March.

It has been an exciting month that's for sure.  I will get to the big GIG weekend later but the first excitement for the month was having Sam (and Jake) visit for the weekend (9th-11th), so Sam was able to come along to our girls class, whoo!  This is a before pic but Sam received another stripe on her belt so that must mean a lot of hard training in Tas!  (We'll hear soon about the rest of the Tassie lot hey Nic...)  Bec also received a stripe on her belt a couple of weeks ago.  Keep up the good work ladies!  

 Ally, Bec, Esther, Sam and Vela

TRIBOS

Time for a gi review... cos I have a new GI!  I'm always a bit sceptical of trying new gis.  Once you have been training for a while you get a bit picky about how a gi fits and feels when you are training, especially being a woman it's great to find a gi that fits your body (and is not baggy in the crotch).  I've been wearing mostly BULL TERRIER gis because they fit me well and are good quality.  But now I am excited to present to you TRIBOS FIGHT.  It's a relatively new brand and I am VERY happy with this gi.  Apart from the fact that it is a cool design (I am particularly liking the blue stripe up the pants), it fits good- and it's really light.  AND, the mens and kids gis are just as awesome (I really want one of the kids gis in my size!!)  I'm impressed with the quality so far too, no stitching coming apart after the first wash!  So, cool, cool, coolio.  I have a new gi.

Count down...

The TASSIE GANG!

This was our last photo shoot!  But surely not our last for real because I will see these girls again and no doubt when I do we will be posing away again for more pics.  We had a fun girls night before I left for Melbourne where Sam presented me with a very cool and thoughtful picture frame with a collage of photos from my time teaching the girls class in Tasmania.  A lot of cool memories and a lot of fun had with these girls.  I'm very lucky as they have become such good friends to me and have been so supportive especially with Estella's surgery last year.  Amazing individuals we make a pretty awesome team!  Looking forward to having them come stay for a girlie weekend getaway in Melbourne in the not too distant future.  

(left-right) Rach, Nicolle, Sam, Esther, Jacinta & Fiona

Esther's First Melbourne Class

First I was nervous that no one would show up... and then I was a little nervous that people WOULD show up... and then I was just excited to teach my first BJJ girls only class in Melbourne at EVOLVE MMA!  Thanks to these awesome ladies (and little ladies) for coming along to train!  It was a fun night and exciting to meet other women on their own BJJ journeys and particularly great to have Mary along for her first lesson and I hope this is just the beginning of a long journey for her!  The beginning is always exciting for me.  I look at how far the girls have come since my first girls only class in Tassie and I am so proud of where their training and hard work have got them.  Now that I'm here in Melbourne I'm looking forward to meeting more ladies and helping them (as much as I can) to learn, grow and progress in their training.  

EVOLVE

Was a bit exciting last week, finally getting the chance to meet Pat from Evolve MMA where Minol and I will be taking classes in the new year.  And a bit exciting to check out the new gym.  I had my first training there on Friday night.  I'm really looking forward to starting classes for the ladies as soon as we're settled over in Melbourne.  It's nice to feel that that Evolve is an extension of the Equipe Mestre Wilson gang and I hope to see the guys (girls) from Tassie come and visit us in Melbourne regularly!!   I aslo had the opportunity to meet some of the "Aussie Girls in Gi" (http://www.australiangirlsingi.com) at a GIG christmas party/roll hosted by Jess Fraser.  Had a couple of rolls but unfortunately didn't have much time for anything other than that.  Eeeeek, not long now until the big move!

Not another blue!!

YES!  Another blue belt in our midst!  Massive congratulations to Nicolle Mason Ferry who was graded along with Marcus and Mario today.  (Awesome sweeps Nic!!!)   I soooo wish I had taken a photo of Nicolle with her matching toenails!  More photos next week at girls class (totally need one of all our girls).  That makes four blue belts females in the club now.  Very proud of the commitment all the girls show each week during training- love em.  

 waiting...

 from white...

 to blue!

 just some of the gang

 our new blueys- Congratulations to Nicolle, Mario and Marcus

and one very proud instructor with her newest blue belt... whoohoo, go GIRLS!!