b'Queens on the Mat Women learn to be calm and confident through Brazilian jiu-jitsuBY ADRIANNA DONATThese women call themselves the Queens of Sheri-dan BJJ. Top row, L-R: Tabitha Porter, Arianna Javate, Kristin Piccione, and Amber Berkowitz. Bottom row, L-R: Cayce Wang, Jessica Dickinson, and Jasmin BrownW alkintoSheridanisSheridan echoes the sentiment: Jiu jitsu for Brazilian Jiu Jitsu inmeisconnectionandfun.Peoplesayjiujitsu VauxhallonThurs- life. If youre passive off the mat, it shows up daysandSaturdayson the mat. If you want to change that, start the andyoullseethechange on the mats first and youll see it in the rest usualsuspectsyouof your life.mightexpectinaFromthebeginning,HurtadoandSheridan grappling gym: rows of tatami mats, partners cir- were intentional about welcoming women. Partly, cling for five-minute rounds, a coach calling timeHurtado says, because a room of only men can over the beat of old-school hip-hop.getalittleNeanderthalic.Womentemperthe Look closer and youll also see something thatHurtado, a 21-year resident who once spent hisenergy and raise the bar. Both men have daugh-shifts the paradigm for most martial arts classes days in a corporate role at Pfizer, started trainingters and believe functional self-defense should be more than 20 women lacing up, laughing betweenBrazilian jiu jitsu in 2013, at 44 years old. I likedpart of growing up. And partly because diversity rounds and testing themselves in a sport long dom- sparring and didnt get enough of it in karate, heis just good business. Once women started, they inated by men. They call themselves the Queenssays. BJJ doesnt do striking. Its closer to wres- became their own marketing force, Hurtado says. of Sheridan BJJ, and yes, they have custom rashtling. You can spar every class, safely, because youHe created a WhatsApp group, casually titled it guardspink logo, tiny gold crown and all. can tap to stop before damage occurs. Its calledQueens of Sheridan BJJ, and momentum took care Brazilian jiu jitsu (BJJ) is a ground-based grap- the gentle art for a reason.of the rest. The group now spans teens to 40s, in-pling art that uses leverage, timing and body me- What began as stress relief became a calling. chanics to control an opponent and finish withAfter being laid off during the pandemic, Hurta-joint locks or chokes. Theres no kicking or punch- do leaned in. It was the best thing that ever hap-ing. Its like wrestling with submissions. Trainingpened to me, he says. He began teaching, then partners can spar and tap to stop safely. Practi- leading six to eight classes a week, earned his black tioners call it the gentle art because the emphasisbelt in 2023 and today is one of the main profes-is on control, not damage. sors at Sheridan.SheridanBrazilianJiuJitsuisdeeplyrootedWhat sets Sheridan apart isnt just the instruc-inSOMA.OwnerKevinSheridangrewupintion, its the culture. Class ends the same way every Maplewood,graduatedfromColumbiaHightime: with a lineup and a moment of gratitude. School and opened the academy in 2009 in theTheres even a sign on the wall, Be Grateful. Stu-same building that once housed his Rutgers Paint- dents share what theyre thankful for: a kid who ing shop. The space has since expanded to includecleaned a room, a spouse who did the dishes or covered outdoor mats for fair-weather training the weather finally breaking. Im not naturally an airy setting where, on summer weekends, thetouchy-feely, Hurtado says with a laugh, but I Queens might roll, debrief and fire up a BBQ. realized how much people needed that pause. ItKevin Sheridan, owner of Sheridan Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and The movement has a Maplewood heart. Marcochanges the room.Marco Hurtado, a professor at Sheridan.feature story /41'