GIRL ON THE MAT ♡

Real girls. Real stories. Every achievement matters.

Meet Sophie Hedges ♡

Our Girl on the Mat

We're so excited to introduce Sophie Hedges our very first featured girl in our Girls On The Mats series!

At just 17 years old, Sophie already has seven years of experience in combat sports, having trained in eight different disciplines, including boxing, Muay Thai, MMA, wrestling and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Sophie started Jiu-Jitsu four years ago to develop her grappling skills, and it's since become a huge part of her life. Currently a juvenile white belt with three stripes, she's passionate about learning, competing and constantly pushing herself to improve.

Double Gold & Proud Moments ♡

One of Sophie's biggest recent achievements was winning double gold, securing victories in both her Gi and No-Gi matches by submission, with one taking less than 43 seconds!

But it's not just her competition success that makes her story special. Sophie has also managed to balance training and competing with her education, achieving an incredible set of GCSE results with grades 8s and 9s!

She's faced challenges along the way, from difficult matches and setbacks to making the big decision to move gyms. Since joining Ronin MMA, Sophie feels she's grown massively, both technically and mentally, and continues to develop her skills across BJJ, MMA and wrestling.

Big Dreams & Inspiration ♡

Sophie's biggest inspiration is her coach, Summer Onley, a BJJ brown belt and professional MMA fighter. She admires Summer's dedication, achievements and technical ability, but most importantly, the support and encouragement she gives her.

Looking ahead, Sophie has some exciting goals. She's working towards earning her blue belt, competing at higher levels nationally and internationally, and becoming a well-rounded combat sports athlete.

What Sophie loves most about Jiu-Jitsu is that it's just as mentally challenging as it is physical. Every roll brings something different, and there's always something new to learn.

Sophie's Advice to Other Girls ♡

When we asked Sophie what advice she'd give to other girls in Jiu-Jitsu, one thing really stood out:

"Keep showing up, even on the days when things aren't going your way."

Sophie encourages girls not to compare their journeys to anyone else's, to challenge themselves and to remember that even the difficult training sessions can help them grow.

Most importantly, she believes in surrounding yourself with supportive people and never being afraid to push yourself outside your comfort zone.

A Little Message From Girls Can Grapple ♡

Sophie, thank you so much for being our very first Girl on the Mat!

Your achievements are incredible, but what we love most is your determination, dedication and attitude towards learning. Balancing school, training and competing while continuing to chase your goals is something to be really proud of.

We can't wait to see what the future holds for you! ♡

Want to Be Our Next Girl on the Mat?

Whether you've won a competition, earned a new stripe, overcome a challenge or simply want to share your love for Jiu-Jitsu, we'd love to hear from you!

You don't need to be a Girls Can Grapple customer to take part. Simply send us a DM on Instagram @girlscangrapple or email girlscangrapple@hotmail.com to get involved.