Brenda Dee

Worlds 2022 Black Belt ✔
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I have so many thoughts coming out of Worlds. This week was absolutely amazing. I had the privilege of sharing the mats with so many incredible people who came through @breajiujitsuofficial - special shoutout to Coach Dan and his sauna of a gym that put me at 104 lb with the gi on at weigh-ins yesterday 😓 (yes, 3 lbs under weight). But the greatest feeling was being able to walk onto these mats as a rookie black belt 🥋 and sharing the same space as so many athletes who I have come up the ranks admiring. It is a surreal feeling of gratitude and respect. They have inspired me to do better. To be better.
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This year's worlds marks the end to this chapter for now. For nearly two years, I did what I never thought possible while being a working professional - I lived this jiu jitsu life. Split time in San Diego, lived in a fighter house, bought my own fighter house. Slept on mats. Cleaned mats. Traveled. Trained. Competed. Coached. I really feel like I did it all. I am so grateful to @legion_ajj for welcoming me and especially to my Coach @andrisbrunovskis for guiding, teaching, and inspiring me. Today, as I packed up my car to head back to San Francisco permanently to focus on my career and family, I think fondly of the amazing people I have met these last 2 years. Thank you for being a part of my story. 💕
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Special shoutout to my partner @echan424 for flying down last night to help me pack and drive home. 🙃
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First photo credit @grapple.culture
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