(20 Questions)
1. Brief Bio:
"My name is Melyssa Adams (formerly Hutchinson). I run Synergy BJJ Fredericton with my friend and business partner, Greg Thomas. I have been leading the team since 2016 and Greg came on in 2018.
I have two grown-up sons and a very old dog and I have a very blessed life.
I am from the Annapolis Valley in NS originally, but I have been in Fredericton for 11 years."
b. When not doing BJJ, what do you do?
"I am an RMT (massage therapist) and I find my work very rewarding. I spend a lot of time on my bike, mostly road biking, but some gravel too. I also like to run and usually participate in a few trail races every fall."
2. When and why did you start training BJJ?
"I started jiu-jitsu 16 years ago at Abhaya MMA in Wolfville. I actually started because my oldest son was training in the kids' program and I was curious what it was all about. I tried a class randomly one evening and I was immediately hooked."
3. Do you train in any other martial arts? (Or have you in the past?)
"No, BJJ has been my one and only hahah"
4. When did you receive your black belt and can you describe how you felt when you received it? Did you face any hurdles or setbacks/challenges? For any challenges, how they were overcome?
"I received my Black Belt six years ago, in June of 2017. It was a big surprise for me. At the time, we had to take our team to Montreal for belt gradings, so every June a group of students would travel up. It was always a fun time! That year, I was there just to support my students and teammates and I had gone up early to train with the Montreal crew. At the end of the grading, they surprised me with the belt and it was very emotional for me. It made me the first female BJJ Black Belt in Atlantic Canada (although there were others just as deserving) and I felt underqualified for the promotion. My only challenge was growing into the belt and the role that came with it. I felt I wasn't ready, but others assured me that I was and that I would continue to develop my skills and settle into the leadership that came with it. And I have, with the support of my mentors and teammates!"
5. Belt lineage:
"Blue Belt -> Vitor "Shaolin" Ribeiro while at Abhaya MMA
Purple Belt -> Roberto "Gordo" Correa while at Gordo Jiu-Jitsu
Brown & Black -> Fabio Holanda
Currently under Jake Mackenzie, having received my 1st and 2nd stripe from him"
6. Where do you train currently? Other past locations?
"Currently at Synergy BJJ. Previously at Gordo JJ in Rio de Janeiro and Abhaya MMA before that."
7. Competition history? Are still you still competing?
"I competed a lot in the past. There was a time when I competed in nearly all the local tournaments, and then I travelled to Brazil to compete in the Rio Open, the Brasileiros (National Championship) and several local tournaments. I no longer compete, I got old hahaha."
8. Do you teach/coach and what does a good teacher mean to you?
"I teach and coach a lot. I am on the mats 6 days a week most of the time, and a lot of that is as a coach. I still get to drill and train plenty myself, but I have a large responsibility to my team to guide them. A good teacher should be looking to improve their own game and be continuously learning new skills. I believe in leading by example and that the success of the team is about providing a safe and fun environment while helping people improve their technique."
9. Preference GI or NO GI? Why?
"HAHAHA! For years I was strictly a gi girl, but I've been heavy on the no-gi for several years now. Mostly because I'm small so I like the speed of no-gi. I can use that to my advantage. And also....heel hooks"
10. How often do you train now versus in the beginning of your journey?
"When I first started my sons were quite small, so I only trained 3-4 times per week, and I usually had to bring them with me. Then, as I started to compete more, I gradually worked up to training twice a day 4 days per week and once a day on Fridays and Saturdays, with Sunday being my active rest day. That only lasted a few years, as it was hard on the system...but I was in great shape hahaha. Now that I'm older, the intensity of my training has settled a bit. I am on the mats a lot, but I prefer to drill and coach and roll 2-4 good rounds. It's more sustainable for me."
11. Advice you would give to your white belt self from yourself now?
"My white belt self was a badass. I would tell her to keep going because she is going to have the best life with this jiu-jitsu journey!"
12. Advice to anyone contemplating joining a BJJ club?
"Do it! Don't wait. There is no perfect time to start. Today is the best time."
13. Advice to anyone feeling like they are not progressing in their training or become fixated on belts?
"Belts mean nothing. There is a huge variance at every belt level from person to person or even club to club. Don't chase belts.
In terms of progression, it's not a straight line. There will be improvements in your skills, plateaus and even sometimes a decline in progression. It's normal and part of the process. You will know you are about to take a big jump in your skill level when you feel like you're stuck."
14. Your top go to/favourite submissions?
"In the gi: bow and arrow choke
No-gi: leg attacks"
15. Your game/guard? Any advice to someone in early stages looking for their style/game?
"Hahaha...I'm a small human so my game is not for everyone. I end up playing a lot of guard, but my advice to people starting is usually to get on top and stay on top. Find a few things that work for you and build from there. You will learn techniques that don't really fit your game and that's ok. It's valuable to be aware of them, but focus on things that work for your size and style."
16. How do you feel about the evolution of leg locks in BJJ? Also, what are some of the most significant changes observed in the art since you began training?
"I love the evolution of the game. I still believe in having a solid understanding of "old school" fundamentals, but the evolution of BJJ is what makes it so cool."
17. Who to you is the Greatest of all time BJJ athlete/competitor? If not the same, current fav competitor/practitioner)
"Good question! I tend to be drawn to the female competitors, obviously, and would have to say that Bia Mesquita ranked number one for me for many years. I might have to say she is my personal greatest of all time. My current favourite though is Ffion Davies."
18. Why do you feel BJJ is so addictive?
"For me it's several things. I find the intensity of the rolling incredibly stabilizing mentally and emotionally. I love the focus it requires and how much it demands physically. I also love that it requires you to keep learning, keep the mind sharp. And then there's the social aspect. The bonds you create with the people you train jiu-jitsu with are like no other!"
19. What has BJJ taught you or done for you personally/development outside of the gym/off the mats?
"It has taught me that I am way stronger than I think, but to also respect my vulnerability. It has taught me to continue fighting even when I want to give up. Also, that my journey, in jiu-jitsu or life, is personal and should never be compared to others. My progress is my own and I love that. And finally that no one else needs to understand my journey. It's for me and my happiness."
20. What keeps you motivated to train once you achieve that milestone of black belt in BJJ?
"Sharing the joy with my teammates and students! And also knowing that the learning never ends. I could continue training forever and there will always be more to learn!"
