# E122: Yeliz Akwei - Blue Belt

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/jiu-jitsu-lou-6605014/e122-yeliz-akwei-blue-belt
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/jiu-jitsu-lou-6605014/e122-yeliz-akwei-blue-belt.md
Podcast: [JIU JITSU LOU](https://stenobird.com/podcast/jiu-jitsu-lou-6605014)
Published: 2026-03-28T06:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://shows.acast.com/jiu-jitsu-lou/episodes/e122-yeliz-akwei-blue-belt
Audio file: https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/64e8c6f86854bf001162422a/e/69c71e7ce05c00aacfb4e94c/media.mp3
Processing state: processed
JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/jiu-jitsu-lou-6605014/episodes/e122-yeliz-akwei-blue-belt
Duration seconds: 2409

## Resource

Yeliz Akwei shares her journey from reluctant Muay Thai practitioner to dedicated blue belt. She discusses the mental benefits of embracing difficult challenges and the importance of community building through London Women's Open Mats.

## Highlights
- Main idea: Embracing the 'hard thing' in training fosters personal growth and mental resilience
- Practical takeaway: Use strength and conditioning as a mental reset when combat sports training is unavailable
- Failure mode: Avoiding the confusion of new techniques can prevent long-term progress in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
- Community focus: London Women's Open Mats provides a low-pressure environment for women to flow roll and build connections
- Perspective: Viewing martial arts as a lifelong hobby rather than a professional pursuit helps balance training with parenting and career

## Topics

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Muay Thai, Women's Martial Arts, London Women's Open Mats, Strength and Conditioning, Combat Sports Lifestyle, Blue Belt Journey, Training Community

## Chapters
- 1:00 — From Muay Thai to BJJ: How a focus on striking transitioned into a commitment to grappling through a shared training partnership.
- 4:10 — Finding Interest in the Omoplata: The moment specific technical movements turned confusion into genuine curiosity and fun.
- 7:10 — The Value of Hard Things: Discussing the psychological rewards of pursuing challenging disciplines despite life's existing pressures.
- 10:10 — Balancing Training and Parenting: Navigating the guilt and logistics of prioritizing personal training while raising children.
- 13:10 — Managing Physical Toll: Reflecting on the physical intensity of training and the impact of injuries on performance.
- 19:10 — Cross-Training and Mental Health: Using weightlifting and strength sessions as a vital tool for mental reset and consistency.
- 25:10 — Building the Women's Community: The mission behind London Women's Open Mats and encouraging women to participate in competition.

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## Transcript

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