
Name: Angela Brooks
Age: 42
Time Training: 6 years
Belt Rank: 2nd Degree Blue Belt
Academy: Ruff House Training Center
Instructor: Arthur Ruff 3rd Degree Black Belt
Jiu-Jitsu! Really, just for the hell of it!
Sounds pretentious, but true! I just do it because I enjoy it. It keeps me sane and in shape. The Good Lord above knew what he was doing when He put my husband in my life. My name is Angela Brooks, and this is my chronicle to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu…
This began 17 years ago when I was dating my spouse, Bobby. We had gone out to rent a video tape (oh yeah that long ago before DVDs saturated the rental market, and which now the internet owns). The tape we decided on was Ultimate Fighting Championship 1. This is when I was introduced to the Martial Art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu by Royce Gracie. Bobby and I always talked about Jiu-Jitsu and the evolution of MMA by renting the UFC videos through the years. Bobby was wanting to find a school nearby to practice the art but he could never find one.
In 1999, after 4 years of courtship, Bobby and I got married. Two years later, in October of 2001, we had Enzley; followed by Ronan in 2003. By the summer of 2005, we happened upon this large sign flapping in the wind which read, ‘Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.’ Finally, an Academy where Bobby could train? (Not! Rather my son, Enzley. You know parents living vicariously through their kids). Here is where we met our future Sensei, Arthur Ruff (the one standing next to me in the pic.). Enzley competed and practiced Jiu-Jitsu for about 4 years when became disinterested, but his parents were there to take up the Art.
By the spring of 2007, my Sensei had offered a woman’s class for moms that wanted to try it, which only, one other mom did besides me. Then women’s class was cancelled to low enrollment. It was a bit of a rough start for me because it became evident women did not want to stay or try it. So I asked if I could join in the Adult class. So alongside Bobby, I began my Jiu-Jitsu life.
Six years later and a few medals under my belt, I’m still practicing Jiu-Jitsu. Practicing is an understatement because every day I TRAIN, LEARN, AND LIVE JIU JITSU! Really, just for the hell of it!
Age: 42
Time Training: 6 years
Belt Rank: 2nd Degree Blue Belt
Academy: Ruff House Training Center
Instructor: Arthur Ruff 3rd Degree Black Belt
Jiu-Jitsu! Really, just for the hell of it!
Sounds pretentious, but true! I just do it because I enjoy it. It keeps me sane and in shape. The Good Lord above knew what he was doing when He put my husband in my life. My name is Angela Brooks, and this is my chronicle to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu…
This began 17 years ago when I was dating my spouse, Bobby. We had gone out to rent a video tape (oh yeah that long ago before DVDs saturated the rental market, and which now the internet owns). The tape we decided on was Ultimate Fighting Championship 1. This is when I was introduced to the Martial Art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu by Royce Gracie. Bobby and I always talked about Jiu-Jitsu and the evolution of MMA by renting the UFC videos through the years. Bobby was wanting to find a school nearby to practice the art but he could never find one.
In 1999, after 4 years of courtship, Bobby and I got married. Two years later, in October of 2001, we had Enzley; followed by Ronan in 2003. By the summer of 2005, we happened upon this large sign flapping in the wind which read, ‘Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.’ Finally, an Academy where Bobby could train? (Not! Rather my son, Enzley. You know parents living vicariously through their kids). Here is where we met our future Sensei, Arthur Ruff (the one standing next to me in the pic.). Enzley competed and practiced Jiu-Jitsu for about 4 years when became disinterested, but his parents were there to take up the Art.
By the spring of 2007, my Sensei had offered a woman’s class for moms that wanted to try it, which only, one other mom did besides me. Then women’s class was cancelled to low enrollment. It was a bit of a rough start for me because it became evident women did not want to stay or try it. So I asked if I could join in the Adult class. So alongside Bobby, I began my Jiu-Jitsu life.
Six years later and a few medals under my belt, I’m still practicing Jiu-Jitsu. Practicing is an understatement because every day I TRAIN, LEARN, AND LIVE JIU JITSU! Really, just for the hell of it!