Corruption can taint the entirety of MMA. The bigger promotions in existence are run to the highest degrees of professionalism, but there are a multitude of promotions across the nation where money sways the hands of the commission, promoters, and athletes alike. Take it from me, a recent victim of the shady corruption running rampant […]
Read moreReflections
Samantha Schell Anxiety, BJJ, Competing, Overcoming Adversity, Perseverance, Positivity, self confidence bjj, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, courage, female empowerment, Jiu Jitsu, MMA, strength, WMMA 2
I write about Jiu Jitsu and MMA a lot, often interspersed with my own feelings, thoughts, and experiences throughout this journey. But I have been unfair to my readers who think they are privy to the innermost workings of my mind and the things that make me tick. See, I don’t often divulge the hard […]
Read moreI’m a Real Boy
Samantha Schell BJJ, mental health, Overcoming Adversity, Positivity, self confidence beautiful, bjj, Jiu Jitsu, manly, muscles, self confidence, self esteem, WMMA 4
Move over Pinocchio, there is only one character in the story of my life working hard to become a real boy, and it ain’t some wooden ragamuffin of a puppet, so tell Gepetto to take several seats. The more you publicly put yourself out there in the world, the more you open yourself out there […]
Read moreSmooth Like Butter
Samantha Schell Adaptation, BJJ, Overcoming Adversity, Perseverance bjj, diet, Jiu Jitsu, MMA, nutrition, weight cut, weight loss
Wake up. Cardio. Eat. Train. Sleep. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. My schedule is like clockwork; from my training to my cleaning and chores schedule, to my meal prep. A semblance of control in a chaotic life that allows a ship to sail as smoothly as possible, creating the false illusion that nothing is out of line. […]
Read moreThere’s No Business Like Show Business
Samantha Schell Anxiety, BJJ, Competing, Overcoming Adversity, Perseverance, Positivity bjj, Jiu Jitsu, performance, positivity, resiliency, WMMA
I guess we’re all performers in one way or another. Whether it’s our work life, or personal life, or the face that we present to the public. There is certainly a part of us that acts, even if it’s just acting like things don’t bother us or that we don’t care. Currently that’s me. I […]
Read moreTake a Big Whiff
Samantha Schell BJJ, Competing, mental health, Overcoming Adversity bjj, fighter, MMA, perseverance 2
They say in life that sometimes you gotta stop and smell the roses, but I’m in the middle of fight camp wondering how I’ll have time to stop and smell anything when all I can smell is the scent of my own sweat oozing out of my pores as I push my body to its […]
Read moreSucking Out the Poison
At the end of the day, a gym is a business, no matter how much it feels like family. Over the years you watch people come and go, and some sting more than others, but it is their prerogative to pay for a different place’s service and you always hope for the best. However, sometimes […]
Read moreIt is Called Garbage Can, Not Garbage Cannot
Samantha Schell BJJ, Competing, mental health, Overcoming Adversity, Perseverance bjj, Jiu Jitsu, mental health, MMA, perseverance, positivity
It’s hard not to feel like trash constantly in a sport that challenges every facet of your being. Let alone feeling like fucking garbage in your day to day life when inevitably, something doesn’t go according to plan or your mental health is taking a hit due to personal reasons. A lot of times, especially […]
Read moreTo Lead is to Bleed
Samantha Schell Adaptation, BJJ, mental health, Overcoming Adversity, Perseverance, Positivity, self confidence bjj, discipline, gym, Jiu Jitsu, leadership, mentor, positivity, role model, self confidence
Leadership is an acquired skill, not a personality trait. My friend Jess told me this the other day, and she says to credit Jocko Willink for this bit of wisdom, but I’m gonna credit her for bringing it to my attention. You see, I’ve been writing a lot lately about my internal struggles, and I’m […]
Read moreWhat’s Your Love Language?
Samantha Schell BJJ, Competing, love, Overcoming Adversity, Perseverance bjj, BJJ girls, Jiu Jitsu, love language, perseverance, sadness
The 5 languages of love are vital to any relationship in your life; romantic, platonic, and familial. Many of us usually have a specific language we gravitate towards when receiving, and something completely different when we are giving and they often don’t always reciprocate. I know that rings true for my case personally, but it […]
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