Mackenzie Smith may be small, but she’s not to be messed with! She’s always been mentally tough, but she’s recently taken that fight to the jiu-jitsu mat.

Mackenzie is a longtime friend of ours. (In fact, she designed our logo!) After watching her boyfriend (Levi) compete, Mackenzie started jiu-jitsu herself. Encouraged by the physical diversity of jiu-jitsu athletes, she’s learned how to leverage her skills to get even the biggest opponent to tap.

In this episode, Mackenzie explains the basics for jiu-jitsu beginners and the hurdles of entering a new fitness environment––especially when the cards seem stacked against us. Mackenzie talks about how being small, having asthma, and being a woman in a male-dominated sport are definitely obstacles, but there are practical solutions to improve. Be encouraged––everyone has a chance in jiu-jitsu!