In Women Who Roll Wednesday Episode 4, we meet Sophie Aaron and Madisson Larson. They are two blue belts from Oregon and Idaho respectively, who run the @jiujitsuhairprobs Instagram. Who hasn’t had jiujitsu hair problems if you train jiujitsu.
Tell me a little bit about yourself. Where do you live, where do you train, how long have you been training?
Sophie: My name is Sophie Aaron, and I live in Boise, ID. I’m a mom, step mom (I like to say bonus mom), full time IT project manager, and gym owner – training keeps me sane!!! I’m originally from Truckee, CA (just outside of Tahoe), started my training in San Luis Obispo CA out of The PIT SLO in 2011, and I now train out of The PIT Idaho that I co-own with my life partner, Cruz Gomez, who is a 4th degree black belt in Hawaiian Kempo under John Hackleman and Chuck Liddell and a brown belt in BJJ under Luigi Mondelli. I’m a brown belt in Hawaiian Kempo and a blue belt in BJJ under Cruz. The first 5 years of my martial arts training had been strictly no-gi and Hawaiian Kempo, and I started seriously pursuing my BJJ belt in 2017.
Madisson: My name is Madisson Larson and I live in Oregon City, Oregon. I’m a full-time hairstylist in Canby, Oregon, co-admin of @jiujitsuhairprobs on Instagram and a cat mom of two beautiful kitties named Simon and Captain. I was born in Bend, Oregon (before it became a tourist hotspot) and went to elementary-high school in Salmon Creek, Washington. I am a BJJ blue belt and recently started training at Enso Jiujitsu in Oregon City but received my blue belt under Fabiano Scherner at ATT Portland. I’ve only been doing jiujitsu for about a year and a half but did kickboxing for two years before I was introduced to jiujitsu.
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?
Sophie: I started fitness kickboxing at The PIT and wanted something more, so I joined the martial arts program for Hawaiian Kempo and jiujitsu. I grew up a competitive cross country skier, and needed something goal-oriented to work for – it’s just in my nature. I was also in a pretty trying time in my life, in a nasty relationship, and needed an outlet, and a community I could count on and be part of to feel accepted for who I was. I wanted to learn a real life skill while also exercising and doing something athletic. Now that I’ve made martial arts much of who I am as a person, I need HK and BJJ in my life to keep me grounded, growing, and whole. This sport has changed me and made me into a much better person, in ALL areas of my life. And it’s now a huge part of my identity, as a student, coach, and gym owner.
Madisson: I was introduced to jiujitsu by a few coaches while I was doing kickboxing at my first gym, I was very curious about jiujitsu but at the time I was in a very controlling relationship and wasn’t allowed to train with other men. After I separated from him, I’m not going to lie, I was in a terrible mental state so I started training jiujitsu as kind of an “F U” to him… but immediately fell in love with the sport which changed my perception of it quickly. Once I started to get comfortable and had a ton of encouragement from my teammates I really just wanted to feel more confident in my OWN skin and realized that jiujitsu was a perfect way to relieve my stress and really disconnect from the mess that my life was at the time. I am notorious for being a people pleaser and jiujitsu really gave me the opportunity to have something that made me feel I had control of myself and my life again. Now I would say that I just want to continue to grow in the sport, make lasting friendships like my co-admin of @jiujitsuhairprobs, Sophie who I met at my very first competition and always work towards improving myself.
Tell me about what you’ve accomplished in jiujitsu.
Sophie: I’ve competed in Jiujitsu several times, and while I’ve NEVER won a match by submission, I’ve always podiumed (always win by points haha, this is a goal of mine to change at the next tournament). But my biggest accomplishment is becoming a martial arts gym owner, and coaching men, women, and young kids in mostly striking, and also fundamental BJJ.
Madisson: Well for one, I competed which in a million years I never thought I would have the courage to do. My very first tournament I went up against an intimidating opponent, she had a terrifying game face, and won by Key Lock in the first round and Armbar (my favorite submission) in the second round taking home my first gold medal. After that I decided that jiujitsu was my thing. Not only because of the win, but mainly because growing up doing musical theatre, I was always comfortable being in the background, I never actually wanted to try hard enough to be a lead role. I just wanted my friends to be the lead roles in every musical because I never believed I would ever be good enough to get up there and be in the spotlight, but jiujitsu has showed me that I can do anything. I have the strength and courage to get out there and win a gold medal, to fight for that chance to stand on the podium with other incredibly strong women and walk home thinking “wow, I just did that.” There’s really no feeling like it.
How has jiujitsu changed your life?
Sophie: Sheesh…It’s tough to put into words what the sport has done for me. But the best way I can describe it is that it’s put life back into my soul. When I started martial arts, I was approval-seeking, lacked confidence, and unwilling to take control of my own life. I walked into the gym looking for something to make me whole, and I found it! Now that I have that, my reasons for staying have changed. Jiujitsu and Hawaiian Kempo lets me live a life of Bushido, in and outside the gym: Integrity, Respect, Courage, Honor, Compassion, Honesty, Loyalty. Martial arts has also brought so many wonderful people into my life. BJJ is actually how I met one of my very good friends, Mads. I traveled to compete in Portland, and set my stuff up next to her. I had my 7-month old with me and it was my first tournament back after the baby was born. She looked super nice so I felt okay posting up there while I had my baby with and figured out of everyone there she’s be the least annoyed. She immediately started talking to me and we just clicked! Connected on social media, and we kept in touch. One day we were chatting about what we do with our hair for BJJ training and tournaments and wondered why nobody had created a business around this yet. And from that @jiujitsuhairprobs was born!!! We put together content/tips/tricks all around the most relatable problem in BJJ – what the f@$& do you do with your hair?!
