Name: Girls in Gis Virginia - Winchester Event
Start: 2025-03-30T11:00:00-04:00
End: 2025-03-30T14:00:00-04:00
Location: Shark Pit Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

Girls in Gis Virginia - Winchester Event

A Brazilian Jiu Jitsu event for women and girls taught by some of the best women in the sport. No experience required.
About this Event

Are you ready for some great Jiu Jitsu? because we are!

Girls in Gis is a community of women and girls in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu that come together through donation based training events. They are hosted, instructed, and attended only by women and girls. It's our time to come together! All ages and skill levels from any academy affiliation are welcome to attend. No experience required. Our events are designed for 100% participation, but do allow chaperones to accompany underage participants as spectators.

Our events are donation based in order to provide equal opportunity to everyone. Your donations provide paid teaching opportunities for our guest instructor(s) and help to expand and make Girls in Gis programs such as our events, our leadership program and instructional training programs and our scholarships possible. If you are not able to make a donation please contact us and we will work with you so that you are able to participate.

You can also purchase a GIG t-shirt, patches and more GIG merchandise with your donation. All orders can be picked up during the event.

GIG Virginia - Winchester Guest instructors: Cassidy Cabreja, Crystal Smiles-Tharp and Jelyn Waltz

Cassidy Cabreja is a First-Degree Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt with over 15 years experience. Once an active competitor, she now focuses on finding joy in the practice. As a mother of two, Cassidy understands the unique challenges that come with balancing life and training. She's committed to creating a supportive and empowering environment on the mats. Known for her uniquely goofy energy, Cassidy brings a lighthearted attitude to training while providing solid technical instruction. She hopes to inspire others to embrace their own personal journey.

Jelyn Waltz started training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in 2017, and now, as a black belt, she’s a force to be reckoned with. Every step of her journey has been a fight—against the sport, against herself, and against anyone who ever doubted her. Earning that black belt in 2025 didn’t come easy, and she didn’t expect it to. She’s been through the fire, and it made her stronger, harder, sharper. Competing relentlessly for 8 years wasn’t about winning—it was about breaking herself down and rebuilding into something unstoppable. Now, as an instructor, she’s not here to hold anyone’s hand. She teaches kids and empowers women, but if they can’t handle the grind, they’ll get left behind. Life isn’t kind, Jiu-Jitsu sure as hell isn’t, and neither is she. If you want to survive, you either adapt or you quit. Simple as that.

Crystal Smiles-Tharp is a 3rd-degree brown belt with a decade of dedication to the sport. Currently training under Joe Bauserman at Sharkpit Jiu Jitsu in Winchester, Virginia, Crystal has cultivated a deep love for the art, embracing both its technical challenges and its capacity for continuous growth. She has competed at every belt level, but her true passion lies in inspiring and empowering women to thrive on the mats.

COST: $20 Min Donation. All Donations Welcome.

ALL PARTICIPANTS MUST REGISTER ONLINE. ONLINE REGISTRATION WILL BE CLOSED 3/30/25 at 12:00 PM OR ONCE WE REACH CAPACITY. WALK-INS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED ONCE CAPACITY IS REACHED.

Tickets are non-refundable, non-transferable and all sales are final. Doors open at 10:30 am. Please arrive early to change and get ready or come ready so we may start on time at 11:00 am.

Unable to donate? Register for free with code "GIGVIP"