I first met Mariangel in 2016, when we were both competing as blue belts. Since then she has earned her brown belt, become a 2X Master World Champion at blue and purple belts, and grew an incredible womens team with her husband at Omar French BJJ. Here’s her story.
Tell me a little bit about yourself. Where do you live, where do you train, how long have you been training?
I was born in Venezuela and moved to the US in 2004. I train in Tulsa, Oklahoma under my husband Omar French, I have been training bjj since 2013.
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?
My husband Omar introduced me to Jiu Jitsu when we were dating, and I got hooked right away. Something about learning the techniques made me feel powerful and proud about myself so I continued to train, the more I learned the more I fell in love with Jiu jitsu. We opened our own Jiu jitsu academy in 2014 and we have been dedicating our lives to BJJ. I Love to encourage women to try jiu jitsu because I know it will change their lives!
Tell me about what you’ve accomplished in jiujitsu.
I have accomplished many things in Jiu jitsu.
First of all, I never thought I would be in love with a combat sport, and let alone compete. The fact that i started competing as soon as i started training is a big accomplishment to me.
I have traveled all over the world with Jiu jitsu to compete, being able to go to different countries and learn new cultures is a great accomplishment.
Running an Academy with my husband and teaching jiu jitsu, and achieving the rank of Brown Belt is huge to me as well.
How has jiujitsu changed your life?
I feel like I was born again when I discovered Jiu Jitsu. I used to be a singer, and a professional dancer/ performer, I used to act and do theatre. The sport I did growing up was swimming. I loved doing all those things very much, but Jiu jitsu made me feel something more special. Jiu jitsu has helped me a lot over the years to be more confident about myself, to trust myself and my abilities, to believe in myself more, to feel like I can conquer anything, to feel strong and powerful.
How have you used jiujitsu to change other peoples lives?
Having an Academy gives me the opportunity to help a lot of people that come to try jiu jitsu for the first time. I have witnessed the change in young kids, teens and adults and even seniors students that have come to us. I am passionate to help people discover how strong and confident they can be.
If you had one piece of advice to give women in jiujitsu or those wanting to start, what would it be?
Don’t be afraid to try to take the first step, get on the mats and you will never regret it.
It will take time to adjust, it won’t be easy, it will be challenging but it will change you, I promise you it will be fun, you will discover a new you and will find a new family in your academy, OSS.
Find Mariangel online:
Instagram: @mariangelfrench
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/omarfrenchbjj
Website: www.OmarFrench.com
Contact us at: contact@womenwhoroll.com
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Twitter: https://twitter.com/WomenWhoRollBJJ
Instagram: @WomenWhoRollBJJ