvents: https://www.girls-in-gis.com/events/Shop: http://www.girls-in-gis.com/shop/Donate: http://www.girls-in-gis.com/donate/Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/GirlsinGisFacebook Official: https://www.facebook.com/GirlsinGisTwitter: @_girls_in_gis_Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/girlsingis/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/girlsingis

Kendall Reusing is a 3x IBJJF NoGi Black Belt World Champion, 2024 ADCC bronze medalist, 4x USA Wrestling National Champion, and an 8x IBJJF World Champion at all belt levels overall. She is also the co-owner of 4 Gracie Barra Jiu Jitsu academies, a worldwide seminar and camp facilitator, a podcast host of her show, Get A Grip, and a combat sports commentator and interviewer for both IBJJF and FloGrappling. Kendall also leads a company called Jiu Jitsu Accelerator, mentoring jiu jitsu practitioners of all levels to unlock their best selves in the areas of Jiu Jitsu, Mindset, Nutrition, and Strength & Conditioning. Kendall’s passion for sharing authentically on social media has led to a focus on content creation, where she speaks openly about the ins and outs of the life of a female athlete in a male dominated environment, her eating disorder recovery, like’s ups and downs, and the messiness of personal development. Additional accomplishments include her triumphs as a Pan Am Champion, European Champion, 4x Polaris Champion, Grapplefest Champion, ADCC East Coast Trials Champion, and F2W Champion.You can follow her journey on IG, YouTube, her website, and her podcast.IG: Instagram.com/kendallreusingYT: YouTube.com/kendallreusingbjjWebsite: kendallreusing.comPodcast: linktr.ee/getagripwithk Learn more about Girls in Gis:Homepage: https://www.girls-in-gis.comEvents: https://www.girls-in-gis.com/events/Shop: http://www.girls-in-gis.com/shop/Donate: http://www.girls-in-gis.com/donate/Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/GirlsinGisFacebook Official: https://www.facebook.com/GirlsinGisTwitter: @_girls_in_gis_Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/girlsingis/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/girlsingis

On this today's episode of NEXT GEN , Shama sits down with Lovey!Lovely Lucy is not just a youth combat sport athlete; she’s a force of nature! Training fiercely in jiu jitsu, boxing, MMA, and taekwondo, she radiates enthusiasm for competition while showcasing incredible sportsmanship. As she gears up for thrilling superfights and her boxing debut, Lucy dreams of winning the GAMMA Youth Nationals in 2026. Beyond her athletic pursuits, she immerses herself in photography, drawing, gaming, and outdoor adventures—proving that passion fuels success on every front. Lucy inspires all who meet her to chase their dreams with vigor and heart.Learn more about Girls in Gis:Homepage: https://www.girls-in-gis.comEvents: https://www.girls-in-gis.com/events/Shop: http://www.girls-in-gis.com/shop/Donate: http://www.girls-in-gis.com/donate/Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/GirlsinGisFacebook Official: https://www.facebook.com/GirlsinGisTwitter: @_girls_in_gis_Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/girlsingis/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/girlsingis

On this episode of AABB, Shama sits down with Lyzz Mitrovic!Lyzz Mitrovic has been training martial arts since 2010. She started her journey with Hapkido, receiving her Black Belt in 2013. Wanting to learn more martial arts, she began training BJJ in 2014. She quickly became an avid and tough competitor in BJJ, and after numerous competition accolades, received her Black Belt in 2019 under Dustin Akbari. At black belt she has become an Adult NoGi Pan American, NoGi European, ADCC West Coast Trials, NoGi World Champion, and she achieved becoming a Master 1 World Champion for two consecutive years. You’ll usually find her on the mats at Precision Jiu-Jitsu Academy teaching and training, going for Gold in BJJ competitions, or pursuing her other obsessions of Kombucha and Tabletop GamingLearn more about Girls in Gis:Homepage: https://www.girls-in-gis.comEvents: https://www.girls-in-gis.com/events/Shop: http://www.girls-in-gis.com/shop/Donate: http://www.girls-in-gis.com/donate/Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/GirlsinGisFacebook Official: https://www.facebook.com/GirlsinGisTwitter: @_girls_in_gis_Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/girlsingis/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/girlsingis

On this Episode of Next Generation, Shama sits down with Isa!Isa is an 8-year-old Jiu-Jitsu athlete from Southern California who trains out of Legacy West Valley in Northridge. As a homeschooled student, she’s able to dedicate time and focus to her training, allowing her to develop both discipline and passion for the sport. Known for her big smile and contagious energy, Isa has a natural ability to make friends wherever she goes. Her positive attitude and love for Jiu-Jitsu shine through on and off the mats, making her a standout both as a competitor and as a teammate. She is currently sponsored by Sneaky Artistry and dreams of one day running her own Jiu-Jitsu gym. Learn more about Girls in Gis:Homepage: https://www.girls-in-gis.comEvents: https://www.girls-in-gis.com/events/Shop: http://www.girls-in-gis.com/shop/Donate: http://www.girls-in-gis.com/donate/Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/GirlsinGisFacebook Official: https://www.facebook.com/GirlsinGisTwitter: @_girls_in_gis_Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/girlsingis/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/girlsingis

On this episode, guest host Torrie O’neil-Strong sits down with 2 stripe black belt, Caitlin Murdock. She earned her black belt under Eduardo de Lima, direct student under Carlos Gracie Jr. and started training under de Lima with my dad when I was 12. 25 years later, “I'm an active competitor in the adult division under Pedigo Submission Fighting. My husband and I moved to the PSF HQ over three years ago. Since then, I've placed third in adult no-gi worlds in 2023 and second in 2024. I have achieved my second championship at Pans under master one, once in 2019 and another in 2023. I would describe my grappling style as classic and very pressure-oriented. My future goals include winning gold at no-gi worlds this year, as well as winning trials in the years to come. The ultimate goal though---bringing more little girls and women into the sport and providing a female mentor to upcoming athletes.”Learn more about Girls in Gis:Homepage: https://www.girls-in-gis.comEvents: https://www.girls-in-gis.com/events/Shop: http://www.girls-in-gis.com/shop/Donate: http://www.girls-in-gis.com/donate/Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/GirlsinGisFacebook Official: https://www.facebook.com/GirlsinGisTwitter: @_girls_in_gis_Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/girlsingis/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/girlsingis