Rachel Wheatley

BJJ purple belt Rachel Wheatley talks to Carl Fisher, March 8^th 2003, Birmingham, UK

Congratulations on your new belt promotion; when did this occur?

I got my Purple belt during a joint training session at Stevie B’s Gym and Martial Arts Academy.

Who gave you the belt?

The main man himself Mauricao Gomes

How did you feel?

I was really shocked I had no idea that I was getting it, Mauricao asked me go with him and I thought he was going to beat me up, he then said I’d been training really hard and deserved this and pulled out the belt, I then received my whipping from everyone.

Would it be true to say that you’re the only female purple belt in Europe?

I think so, I’ve not heard of any other female purple belts in Europe. I know I’m the only one in the U.K.

How did the guys at the academy react to the good news?

Everyone was really pleased for me.

I bet Barry has to watch himself on the mats now?

Baz always has to watch himself on the mats, only joking. Barry is a great fighter and he has helped me get where I am now.

How long have you been training with Gracie Barra?

I have been training with Gracie Barra about three years six months now.

Do you feel that training in a predominantly male environment has helped you improve at a faster rate?

Yes, when I first started I had to learn how to defend in order to stop the strong and heavier guys submitting me. So it helped make to develop my technique as I could never out strength the guys, it also gives you an advantage when you fight females because they feel so much lighter.

How much help do the guys offer to you in training?

They are fantastic, they are all really supportive and help me all the time by beating me up!

You are the one to beat in female competition throughout the UK; does this give you added pressure?

A little, but I just try and stay relaxed because anything can happen when your on the mats.

The majority of your fights end fast; do you feel you’ve been tested enough in the UK?

There isn’t many females that fight in Brazilian Jujitsu and I tend to keep meeting the same fighters at competitions which is why I sometimes enter the men’s division just to get a bit more experience. I would now like to travel and fight perhaps in the bigger championships.

Have you any plans to fight in Europe or the US?

Yeah at some stage, its just difficult as working in a School I can’t always have time off.

Any plans to fight in the cage or are you purely BJJ?

I would love to have a go at fighting in a cage but at the moment it would just have to be submission wrestling, as I haven’t done much standing up work.

What was your training background prior to BJJ?

BJJ is the first martial art I have really studied I did a tiny bit of wing chun before.

Who or what attracted you to BJJ?

I wanted to give up playing Rugby and was looking for another sporting hobby and Barry took me along one day to a BJJ class and I was hooked after the first lesson.

Do you prefer to train with the men or would you be happy to find a female partner?

There are some good technical guys who train with us and they give me a good challenge, so I’m quite happy training with the guys. Although sometimes I do wonder how my technique would hold up against a good technical female fighter.

There is a distinct lack of female BJJ players both in the UK and Europe; why do you feel this is so?

I don’t know because I think its such a great sport, it may the close contact of rolling on the mats, I know when new women have started at our club they don’t seem to last long. I think with the large number of men on the mats and feel a little uncomfortable. To be honest I probably would have felt the same if I hadn’t known any one when I started.

What do you think could be done to improve this situation?

Perhaps clubs should introductory lessons to just women, but myself I think its good to train with the guys it makes you stronger and improves your technique.

What are your favourite techniques?

The triangle choke

Are you having any joy with securing any sponsorship?

I now have sponsorship through Stevie B’s Gym and Martial Arts Academy with Chemical Nutrition and Future Physique Fighters.

How do you feel you have improved since the arrival of Braulio to the academy?

I feel like I have learnt loads just cant remember everything he’s given me the motivation to train harder and I am definitely a lot more physically conditioned. I also have Sarah and Steve as my strength coaches and Jim Bolton from CNP who gives my nutritional advice.

You’re fighting in the Submission League in Manchester tomorrow; any idea who’ll be there in your division?

I have no idea who will be there, I just hope the division is bigger than usual.

Will you fight in the male division, like you did in the KSBO and Gracie Invitational?

I don’t know yet I like to see how I feel on the day and how many female fighters are there.

How do the guys take defeat from a female player; have you had any bad losers?

Most of them take it well after the fight and are respectful towards me, although during the fight some do use a lot of strength against me.

What are your plans for the rest of the year?

Just to train really hard and perhaps get a fight in a big event and then perhaps next year go to fight in the Pan Americans, who knows!

Well Rachel, best of luck for tomorrow and for the future

Thanks Carl

Interview and photo Carl Fisher

Related links: Interview with Mauricio Gomes