Today we’d like to introduce you to Shama Ko. They and their team shared their story with us below:
The Girls in Gis community was founded in 2009 by Ashley Nguyen in Houston, Texas. The purpose of the group was to provide a fun, friendly environment for women and girls to train, to have more women and girls to train with, and create a community of women and girls in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Her goal was to also to create a leadership opportunity for women. Our first Girls in Gis started small with only fifteen girls at our first event and has since grown to accommodate between forty to one hundred and fifty participants it has expanded outside of Texas to include events and seminars in 30 US States and has opened 14 chapters.
The Girls in Gis Organization was founded in 2010 by Shama Ko. Shama began as a participant and member of the community. She believed so strongly in Ashley’s vision that she has dedicated her life to building the Girls in Gis organization. Her objective in developing the organization has always been to preserve the purpose of Girls in Gis while evolving the organization into what it is today.
Girls in Gis chapters are run by ambassadors who are volunteers. The organization currently has 50 ambassadors throughout 14 chapters nationwide. Events are taught by different female upper belts in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (as well as other grappling arts) and attended by women and girls. The events are open to women and girls of all ages, skill levels, and from all affiliations. No experience is required. The events are donation-based in order to provide paid teaching opportunities for women and raise funds for the Girls in Gis scholarship program that is designed to provide Martial arts tuition assistance, competition stipends, and uniforms to underprivileged women and girls worldwide.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I don’t think anything worthwhile comes easily. Especially when trying to carve out a space for women and girls in a male-dominated sport. Despite the obstacles, we have been tremendously supported by the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu community as a whole. We would not be where we are now if not for the entire community, including gym owners, instructors, dads, uncles, husbands and brothers, coaches, and instructors. We are very grateful for the support we have received that has allowed us to flourish and bring about this movement.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next, you can tell us a bit more about your business.
Girls in Gis (GIG) is an organization dedicated to building and strengthening the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu community for women and girls as a whole. We provide experiences that foster the community of women and girls in the martial art while encouraging new women and girls to participate. By coming together, we are increasing the presence of women and girls in a primary male-dominated martial art and paving the way to equality change and we are growing the sport and art for women and girls everywhere. Our goal is to empower and unite women and girls in their martial arts training as well as in life.
We are the leading organization in our industry before there ever was an industry. We have hosted female-only events in 30 states and currently have 14 chapters throughout the USA. Our events are taught by women and are for women and girls. We also provide information and resources via our YouTube and podcast for females in the grappling arts. We also periodically host camps, seminars, open mats, and host co-ed events. All of our events are open to the public. No experience is needed. It is a great way for women and girls to explore Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for the first time in a fun, friendly, and inclusive environment.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
We would not exist if not for the support of the entire Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu community. We share our success with all the parents, gym owners, instructors, participants, online supporters near and far. They are the reason we are able to do what we do. We got our start in Texas, and if not for the entire Texas Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu community we would not be here today and would not have had the foundation to build a national organization. Without Ashley’s foundation to build from and Shama’s hard work, Girls in GIs would not be here today. We would not be a national organization if not for the hard work of our staff and volunteers. They are the ones that have made this progress and opportunities possible on such a widespread level. It truly takes a village, and we have an incredible one!
Contact Info:
- Website: girlsingis.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/girlsingis/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GirlsinGis/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/_girls_in_gis_
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/GirlsinGis
- Other: https://girlsingis.buzzsprout.com/
