Leah Stumpf

And Travis is my coach for straight blast gym. And then eventually I was over with Matt Thornton at Straight Blast Gym in Portland. And both of them are very encouraging of having women in the gym. It's just, it's a very tough sport and there wasn't really a great on-ramp at the time. So there weren't many of us. The first match I had with a woman was at a tournament in Helena. Well built.

And Travis is my coach for straight blast gym. And then eventually I was over with Matt Thornton at Straight Blast Gym in Portland. And both of them are very encouraging of having women in the gym. It's just, it's a very tough sport and there wasn't really a great on-ramp at the time. So there weren't many of us. The first match I had with a woman was at a tournament in Helena. Well built.

And Travis is my coach for straight blast gym. And then eventually I was over with Matt Thornton at Straight Blast Gym in Portland. And both of them are very encouraging of having women in the gym. It's just, it's a very tough sport and there wasn't really a great on-ramp at the time. So there weren't many of us. The first match I had with a woman was at a tournament in Helena. Well built.

We were white belts. I think she might have been a blue belt or pretty close. I think she was even a teen. And I think I won one, lost one. No, no, I think I might have even lost both. I had her in a triangle at one point. Oh, yes, I did finish that. So I... I won the first one. I think I lost the second one and I think I lost one more after that. I don't think I won.

We were white belts. I think she might have been a blue belt or pretty close. I think she was even a teen. And I think I won one, lost one. No, no, I think I might have even lost both. I had her in a triangle at one point. Oh, yes, I did finish that. So I... I won the first one. I think I lost the second one and I think I lost one more after that. I don't think I won.

We were white belts. I think she might have been a blue belt or pretty close. I think she was even a teen. And I think I won one, lost one. No, no, I think I might have even lost both. I had her in a triangle at one point. Oh, yes, I did finish that. So I... I won the first one. I think I lost the second one and I think I lost one more after that. I don't think I won.

You know, it was, that was my first experience and, uh, I didn't really know what to expect. I hadn't, again, I hadn't rolled with another female before, so it was easier for sure.

You know, it was, that was my first experience and, uh, I didn't really know what to expect. I hadn't, again, I hadn't rolled with another female before, so it was easier for sure.

You know, it was, that was my first experience and, uh, I didn't really know what to expect. I hadn't, again, I hadn't rolled with another female before, so it was easier for sure.

Yeah. So the coaches that I worked with facilitated that. My coach, Travis's wife, was starting to get involved and she eventually became a black belt, but she was always kind of in the background. She was running the yoga side of things. And so she was really encouraging and, you know, they wanted to grow the gym. So they knew they were going to need women. They had a kids program.

Yeah. So the coaches that I worked with facilitated that. My coach, Travis's wife, was starting to get involved and she eventually became a black belt, but she was always kind of in the background. She was running the yoga side of things. And so she was really encouraging and, you know, they wanted to grow the gym. So they knew they were going to need women. They had a kids program.

Yeah. So the coaches that I worked with facilitated that. My coach, Travis's wife, was starting to get involved and she eventually became a black belt, but she was always kind of in the background. She was running the yoga side of things. And so she was really encouraging and, you know, they wanted to grow the gym. So they knew they were going to need women. They had a kids program.

I think any gym that wants to really survive and thrive in the community includes everyone. They're not just... It's not just a bunch of dudes rolling around. There's a, there are gyms like that, that are. It's a certain flavor. Yeah. Successful. It's a, it's more of like a garage style gym and they're super fun. More like a clubhouse close knit. You gotta be real tough to be on those mats.

I think any gym that wants to really survive and thrive in the community includes everyone. They're not just... It's not just a bunch of dudes rolling around. There's a, there are gyms like that, that are. It's a certain flavor. Yeah. Successful. It's a, it's more of like a garage style gym and they're super fun. More like a clubhouse close knit. You gotta be real tough to be on those mats.

I think any gym that wants to really survive and thrive in the community includes everyone. They're not just... It's not just a bunch of dudes rolling around. There's a, there are gyms like that, that are. It's a certain flavor. Yeah. Successful. It's a, it's more of like a garage style gym and they're super fun. More like a clubhouse close knit. You gotta be real tough to be on those mats.

A lot of times they're trying, they're more weeding people out, you know, than including everyone. Yeah. Which it shifts the culture of the gym. It's interesting. So I, you know, it was, I was encouraged. I was included. I felt protected by my training partners, not taken advantage of. I was losing all the time, but I thought it was funny.

A lot of times they're trying, they're more weeding people out, you know, than including everyone. Yeah. Which it shifts the culture of the gym. It's interesting. So I, you know, it was, I was encouraged. I was included. I felt protected by my training partners, not taken advantage of. I was losing all the time, but I thought it was funny.

A lot of times they're trying, they're more weeding people out, you know, than including everyone. Yeah. Which it shifts the culture of the gym. It's interesting. So I, you know, it was, I was encouraged. I was included. I felt protected by my training partners, not taken advantage of. I was losing all the time, but I thought it was funny.

You know, you just have to, you have to laugh or you're going to quit, I guess. Or cry. Or cry. Yeah. Yeah. Cry in the shower.

You know, you just have to, you have to laugh or you're going to quit, I guess. Or cry. Or cry. Yeah. Yeah. Cry in the shower.