Alexander Crispim and Crispim BJJ are very proud to announce that Brooke Goldsworthy won 1st place in her division and 3rd place in the open division last weekend at the US Open in Santa Cruz. This was Brooke’s first tournament in years and her FIRST tournament as a Blue Belt which she earned on July 31st of this year. She tapped her first opponent in a matter of seconds and won her next fight by points. Brooke is an incredible competitor who possesses great strength, technique and a huge desire to learn and train. She does all of this with a smile on her face and such a positive energy all the time. The Crispim BJJ Team is very proud of her accomplishments and are very happy to have her as part of the team.
We would also like to take this opportunity to share with you a little about Brooke’s history, goals and reasons for training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
“I was definitely an active and strong little girl, but my involvement with organized sports was very limited. The first time I competed athletically was at Chabot College. I became a member of their track and field team as a hammer thrower with the hope of receiving a scholarship to further my education. I was fortunate enough to achieve my goal and was awarded an athletic scholarship to Fresno State College. Although I was never passionate about Track and Field, I loved being part of a Division 1 team and the camaraderie that came with it.
After college I became a teacher and married my best friend, Steve. We were living in Brentwood, and I was looking for a fun way to get fit again. My brother told me to check out Ralph Gracie’s in Antioch, so I did. I trained with Ricardo Barros for 10 months in 2004. During that time, I fell in love with BJJ, and it became my passion.
When Steve and I decided to expand our family, I stopped training BJJ. I got pregnant with our first baby boy, moved to Livermore to be closer to family, and became a stay at home mom. Jake was born in 2005, Cole was born in 2007, and Trent was born in 2009. I know this sounds crazy, but even after I brought my 3 angels into this world, there still wasn’t a day that went by that I didn’t think about BJJ. When Trent was 6 months old, I knew our family was finally complete, and it was my time to get back on the mat. When I knew that we were going to move to Pleasanton, it didn’t even cross my mind to check out any other BJJ facilities in the area. I was beyond excited to train with Crispim. I didn’t think Crispim was going to remember me from back in the day, but he did, and he welcomed me with open arms. I was elated, and couldn’t be any happier. Every day I feel grateful for having the opportunity to train at Crispim BJJ in Pleasanton. I know it is the absolute best academy that I could ever ask for! Crispim’s passion and knowledge of BJJ is powerful. I feel confident learning from him and trust that he wouldn’t teach us anything that he didn’t believe in 100%. Daniel teaches incredible brazilian jiu jitus as well. He is always very professional and patient with all of his students. As for the rest of the people that train at Crispim BJJ in Pleasanton, they’re simply awesome. I couldn’t ask for better training partners. Everyone at the academy is inspiring, kind, supportive, and helpful! The overall vibe is just cool and I seriously love the BJJ camaraderie! I feel blessed to have a place where I can truly appreciate the art of BJJ and everything BJJ has to offer. I can’t say whether I like the physical challenges or mental challenges of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu better. It’s the combination of the two that drives me like nothing else can.
I feel like I just got my feet wet competing, and want to further explore the competitive side of BJJ. When I threw the hammer, I concentrated solely on how I moved my body. When I compete in a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu match, I have to think strategically about the moves of my opponent and myself. The dynamics of competitive BJJ are exciting and challenging on so many different levels. It has piqued my curiosity and has made me want to learn more. Thanks to Alexander Crispim, I’ve been given the opportunity to look at my training with a new set of eyes and start to reflect on in it from a competitive perspective. It is challenging and fun–So as long as I’m having fun, I’ll continue to compete!
People ask me how I find time to train. I just do. It’s a priority and my husband supports me 100%. My family reaps the benefits of my training too. I’m healthy, happy, energized, and able to care for them without feeling like I’m running on empty. BJJ is definitely a lifestyle for me. It’s become part of the balancing act and that is a beautiful thing!!”
Congratulations Brooke on this incredible accomplishment and your dedication and passion for Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. The Crispim BJJ Team is very proud to have you as such an important part of it. We are excited to see what is next for you!!! And Team, please feel free to post your comments on this article and show your support for Brooke and her future competitions.
- Erico M.
