Season One of Chokeholds & Chill was anything but chill—and we wouldn’t have it any other way.

In this recap, Jenn and Mallory take a victory lap through the chaos, camaraderie, and catharsis that made Season One unforgettable.

We did our first edition of Mat Chats with lots of training partners when we went to hero academys camp in costa Rica.

We fell in love with Jiu Jitsu Grandma, whose years on the mats humbled us all.

Sewer Rat showed us that being a devoted girl dad and a mat savage aren’t mutually exclusive.

Christian had us rethinking base and balance thanks to his background in dance.

Genevieve cracked us wide open with her story of loss, growth, and grit.

Shawn and Elise reminded us that navigating life, love, past trauma and healing is no small feat.

And we took a powerful pause with our episode on sexual assault and accountability in Jiu Jitsu, creating space for hard truths and real change.

Then we set our sights on what’s next…

Season Two is coming in hot.

We’re talking:

Maria Ruffato—tenacious, technical, and tearing up the competition scene.

Maddy Jones—brown belt, dancer, survivor—her story is full of twists and grit.

Kenny—our soft-spoken law man who hits like a freight train and heals like a monk.

And then there’s Branch…

Quiet. Mysterious. Brilliant. He’ll sit across from you with a kind smile—and then hit you with stories about being adopted, growing up overseas, and meeting his birth mom at 19. You won’t want to miss that episode.

Rafael - one of our favorite old training partners who we dearly miss, currently in atlanta, who really impacted mals bjj game

Aaron - jiu jitsu blue belt, Coast Guard veteran, Rock climber, and the karaoke king 

Bet - a resilient grappler who has faced adversity, loss, and has found healing on the mats. You don’t wanna miss the fiasco at IBJJF World Master 2022. This one will have you on the edge of your seat.

& of course, another edition of Mat Chats!

Season One was our origin story. Season Two is the plot twist.

Let’s roll.

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Genevieve’s story is one of resilience, transformation, and finding purpose through heartbreak. From a rough childhood to serving in the U.S. Air Force, from losing her adopted father and jiu-jitsu coach to receiving her purple belt in the mail after his passing, Genevieve has faced more than her share of challenges.

In this episode, we sit down with her to discuss how jiu-jitsu shaped her life, what it meant to be adopted by her coach, and the shock of losing him so suddenly. We also dive into her time in the Air Force—what she did, what she learned, and how those experiences shaped her.

Genevieve also once took on the challenge of running her own academy. Though she’s moved on from owning a school, the experience gave her valuable insight into leadership, community, and the business side of jiu-jitsu.

Now, as she continues her healing journey, who does she hope to become? What’s next for her, both on and off the mats?

In our Chill Zone, we’ll talk about the little things that bring her peace, the future she envisions, and what keeps her grounded when life feels overwhelming.

This is a powerful episode about loss, resilience, and the fight to move forward.

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In this powerful episode of Chokeholds & Chill, Jenn and Mallory sit down with Shawn—a recovering addict, mental health professional, and dedicated white belt who has been training for about a year.

Shawn opens up about his journey through addiction and recovery, how Jiu Jitsu has become a key part of his mental health and healing process, and why he believes it can be a life-changing tool for others struggling with addiction and mental health challenges. This conversation is raw, real, and a deep dive into the mind-body connection that makes Jiu Jitsu so transformative.

TRIGGER WARNING: In this episode, we’ll be discussing trauma, substance abuse and recovery. These are important conversations, but they can also be difficult to hear. If you need to step away or take care of yourself in any way, please do. And if you’re struggling, know that you’re not alone—there are people who care about you and want to help.

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In this episode of Chokeholds and Chill, Mallory and Jenn get to talk with Elaine, known as "Jiu Jitsu Grandma" on Instagram and throughout the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu community. At a spry 76 years old, Elaine is a 4 stripe purple belt competing her way to black belt and a global inspiration. 

Elaine is a grandmother with a love of horses who is married to her high school sweetheart. Sit back, relax, and enjoy our wholesome chat where Elaine reminds all of us  "not too old & not too late". 

You can follow Elaine on Instagram at @jiujitsu_grandma 

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In this episode of Chokeholds & Chill, Jenn and Mallory sit down with Christian—an incredible hip-hop dancer, instructor, and new competitor in the world of Jiu Jitsu. Born and raised in Coos Bay, Christian shares how movement has always been a part of his life, from mastering rhythm on the dance floor to finding flow on the mats. We dive into his experience as a young dad, what it was like stepping into his first Jiu Jitsu competition, and how dance and Jiu Jitsu surprisingly overlap. Tune in for a fun, insightful conversation about discipline, creativity, and the power of movement.