Madisson: Jiujitsu woke me up. I was in such a dark place that I truly didn’t believe I had any purpose in my life other than to make sure everyone around me was thriving while I was drowning. I was in a soul sucking period of my life and jiujitsu ripped me out of it. It helped me voice what my needs are and stick up for myself. For example, I was the heaviest I’ve ever been in my life and I was stuck being okay with that but when I started training I lost close to 40lbs and realized how important and rewarding it is to take care of my health. I had more energy and confidence than ever before. I was able to get out of bed and walk out the door feeling comfortable in my skin. I have a shirt that says “jiujitsu saves lives” I truly believe that jiujitsu saved my life. I don’t want to imagine where I would be now if I hadn’t taken the plunge to try it out.
How have you used jiujitsu to change other people’s lives?
Sophie: As a gym owner, coach, and martial artist, I LOVE getting women into the sport. Men too, but I love to see women getting into martial arts. I believe it truly sets them up for a truly abundant and empowering life. I love seeing them make the decision to create this new way of life. It’s going to be hard, painful, but exciting! Pretty soon they start making positive changes in other areas of their life – they start saying no to all the things that truly don’t bring them joy and value. They leave toxic relationships, they leave toxic habits behind. All these tiny little decisions add up to create a huge change of course in their life, for the better. And it becomes this all-consuming and addicting passion to know that they’re healthy, safe, and HAPPY. They start feeling a little badass, they gain confidence, and it just seeps into all areas of their life outside of the gym. Every day they’re 1% better, and when they came in they were a shell of a person, and then I look at them 1, 2 months in and there’s life in their eyes. It’s truly just the best feeling.
Madisson: That’s a tough question for me… I feel like I haven’t been training long enough to really make a huge impact on anyone specifically. I will say that I have an immense love and admiration for the kids and women who join jiujitsu. I try to be the best role model I can be when I assist in coaching. I truly believe that jiujitsu and any martial art that is centered in discipline and respect sets kids and adults up for a bright future. I love seeing my friends and women around me who try it, light up with confidence. You can physically see them stand taller after they complete a submission or takedown. I love hearing “I feel like such a bada**!” After I bring someone in to try a class. I really think that everyone should try jiujitsu and I know all my clients at work and friends are probably tired of hearing that. Its just a whole different world and once you’re in it, you just want to share it with everyone!
If you had one piece of advice to give women in jiujitsu or those wanting to start, what would it be?
Sophie: Martial arts truly is for everyone. And it’s hard for women to see that because of their perceptions and programmed beliefs. The biggest things I see that hold women back when they’re considering jiujitsu (or any martial art) are, and I try to help change their perception on:
1. Fear of not being in good enough shape/ready. “I want to get in better shape first, then I’ll try a class.” The only way to get better at jiujitsu, is to do jiujitsu! Ready is not a feeling, it’s a decision. Just start!
2. Fear of looking dumb. You have to remember that literally everybody started jiujitsu in the same place you are. Try out as many schools as possible so that you can find a gym that you really vibe with. If you truly enjoy being there, and feel welcome by the members/coaches, that’s your school!! If the school makes you feel dumb for not understanding, or being new, then you should find a new school. Any good gym will immediately alleviate your worries about being new.
3. Personal space issues. A main reason for females starting martial arts is to learn how to defend themself. Working toward moving past this discomfort is important, because in any self-defense situation, they’re not going to give you personal space. It’s good to learn these skills and get past this in a safe environment, so if it ever happened to you in real life, you’re already used to it.
Madisson: Whenever I try to talk someone into trying jiujitsu I tell them about the class that really sold jiujitsu for me. We were doing a drill where one person is in the middle of the mat and we all cycle through trying to take this person down. If you get the takedown, you stay and are “King of the mat” until someone takes you down. I had just learned a takedown that quickly became my favorite, which is the sacrificial throw, and when it was my turn to go up, I was at my smallest (124lbs) going up against one of the largest guys at the gym who was about twice my size. Coach called “GO” and I immediately grabbed his arm and flopped to the ground, pulling him with me and came up to knee on belly pinning him and won that round. That was a selling point for me because being such a small and friendly girl I find myself attracting the wrong type of person more often than id like and having the knowledge of how to defend myself has given me so much piece of mind in my life. I want all the women and children in my life to know how to use their body to defend themselves especially with how crazy the world is right now.
Something else that I always try to tell myself before every class or a tournament that’s probably kind of cheesy is there is no losing… you win, or you learn. I know for a lot of people who are very competitive, jiujitsu can feel defeating when you’re not picking up moves or you have an off day where you’re just being submitted left and right. I always try to keep that in my head, every sub is a chance to learn how to escape the sub or every time you’re taken down, you’re one step closer to learning how to defend the takedown. Don’t get discouraged when you’re having an off day, get back up with your head high and keep going. It’ll all come together at just the right moment.
Find Sophie, Madisson and JiujitsuHairProbs on Social Media
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JiujitsuHairProbs
Instagram: @JiujitsuHairProbs, @SophieStrikes, and @AngryPastry
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