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| I still can't get out of David's side control! |
Name: Gina Ethridge
Location: Lincoln, NE
Born: 1969
Height: 5’4″
Weight: 120 lbs. (125 lbs.)
Family: Married with kids and two dogs. (Three dogs.)
How long have you been training in jiu-jitsu?
Just a couple months. (Three and a half years.)
Where do you currently train?
Roseberry’s Sho-Rei-Shobu-Kan Martial Arts Center.
What’s an average week’s training schedule for you, including any other type of training you do?
I train Goju-Ryu Karate as my main art, 3 days a week, and I have started taking Jiu-Jitsu twice a week. Every Saturday our dojo has an MMA type sparring class which I attend as well. (Jiu-Jitsu is now my main art.)
Who influences you most in jiu-jitsu?
We have a female purple belt at our dojo who is a Jiu-Jitsu genius, she can figure out how to do just about anything you can explain to her. (Amy.)
Have you ever quit or considered quitting? Why/why not?
I consider quitting after every class! But, Jiu-Jitsu is like a chronic infection–it’s painful, and once it gets in your blood you can’t get rid of it. (I'm still infected, and I don't seriously consider quitting anymore.)
Would you describe yourself as addicted to jiu-jitsu? If yes, what about it is so compelling? If not, why not?
Yes, I can’t stop thinking about it all the time. I think it’s because it’s like playing chess. It’s a mental game more than a physical one. I think this appeals to me as a smaller women. I don’t need raw strength to beat my opponents, but rather better knowledge.
How often do you compete in jiu-jitsu?
I haven’t, yet. (I've now competed in ten tournaments.)
What benefits do you see to being one of relatively few women in the community? Disadvantages?
I guess one of the benefits is that people are interested in what you have to say about it, and want to interview you! Disadvantages are many…getting crushed by huge dudes, some of the guys don’t want to train with you- or take you seriously, people sometimes think you’re crazy for doing it, or that it’s not “lady-like”. I’ve been training Karate for many years, and never had those issues. (I don't really have those issues anymore, except people still think I'm crazy, and I'm starting to think they might be right.)
What are your short and long term goals in jiu-jitsu?
Originally my main reason for taking Jiu-Jitsu was self-defense. I know in that situation, I will probably end up on the ground, and didn’t feel as if my Karate training was adequate in that regard. Now I just want to be able to choke out my Karate husband! Actually, I find that I enjoy it very much, and my goals are simply to become the best that I possibly can. (My goals haven't changed, but my perspective on what my "best" is has.)
What advice would you give to the women who are at the beginning of their jiu-jitsu journey?
Stick with it. I am almost 40 years old, and if I can do it, anyone can. I basically forced my 16 year-old daughter to start taking it as well, and I tell her that if she sticks with it, it will toughen her up faster than anything else. It turns out that not only does she enjoy it, but seems to have a knack for it. It’s really bringing out her “warrior”, and soon I will be afraid to roll with her! (Skyler is not currently training, she's too busy with college and work.)
How do we get more women into this sport?
I wish I knew. Our dojo has started a women-only Jiu-Jitsu class to try and bring more women into it. So far we only have three students. (I still don't know how to get more women into it, our women's class was recently cancelled for lack of interest.)
Anything else you’d like to add to help our readers get to know you better?
You can read my posts on Jiu-Jitsu, and other martial arts related topics, on The Jiu-Jitsu Fighter blog. (Or Ginger Snaps ;)