WOMEN ON THE MATS

Hey, I’m Kylie. I’m a 40 year old purple belt, mum of my crazy little 3year old daughter Freya, competitor and student. 

I started my BJJ Journey in the summer of 2014 at Master St James in Plymouth under Tom Barlow and Kenny Baker. It was my husband Mark, who encouraged me to try BJJ to work alongside my Judo. I’m a 4th Dan in Judo and have been training for 32 years. When I started BJJ I just saw it as a way of backing up my Judo ground work, it took me a while to get used to the differences between the two but it wasn’t long and I was hooked on BJJ as well.

Between 2014 and 2016 life was pretty hectic between buying a house, getting married and being on the Senior Judo Circuit. I trained when I could in BJJ and was lucky enough to have an amazing female purple belt Zayna as my main training partner.

In 2016 we were lucky enough, thanks to Darren, to move and make Flo Martial Arts in Plympton our home. And by home I mean, it is literally my second home! Flo is by far one of the best Martial Arts facilities in the South West and I am incredibly proud of the facilities and team we have at Flo and I’m lucky enough to be training under Sam Crook and Franck Takoudjou.

Before Covid decided to put a stop to life! I competed a few times at all 3 belts and I think my first comp I ended up fighting Jade at the Newquay Open. As much as I enjoy competing in Jits my Competitive Judo Career doesn’t allow a lot of time to fit in more Jits Comps.

Since Covid I’ve had my little girl, a full hip replacement and a ruptured ACL but that hasn’t stopped me and in 2024, within 10 months of my Full Hip Replacement I managed to win Gold at my first Jits Competition since March 2020! I do plan on competing more in Jits once I have semi-retired from the International Veterans Judo Circuit. 

Now on Women’s Martial Arts, I’ve always been a massive advocate of female only sessions, I have previously run my own quarterly Ladies and Girls Judo sessions bringing players together from all over the South West. Since being at Flo have also hosted a few Ladies Only Judo and BJJ sessions with other High grade females coaching the BJJ side.

I first met Rosie at Exeter BJJ several years ago when I used to come up and join in with their Saturday Ladies Only sessions after becoming friends with Tanya. I’ve always tried to support any female only session as I think it’s really important that women get a safe space to train together with similar sizes because as much as training with the guys is great it doesn’t replicate the way females train.

When Rosie and Jade started Women on the mats I knew it was something special and something I wanted to be involved with. It’s such a gorgeous community and the women we have who are hosting the sessions are just as incredible as the ladies we have who we have attending them!

I’m lucky enough to be able to raise Freya with Flo Martials being her second home and expose her to the world of Martial Arts in a time when Female Fighters are finally getting the attention they deserve! She is a regular visitor to the Ladies Open Mats and she just loves being on the mats in her own little Gi! 

I’ve been so lucky to meet some amazing females on both my Judo and BJJ Journey and I can’t wait to see how big we can make these sessions in the South West.

Our next open mat is at Flo Martial Arts, Plymouth on Saturday 11th April, 1-3pm

Follow @kyz_adams and @flomartialarts on Instagram for more information