Club: Stealth BJJ Teeside – England, North
Belt: Purple
I am a competitive purple belt and active member of the UK Brazilian Jiu Jitsu community, as well as a mother and a woman navigating the sport myself. This gives me both a personal and practical understanding of the barriers, challenges, and opportunities women experience in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu today.
My journey has shown me the value the sport brings, but also the gaps that still exist. While more women are stepping onto the mats, retention remains a key challenge. Confidence, environment, onboarding, and life demands all play a role — particularly for women balancing careers, family, and training. I believe the next phase of growth for women’s BJJ in the UK depends not just on increasing participation, but on significantly improving how many women stay.
Alongside my training, I have a professional background in fitness business development, partnerships, and programme creation. I have designed and scaled group training concepts, built community-driven products, and worked with gym operators to increase engagement and participation. This allows me to approach the growth of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu not only from within academies, but from a wider industry and systems perspective.
My vision as Women’s Committee Chair is centred on three key areas:
1. Improving onboarding and retention. Developing clear, structured entry pathways for women starting BJJ, and supporting academies with practical frameworks that improve early-stage experience and long-term progression.
2. Raising standards in experience and safety. Promoting consistent expectations around coaching, culture, and safeguarding, ensuring women feel confident, respected, and supported in any training environment across the UK.
3. Expanding participation through partnerships and visibility. Leveraging relationships with gym chains and the wider fitness industry to introduce Brazilian Jiu Jitsu to new female audiences, creating accessible and scalable entry points into the sport.
I am also currently developing a boutique Brazilian Jiu Jitsu academy concept built around these principles, with a strong emphasis on female-friendly onboarding, high standards, and community.
As both a practitioner and a parent, I understand the importance of creating environments that are not only inclusive, but sustainable for women at different stages of life. I represent the reality of many women in the sport today, and I am motivated to help shape a system that better supports them.
I believe women’s Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in the UK has significant potential for growth, and I am committed to contributing to that by bringing structure, consistency, and a clear vision for long-term development.
Qualifications/ relevant professional experience
- Competitive Brazilian Jiu Jitsu athlete (Purple Belt) with consistent training and competition experience at national and international level.
- Professional background in fitness business development, partnerships, and programme design, with experience creating and scaling group training concepts, community activations, and education systems.
- Experience working with large fitness operators and gym chains, developing partnerships and delivering training and engagement initiatives.
- Currently developing a boutique Brazilian Jiu Jitsu academy concept focused on:
* Female-friendly onboarding pathways
* Structured beginner programmes to improve retention
* High standards in coaching, safeguarding, and culture
* Building inclusive environments that improve long-term participation, confidence, and progression for women in BJJ.
Social Media
Instagram – @thekimpereira