Teen Sisters Make Waves in the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World

[The Epoch Times, June 30, 2023](Reported by Epoch Times reporter Marshawn El Monte) In the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu gym in El Monte (El Monte) in Los Angeles, California, you can see a couple who often train with their partners little sister. Although they are not tall, they are very dexterous and strong. An adult who has not practiced Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu may be quickly subdued if he fights with them.

El Monte Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Gym, Violet (left) and sister Isabella (right) are the coaches of the adult group and the girls’ junior group respectively. (Machon/The Epoch Times) Violet (left) and Isabella (right), coaches of El Monte Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Gym. (Ma Shanen/The Epoch Times)

The older sister Violet Pineda is 17 years old and holds a blue belt in adult Jiu-jitsu; the younger sister Isabella Pineda is 13 years old and holds a yellow belt for minors. The two participated in training and served as coaches in the Jiu-Jitsu gym opened by their father.

Why I Love Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Violet started training at 13, weighing just 95 pounds. During training, she was often pressed to the ground and could not move. But things are very different now.

“I was like a younger sister at that time, very thin and light, and I was bullied a lot, and I didn’t dare to face others confidently when I stood on the street.” Now, she feels a thousand times stronger: Jujitsu training not only It strengthened her muscles and gave her a lot of self-confidence. “Now I can hold my head up, and I can bring down anyone I meet.”

“If you’ve seen me in the gym, you’ve seen me bring a 220-pound guy to the ground,” she said. “I can hold him, I’m not afraid. Walking down the street, I can protect myself. With my family, that’s what I want to do.”

Not only her, but Violet saw the same change in everyone who came to train: at first they were very light weight, very nervous, afraid to speak, but now they became very confident.

Outside of training, Violet also enjoys teaching Brazilian jiu-jitsu, which, she says, allows her to build social relationships with others and imparts confidence to them in their ability to defend themselves. She introduced that Brazilian jiu-jitsu training has many skills, without punching and kicking, and does not emphasize strength. Even if you are not tall, you can protect yourself through training.

“I’ve always loved the sport because it has more of a technical side,” Violet said.

“If you want to prepare for the game, you can’t see us.” She said that they will train a lot before the game. Don’t look at her smiling and very kind when chatting, but once she enters the game, she changes into another state completely: very aggressive and aggressive.

Isabella also said that Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu changed her life perspective. Participating in jiu-jitsu training and teaching helped her connect with others and changed her perception of jiu-jitsu, “BJJ is a very good art, a very good sport, and everyone should try it.”

Notable changes in students

The sisters’ father, Jose Pineda, owns the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu gym. He sees many benefits in having his daughters in jiu-jitsu, “when they’re at school or alone, you’re always worried about their safety”. Now, even if his daughter is not around, he feels at ease.

The two sisters have won multiple national championships over the past few years. Pineda hopes that when she retires, her daughters will have their own venue to teach Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

The two daughters “train together four or five hours a day, teach together, and compete together; jiu-jitsu training brings them closer together,” Jose said. Not only his daughter, but he saw the same change in other students who participated in the training: Over time, the students developed a brotherly and sisterly bond.

Currently, there are about 120 students in the El Monte BJJ gym. According to Pineda, several professors are black belts and have won world championships. “If someone who is not a black belt teaches you, you call him a coach; if the coach gets a black belt, he will get the title of professor.” They have 4 or 5 professors at the black belt level to participate in the teaching.

“I hope that through the training here, these students can grow better.” Jose said. ◇

Responsible editor: Jialian#

2023-06-30 09:58:19
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