ABOUT US

Tuff Love Fitness hosts Sweaty Betties' classes and events. Sweaty Betties offers free and donation-based Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) and self-defense classes that challenge the body, engage the mind, and support personal growth for women and girls. At the core of these classes is our community. We believe in fostering strength and community through teaching and learning together. We welcome new and seasoned students and take pride in supporting girls and women through their martial arts journey.

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​​The Sweaty Betties was founded in 2008 by a small group of female Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu students who were united by their passion, shared values, and aspirations. The original members began as white belts. But through persistence, sweat, and hard work, those white belts are now purple, brown and black belts. Now we are students, competitors, teachers, coaches, mentors, gym owners, and leaders in our community.

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"While so many parts of our culture teach women that they are valued for how they look, Jiu-Jitsu teaches women to value what their bodies can do." Those words encapsulate our core beliefs which guided us twelve years ago and continue to guide us now. The Sweaty Betties have organized numerous events, workshops, and free classes throughout the US and beyond with the goal of educating, sharing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, self-defense, fitness, and creating strong and positive communities, particularly among girls and women.

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Over the last few years, the Sweaty Betties has launched numerous exciting projects, including a monthly women’s self-defense workshop, monthly female guest teachers, and virtual classes to adhere to COVID-19 mandates. Because of the ongoing restrictions due to COVID, we created United She Stands, a joint project with Girls and Gis, which allows us to foster an online community to continue to support one another through fitness and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. In an effort to broaden opportunities for women in Jiu-Jitsu, we have offered scholarships and free or sliding scale classes for the community. Our apparel line was also launched to provide comfortable fitness clothing and a small revenue stream so we can continue to offer high-quality experiences for many women. Furthermore, the Sweaty Betties has forayed into documentary filmmaking with HerStory film project, which profiles female Jiu-Jitsu practitioners locally and abroad.

 

OUR MISSION

We are dedicated to promoting equal opportunities for women by fostering leadership and cultivating a culture of learning, unity, and celebration of women's strength. Beyond that, we aim to expand and enhance portrayals of women in the Jiu-Jitsu community. Given that women comprise fifty percent of the Jiu-Jitsu population, Sweaty Betties’ ultimate goal is to further the acknowledgment and credit given to women on and off the mat. Sweaty Betties focuses on advocacy and education, provides scholarships, and works to preserve the legacies of all women in the grappling community.

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SCHEDULE

Our online classes have been cancelled as we prepare to transition to in-person training in the next few months. Please check back for updates or contact bjj@tufflove.org with any questions. 

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