For more from the Chochi Girls, find us on all major podcasting platforms. 

What happens when you walk into a tattoo shop for a consultation but end up recruiting your artist to jiu-jitsu instead? In this episode, we sit down with Wade—aka Sewer Rat—to talk about his journey from ink to the mats.

We dive into his first rolls, how training has changed his perspective as a dad, and whether tattooing and jiu-jitsu require the same level of patience and precision. And of course, we finally get the full story behind that nickname. Grab a seat and get ready for some laughs, some insight, and maybe even a new tattoo idea or two.

Welcome to Chokeholds and Chill! 

Some people seem fine—until you find out they’re not.

In this episode of Chokeholds & Chill, Jenn and Mallory confront one of the hardest realities about training in combat sports: You don’t always know who you’re rolling with. We’re talking about trust, about violence, and about the terrifying fact that we trained, sparred, and laughed with someone who would later be arrested for attacking a woman in broad daylight.

He was a trusted training partner, someone we shared the mats with, someone we—like so many others—thought was just another guy in the gym. Sure, we’d joke, “Man, I’d hate to run into him in a dark alley,” but we said it with the assumption that he was dangerous in sport, not in life. And then he was arrested for violently attacking a woman outside of a Walmart, in the early evening, in public. Two men had to fight him off.

And the truth is, this isn’t just about this case. According to RAINN, 8 out of 10 sexual assaults are committed by someone the victim knows—a friend, a coworker, a classmate, a teammate. Only 19.5% of sexual assaults are committed by strangers. The people most dangerous to us often don’t look dangerous at all.

Together, we ask: How do we process the fact that some of the people we trust most could be capable of violence? And how do we create a training culture where survivors can feel safe?

This is an episode we never thought we’d have to record—but here we are.

This episode contains discussions of sexual assault, violence, and trauma. If these topics are difficult for you, please listen with care or skip this episode if needed. If you or someone you know needs support, please seek out resources such as RAINN (800-656-HOPE) or other local organizations that can help.

Source: https://jiujiteiramagazine.com/2021/08/end-the-abuse/

In this episode of Chokeholds & Chill, Jenn and Mallory sit down with BJ—Mallory’s husband, a dedicated physical therapist, and the ultimate supportive partner. Though he doesn’t train Jiu Jitsu himself, BJ has become a vital part of Mallory’s competition journey, traveling to tournaments, being the unofficial gym PT, and Mal's biggest fan.

We dive into what it’s like to be a non-training partner in the Jiu Jitsu world, how his expertise in physical therapy helps all athletes stay training, and the unique dynamic of supporting a competitor from the sidelines.

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In this episode of Chokeholds & Chill, Jenn and Mallory sit down with Elise—a dedicated mother, white belt, and and an integral part of our kids program. An all-around badass who’s been training for about a year alongside her young daughter.

Elise opens up about her journey into Jiu Jitsu, how training has impacted her life as a mom, and the challenges of balancing it all. She also shares her experiences with her past and how stepping onto the mats has helped her reclaim her strength, confidence, and sense of self. This conversation is raw, inspiring, and a powerful reminder of the resilience that Jiu Jitsu can bring out in all of us.

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode discusses addiction, abuse, trauma, and recovery. If this episode is not for you at this time, please pause and enjoy one of our other episodes. 

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In this special episode of Chokeholds and Chill, Jenn and Mallory take you to the sun-soaked shores of Tamarindo, Costa Rica, where they join the Pura Vida BJJ and Surf retreat at Hero Academy. Amidst the tropical backdrop, they engage in insightful "Mat Chats" with fellow camp participants, their partners, and esteemed instructors. The episode features in-depth conversations with renowned Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belts Shawn Hammonds and Nick "Chewy" Albin. 

Shawn, a 3rd-degree black belt and multiple time IBJJF champion, shares his journey and coaching philosophy. Nick, the creator of the popular Chewjitsu YouTube channel and head instructor at Derby City Martial Arts, discusses his passion for teaching and the growth in BJJ. 

Tune in for a blend of personal stories, training insights, and the vibe of training Jiu-Jitsu in paradise. 

For camp information: 

herobjj.com

Chewjitsu: 

www.youtube.com/@chewjitsu 

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