From Survivor to Black Belt: Ashley Laiko on Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Healing & Resilience

<p>Can Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu be a tool for healing? In this resilience podcast interview, BJJ black belt and Netflix fight coordinator Ashley Laiko shares how jiu-jitsu became part of her own healing journey, and how it helps abuse survivors build confidence, strength, and resilience.</p><p>If you&#39;re a woman who wants to try martial arts but feels intimidated by a male-dominated gym, this one&#39;s for you. As a fellow BJJ practitioner and fighter, I loved getting real with Ashley about the challenges women face in the BJJ community and what it takes to create safer, more inclusive spaces for women and children.</p><p>Ashley has more than 13 years of competition experience and is passionate about empowering survivors through martial arts and making the mat a safer place for everyone.</p><p><strong>In this episode:</strong></p><ul><li><p>How Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu supports healing after abuse</p></li><li><p>Building confidence and resilience on and off the mat</p></li><li><p>The challenges women face in a male-dominated sport</p></li><li><p>Where to start if martial arts feels intimidating</p></li><li><p>Creating safer, more inclusive gyms for women and kids</p></li></ul><p><strong>Connect with Ashley:</strong>https://www.instagram.com/ashley_laiko</p><p>If you or someone you love is experiencing abuse, the National Domestic Violence Hotline is free, confidential, and available 24/7: call 1-800-799-7233 or text START to 88788.</p>