Leah Stumpf

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.

I think it's been a slow increase, but in a good way. Every year I compete, I see more women. So I just competed a few weeks ago in Helena, and there were a ton of women there. There were probably about 500 people at the tournament. And I would say a good...

I think it's been a slow increase, but in a good way. Every year I compete, I see more women. So I just competed a few weeks ago in Helena, and there were a ton of women there. There were probably about 500 people at the tournament. And I would say a good...

I think it's been a slow increase, but in a good way. Every year I compete, I see more women. So I just competed a few weeks ago in Helena, and there were a ton of women there. There were probably about 500 people at the tournament. And I would say a good...

hundred of them were women, little girls, teens, adults, we had a women's black belt division, it was absolute absolute, it was, you know, kind of four different weight classes, age groups, and we all just combined and did matches. And that was I never imagined there'd be enough black belts in Montana for a really long time, I was the only one living here, female black belt.

hundred of them were women, little girls, teens, adults, we had a women's black belt division, it was absolute absolute, it was, you know, kind of four different weight classes, age groups, and we all just combined and did matches. And that was I never imagined there'd be enough black belts in Montana for a really long time, I was the only one living here, female black belt.

hundred of them were women, little girls, teens, adults, we had a women's black belt division, it was absolute absolute, it was, you know, kind of four different weight classes, age groups, and we all just combined and did matches. And that was I never imagined there'd be enough black belts in Montana for a really long time, I was the only one living here, female black belt.

And so that was really cool. There was not a men's black belt division. So

And so that was really cool. There was not a men's black belt division. So

And so that was really cool. There was not a men's black belt division. So

Not in that last tournament. Yeah, there was just the ladies threw down. And I will say a lot of those ladies did no gi too. I kind of, I was coaching and I didn't do the no gi, but a lot of them came back at like 5 p.m. and did no gi too. So it was cool.

Not in that last tournament. Yeah, there was just the ladies threw down. And I will say a lot of those ladies did no gi too. I kind of, I was coaching and I didn't do the no gi, but a lot of them came back at like 5 p.m. and did no gi too. So it was cool.

Not in that last tournament. Yeah, there was just the ladies threw down. And I will say a lot of those ladies did no gi too. I kind of, I was coaching and I didn't do the no gi, but a lot of them came back at like 5 p.m. and did no gi too. So it was cool.

I think having a ladies class goes a really long way. The more women you get on the mat, I think the critical mass is about 10. And then it'll kind of start growing itself. But that first 10 is so hard to gain and maintain. I think having a ladies class is really important. Having a beginner class is huge. And then if you can get some ladies to step over, you already got women in your gym.

I think having a ladies class goes a really long way. The more women you get on the mat, I think the critical mass is about 10. And then it'll kind of start growing itself. But that first 10 is so hard to gain and maintain. I think having a ladies class is really important. Having a beginner class is huge. And then if you can get some ladies to step over, you already got women in your gym.

I think having a ladies class goes a really long way. The more women you get on the mat, I think the critical mass is about 10. And then it'll kind of start growing itself. But that first 10 is so hard to gain and maintain. I think having a ladies class is really important. Having a beginner class is huge. And then if you can get some ladies to step over, you already got women in your gym.

I guarantee girlfriends, wives, daughters, sisters. Moms. Yep. Moms of kids and they're watching, they're in the gym, sometimes more consistently than your own members. And if you can get them to step onto the mat, grab a partner, grab another mom, grab a friend that's their size and just get out there and kind of have fun with it. So they're not rolling with guys initially.

I guarantee girlfriends, wives, daughters, sisters. Moms. Yep. Moms of kids and they're watching, they're in the gym, sometimes more consistently than your own members. And if you can get them to step onto the mat, grab a partner, grab another mom, grab a friend that's their size and just get out there and kind of have fun with it. So they're not rolling with guys initially.

I guarantee girlfriends, wives, daughters, sisters. Moms. Yep. Moms of kids and they're watching, they're in the gym, sometimes more consistently than your own members. And if you can get them to step onto the mat, grab a partner, grab another mom, grab a friend that's their size and just get out there and kind of have fun with it. So they're not rolling with guys initially.

So it continues to grow. I remember when the brown and black, there wasn't a black belt division at world for the women. It was brown and black combined because there just weren't enough. And then suddenly one year there were black belts and then they've added weight classes and age, you know, now there's the master's division. So it's, and it's continued to grow. It's cool.