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{EAV_BLOG_VER:c79ea83e7a10895f}Girls in Gis is a community of women and girls in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. On Sunday August 21, 2011 over 40 women and girls gathered in Houston Texas for the 2nd anniversary celebration.  Some women drove seven hours just to attend. Participants ranged in ages and skill levels, from yellow belts to mature purple belt women. Represented on the mats were women and girls from over twenty-three different martial arts schools.  Girls in Gis founder Ashley Nguyen hosted the event at Elite MMA.

Fenom Kimonos sponsored a gi give away which was won by purple belt Tara Arrington of Dallas, Texas. It was also announced that all the participants to this Girls in Gis celebration would receive free registration for the Texas Open in Austin, Texas on September 24th which is rumored to have the largest women's division of the year.   Another edition of Girls in Gi will be scheduled for the day following on Sunday, September 25th at Trainers Elite MMA and hosted by Helen Castillo. 

Girls in Gis provides women in Brazilian Ju-Jitsu with a fun and friendly environment to learn and train.

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Jiu-Jitsu Focus: Fabiana Borges

Its 2012 – Have you started training for this year’s tournament season? Fabiana Borges has.

Fabiana started Jiu-Jitsu when she was eleven. She attended a Jiu-Jitsu school for underprivileged youth in Rio de Janeiro led by Professor Fabiano Gaudio. She fought in her first Worlds at fourteen. She’s won two world titles since, as a blue belt in 2004 and as a purple belt in 2005.

In 2010 she won her first Pan Ams against Michelle Nicolline. Pan Am gold followed again in 2010. But Gold at the worlds would elude her when she lost to Bianca Ribeiro. Last year Fabiana got a gold at the American Nationals, silver at the Pan Ams and bronze at the Worlds losing by points to Kyra Gracie.

Fabiana has moved to Austin Texas and is teaching at Gracie Barra North Austin. She is working towards developing a strong women’s program.

Girls in Gis are holding its first donation drive to help those in need.  Thanks to the support of the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu community in Texas, the Girls in Gis Wish List Donation Drive will directly benefit the SafePlace shelter in Austin, Texas.

SafePlace Austin –– a resource for sexual assault and domestic violence survivors –– supports the needs of survivors through a 24-hour hotline, hospital accompaniment, shelter and counseling services. Programs are also available that educate, build awareness and teach clients about assessing resources. The organization also helps children of survivors.

The SafePlace shelter needs some of the most basic items that can make a big difference in helping women and families rebuild their lives. To help, the Girls in Gis Wish List Donation Drive will collect needed items and create awareness of the services and resources that SafePlace offers.

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This win was for the women at SafePlace Austin by way of the Texas BJJ group Girls in Gis.

On January 22, 2012, twenty-nine women and girls traveled far and wide across Texas to attend Girls in Gis-Austin. Some traveled over five hours with their families to participate in the three hour BJJ training session. Black belt Fabiana Borges of Gracie Barra N. Austin hosted and led the instruction. In addition to providing a fun and friendly place to train, this event also served as the final collection drop off location for the GIG Wish List donation drive for SafePlace, Austin.

The Girls in Gis-Austin event began with a traditional Gracie Barra warm-up, fundamental Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu self defense techniques, a few sport Jiu-Jitsu techniques, drilling and concluded with structured rolling led by Borges'. "This was the best Girls in Gis yet! I really liked how Fabiana structured the training session. I had so much fun!" said Girls in Gis veteran Rebecca Varady of Gracie Humaitá Austin .

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