BJJ Mental Models Ep. 380: Women Grow Gyms, feat. Livia Giles
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Mar 9, 2026 
Livia Giles, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu coach, gym owner, and former competitor, champions getting more women on the mats. She discusses how facility basics and visibility of women leaders lower intimidation. Short programs, women's classes vs integration, and clear reporting systems are highlighted. Practical tips for men, culture shifts, and scaling female membership are explored.
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Provide Dedicated Women's Facilities
- Make dedicated physical space for women to increase participation.
- Livia describes missing women's change rooms and being told to wait for men to finish changing as a barrier to entry.
Visibility Of Women Lowers Barrier To Entry
- Visible female leadership signals inclusivity and reduces intimidation for new female students.
- Steve and Livia note that women teaching classes and being on reception normalizes female presence and creates paths to belong.
Use Weekly Women's Classes As A Bridge
- Run occasional women-only classes to create cohesion but avoid segregating women permanently.
- Livia restarted a weekly women's class to rebuild team feeling, then integrated mixed classes and socials to maintain inclusion.