Our Rhodes camp: “a full-on whirlwind of wholesomeness”
Written by Vicky Beckett, Monday 12th May 2025
Our third female-only BJJ camp was one we’ll remember forever. Set in the beautiful Rhodes, Greece, Ffion Davies herself was leading sessions with 55 women from around the world.
Maab, a purple belt who flew from Australia, said: “This was just the first time in a long while that I felt what it was like to be in a space built by women, for women. The sense of safety was unreal.” She described it as an event that, “let me fully reconnect with myself”.
“It’s not just empowering – it’s healing. It felt like my nervous system just exhaled”
From “basic bitch” knee cuts to tarikoplatas, guests got to learn from Ffion across multiple sessions in a stunning five-star beach resort. Naomi, who has attended all three Women Who Fight camps over the past 3 years, said: “I found that having details that were linked between different sessions really helped me process all of the amazing jiu jitsu we were being taught.”
There were heaps of extracurricular activities too, from yoga to paddle boarding and (obviously) dancing. The beach wrestling session was a big hit and everyone received custom rash guards, specially made for the event in collaboration with Progress.
It was Roberta’s first jiu jitsu camp and she described it as “a full-on whirlwind of wholesomeness”. “It made me realise how many women are pouring their energy into this sport—whether coming back from major injuries, navigating motherhood, or riding out life events that could’ve knocked anyone off course. It was incredible to meet others who’ve been training for just a few months to decades and are still so hungry to learn, roll, and share that fire with people who just get it. The vibe was contagious.”
Many attendees really valued the chance to train with so many different women, often coming from very male-dominated gyms. Maab said: “There’s something about being in a room full of women who’ve all shown up with their own strength, softness, and reasons for training. It’s not just empowering – it’s healing. It felt like my nervous system just exhaled, talking about skincare, haircare, period, ‘minge to the mat’ as a technique, baguette grips – things that are VERY real for women in jits,” she laughed. “You just don't get that everyday. It still feels kind of unreal.”
“I was definitely curious about training in an all-women space,” said Roberta. “I was ready for a camp where I could pick anyone on the mat and just full-on go. Not that I didn’t get steamrolled by some of the amazing women there but it’s a different kind of crushing. One that’s... empowering? Like, yeah, you smoked me, but I’m walking away thinking: Okay, I need to level up this part of my game, and, if you nailed it, I can get there too. Eventually. Maybe. Hopefully.”
Janine, who travelled from Switzerland to be there, credited Shanti and Marina for making the camp so special. “They have a talent for making everyone feel welcome and go above and beyond to make it a personal experience” she added.
“I’m taking a lot of joy back to my home mats,” said Janine. “Before the camp, I had my longest period of infrequent training yet. Picking it back up felt horrible: my cardio was gone and my mind wasn't jiu jitsu-focused at all anymore. It felt like I'd forgotten everything and my body was like: "What's a shrimp again? Food, right?" The camp helped me realise: that's ok. Relax. Have fun anyway. I don't have to prove myself to be allowed to enjoy this sport,” she smiled.
“You just don't get that everyday. It still feels kind of unreal”
Maab describes jiu jitsu as “a primal expression of movement in itself – barefoot, rolling, problem-solving with my body”. But added: “This was the first time I also felt that same primal closeness in connection. Kinship without competition. Presence without pretense. It was a different kind of connection. We were close because of what we shared, not because we were competing. I could just be myself, no pretending. It was a special kind of closeness, like we just understood each other.”
What would you like to see at the next camp? Let us know in the comments below.