GIG Real Talk: Supporting Women's BJJ

Girls in Gis Podcast

In this episode, our guest panel consists of women in our community helping make a difference but supporting women's jiu jitsu in their own ways.
Hosted by: Shama Ko
Guest: Stacey Councilman, April Parks and Ev Sutton
April Parks is a Black Belt in Jiu Jitsu, multiple time World/Pan IBJJF Champion (gi & no gi) at both Adult and Masters. She is a proud mom of four, co-owner of Vien Jiujitsu in Syracuse, full time educator in the city of Syracuse and founder of Grappling Getaways camps for women.
April is a passionate advocate for equal representation, treatment, payment and respect for women in jiujitsu. She believes it is her true talent,and gift, to help others to see their potential and to pursue that potential at all costs, in spite of any obstacle. When April is not on the mats, competing, working, running women's camps or spending time with her family, she enjoys hiking, mediation and time with her doggie baby Lola.
Stacey Councilman began her BJJ journey in early 2014 doing NoGi out of a garage gym and traveling to 10th Planet Walnut Creek and 10th Planet San Francisco regularly. Three months later she was competing regularly and placing 1st or 2nd consistently. Although she trained Gi at Rice Bros BJJ in Redding, a few times a week but mostly stuck to NoGi as a white belt. She trained through her purple belt at Infinite Jiu-Jitsu under Gustavo Enriquez (Cassio Werneck Jiujitsu), In January 2021 she opened her own school The Warriors Forge | Cobra Kai Roseville. While continuing her BJJ journey with Tyler Brey (Cassio Werneck Jiujitsu), and Scott Chapman (Alliance - Chad Bingham), while competing under the Cassio Werneck flag, and earning her brown belt in June of 2021.
She is also the founder of the The Warrior Forged Project and host HERO Self Defense and Mean Girl Project courses In 2021 and 2022 she achieved the title of #1 Female Brown Belt Master 3 in Gi, M3 Open Class (2021 & 2022), and M3 Grand Slam points for IBJJF. She is also ranked #2 in NoGi. She has won the Master Worlds Championship at every colored belt level (blue through Brown -2017, 2019, 2020, and 2021 - 2x at brown belt),
Evelyn Sutton is the publisher and founder of Jiujiteira Magazine. With over 30 years of publishing experience which include a Brazilian community newspaper and a fashion magazine that Evelyn published in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties in South Florida for several years plus 12 years of art and creative direction for the destination marketing industry, Evelyn brings her editorial knowledge to Jiujiteira Magazine, a publication uniquely dedicated to serve the community of women who compete, train, teach and promote Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Evelyn has been training Jiu-Jitsu for four years and is currently a blue-belt under her husband, Professor David Sutton. Together they own Carlson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Team in Melbourne, Florida. Born in Philadelphia, PA to Brazilian parents, Evelyn moved to Brazil at an early age and spent most of her life between Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, moving back to the United States at 16 years old. Evelyn credits her upbringing for instilling the respect and love she shares for both Brazilian and American culture.

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