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Amanda demonstrating a triangle choke at a womens only Brazilian Jiu Jitsu class in Kyuzo Gym PIC via FB Kyuzo Gym |
She said: “I’ve been through the changes – you had no changing facilities for women, changing in the cubby-hole while the lads changed in the gym. It’s a lot different now, the MMA gyms have more facilities, it is acknowledged it is a sport for men and women.”
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Amanda back in 2011 with the gang at Kyuzo Gym PIC VIA Kyuzo Facebook |
Laughing, she said: “I like to mix it all up. I compete in Jiu Jitsu as well as MMA so it depends what competitions are coming on, whether I focus my time on that or more on stand-up.
“I do like to mix it up, it’s a nice sport like that. So if you get a bit fed up of rolling all the time, you can punch bags or punch people for extra classes. It’s nice to have that variety.”
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Amanda in action on the mats at Kyuzo Gym |
Amanda is so into promoting women in combat her coach Barry Oglesby was one of the trainers contacted for a documentary shown on RTE called “Wild Girls”. Amanda took presenter Vogue Williams onto the mats at Kyuzu for a rolling-session.
She said: “I thought it would be good exposure for women in the various different types of combat sports. It was good fun, they came down and were in the gym for a couple of hours. She got well involved, I gave her a Jiu Jitsu suit.
“I think people watching were impressed, the programme got a great reaction because people didn’t realise that there are so many women out there doing such tough sports, and having so much dedication to the sports. It was a very positive reaction.”
EXTRAS:
Search for “Brazilian Jiu Jitsu for women in Ireland ” on Facebook if you want to join the group, it’s a closed group so safe discussions for all.
The first interview Amanda did for this blog is here, with links to videos of her fights
Contact Kyuzo Gym for wrestling, BJJ and MMA training at all levels and ages
Thank you for sharing this information. My girl friend wants to get started with BJJ and this was very helpful, thank you.