Watch Drea Take Gold at the Jiu Jitsu World League SoCal Championship 2019

As a friend and longtime client, I’ve been seriously impressed by Drea’s dedication to continually challenging herself to improve. Again and again, she steps out of her comfort zone and shows that we can do anything if we want it bad enough.

On September 14, 2019, Drea stepped onto the mat for her first ever sports competition--the Jiu Jitsu World League SoCal Championship at Point Loma Nazarene University. As the wife and mother of jiu jitsu masters, it was her turn to put brains and brawn to the test and see if she could win gold.

Less than a year before, Drea started seriously training at her husband Aaron Collins’ studio, Gracie Barra Carlsbad. She had dabbled in jiu jitsu and was an accomplished bodybuilder in her own right, but she decided to take a risk and develop a new skill, even though she was already in her early 40s.

I watched Drea attend group classes three days a week. She also took private jiu jitsu lessons two days a week. With her own gym, Body by Drea, right next door to Gracie Barra Carlsbad, Drea often squeezed in her strength training and cardio before or after a group class, racking up as many as four hours of activity a day, in addition to her schedule as a personal trainer.

The hard work and dedication paid off. By July, Drea and Aaron recognized she was ready for her first fight. But first, she had to cut weight to make it into the competition.

Like wrestling, jiu jitsu has strict weight cut offs, and all competitors must weigh in (while wearing their gi) one hour before competition begins. Drea had the double challenge of trying to lose weight while maintaining her muscular physique. Drea wanted to make the cut, but she also knew that her superior strength would be an advantage come September.

For two months, Drea honed in her diet, carefully balancing macros as she watched her weight drop on the scale. Her determination paid off when she stepped on the scale at the Jiu Jitsu World League SoCal Championship for adults and masters. She made the cut as was cleared to compete!

But the challenge was only beginning. Three competitors stood between Drea and the gold medal. With zero competitive experience in jiu jitsu Drea’s nerves were high.

With her husband and son watching on, Drea took on all three matches with a coolness and confidence that hid her fear and hesitancy. She channeled all those months of jiu jitsu training and years of pushing herself in the gym into those fights, trusting that she had the skill to win even if she doubted herself.

One after the other, Drea’s opponents fell. Her strength, mental focus, and years of discipline paid off in victory, even though she was the only one in her division competing and had to fight women 10 years younger than her.

When Drea won her final match, her husband Aaron and son Elijah congratulated her with big bear hugs. They were proud of her in a way she could have never imagined. She took first place, earning the top spot on the podium and a shiny gold medal. Ever the sweetheart, Drea made sure to congratulate the other opponents on the podium, offering them hugs and heartfelt good will.

Drea has long believed she can accomplish the impossible as long as she sets her mind on it and follows through with the hard work. I’ve seen it after watching her push herself in the gym for years, and I saw it again when she won gold.

Drea told me that the hard work was in fact put in years ago, when she first stepped out of her comfort zone and began training in the gym with intent. Her victory is a shining example of hard work paying off!

About the Author: Christine has trained with Drea for more than five years. In that time, she’s lost more than 50 pounds and become more confident in the gym. She enjoys running, lifting weights, and cuddling her fur babies.