Women Who Roll Wednesday, an interview series with women who help positively impact jiujitsu and those within the community. Today we interview Asti Alexandria, a blue belt out of Colorado, and founder of Grapple Happy and Alpine Grappling.
Tell me a little bit about yourself. Where do you live, where do you train, and how long have you been training?
After traveling the world and living in Asia and South America for several years, I was beckoned to return to my roots in Colorado. At 37-years old, I’ve returned to my roots in the gorgeous Rocky Mountains.
My primary location for training is a donation-based/pay-what-you-can school I opened last fall in Dillon, CO — called Alpine Grappling. Check us out on Facebook. Although we are not affiliated, we are a Globetrotter gym and welcome people from all paths.
I frequently head down to Denver to train with the beasts over at the Kompound, headed up by Brad Nicolarsen, a Lovato black belt.
My time on the mats has been varied over the past four years — especially with injuries and COVID.
How did you get into jiujitsu? What did you want to get out of it in the beginning, and what do you want to get out of it now?
I tripped and fell into BJJ. When I moved back to the USA. I wanted to try new things, so one evening I walked into a little cardio kickboxing place that had BJJ twice a week and asked, “what do I do?” I had no idea what Jiu-Jitsu was and had been wanting to do Krav Maga but they kept cancelling classes. I took BJJ for a test drive. I was given a tattered blue gi that was two sizes too big and sat there listening to a less-than-qualified blue belt coach. Of course, I didn’t know that then. I was getting choked and learning how to choke people with something called the, “mata leão” or lion killer. It’s exactly what I needed to do, kill the lion that had become my unruly life. It was a turbulent time in my world and that hour of class distracted me to the point that I was in a state of flow. I knew right then that this was something I needed to sink my forearm into.
Part of Jiu-Jitsu came easy to me, the athletic part. The ego busting and false peaks were hard blows. I would often joke that Jiu-Jitsu loves me more than I love it. After about 2 years of drilling, I finally started to roll. I hated rolling at first, I felt stupid rolling. My ego would constantly chime in, “you aren’t doing it correctly, ugh you know not to do that, you look dumb because you don’t know how to start — just say you are busy and leave after class, etc” That’s a lot of mind chatter I needed to overcome. Then 6am rolling only classes started, I forced myself to go and I was addicted. Starting off my day beating and getting beaten was comparable to an addictive drug. My game leveled up quickly. Now the feeling was mutual between me and BJJ, soul mates.
Tell me about what you’ve accomplished in jiujitsu.
At one point it was time for me to move on, but there was no other gym within a 60 minute radius. The heartache and tears were constant but I knew it was the right move. I started a pay-what-you-can gym in hopes of helping people in the community and giving myself somewhere to train. Living in a resort area, there are the super rich and then the less fortunate who work to keep the place going. I wanted to have a place where anyone could train as long as they were a positive impact. After a few months and some nice donations, we have a great team of people who support and care for others. It was the best and hardest decision I ever made in regards to my Jiu-Jitsu path.
I have had some very uplifting successes in BJJ, many medals won, but the best of all was gold at Pans in 2019. The day prior to the competition, I became sick as a dog with what my teammates had and was living on coconut water and DayQuil. I was delirious. Looking back at the matches I barely remember them. After the final match when my arm was raised, an electrifying energy spread through my body from the ground up. I rapidly shook my opponent’s hand, and her coach’s, then I ran off the mats with tears of joy and met my former coach who was running towards me with equal joy and a giant hug. It was the young gym’s first gold medal at a high-level tournament.
How has jiujitsu changed your life?
I could write a book about how this sport has intertwined within my life and has changed everything…for the better. Have you ever talked to a little kid who just came back from Disney World and they are filled with so much joy and memories that their random babblings pour out? You have no clue what they are saying but you know everything is good behind that toothy grin. That’s the best way I can describe how Jiu-Jitsu changed my life. My eating, workouts, ego, drive, grit, memory, dedication, respect, putting others before myself, teamwork as well as taking responsibility for my actions— it’s all improved. I even had a relationship that wouldn’t have existed if it wasn’t for BJJ. That relationship ended but it was pivotal for me in personal growth. Without setting foot on those mats I often wonder what kind of person I would be today.
How have you used jiujitsu to change other people’s lives?
I believe just being in the presence of someone for one minute, one roll, one day can change a life — or at least their mood for the day.
I do know that my Happy Hair Hats have positively helped people who have struggled with keeping their beloved long hair on their head and not on the mats. Women in BJJ need more items created specifically for their needs, My goal is to be the largest, female-specific grappling brand.
Alpine Grappling has definitely changed people’s lives for the better.
We have a great crew of people who do things together — like hiking, rafting, going out, watching fights, etc. — all while sharing stories, making memories and supporting each other. We have created a little family of fun. It’s everything I dreamed a gym could be. Many of my students have mentioned that training here is the best thing in their life making comments like, “this is just what I needed,” “I’m so grateful you created this space,” “I woke up to come here, it’s the best part of my day” or “I’m still coming to your class even though I am injured, everyone is so cool, I need it, I love it.” Several of my students don’t have steady or well paying jobs, yet they come, they donate and they have a fantastic attitude. The smiles and hugs between everyone are bigger after class than before, which tells me that we are doing good work.
If you had one piece of advice to give women in jiujitsu or those wanting to start, what would it be?
My advice for those who want to start or who are just starting would be to firstly and most importantly GO. Go to class physically. Go to class mentally. Be present while in class. Keep going even when it sucks, because there are many sucky days, but the peaks outweigh the valleys.
For women specifically, know your boundaries. Once you step through those doors, the social pyramid can get flipped; young skateboarders that couch surf can be in a position of power over a 50-year old judge. The belt reigns supreme in many cases. Be aware of the power dominance and set your boundaries. Jiu-Jitsu may seem like life but it’s not, that belt means nothing when it comes to the actual laws of the outside world. The same rules apply when in the gym as when outside, “If it feels wrong, it probably is.” Let it be known that something inappropriate has happened. If you need to change gyms then that’s what you need to do. Take care of yourself.
Find Asti and Grapple Happy on Social Media
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GrappleHappy
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AstiAlexandria
Instagram: @GrappleHappy and @AstiAlexandria
Grapple Happy Website
Contact us at: contact@womenwhoroll.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WomenWhoRoll
Twitter: https://twitter.com/WomenWhoRollBJJ
Instagram: @WomenWhoRollBJJ
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