Not surprising then that Sophia will be heading down-under in a few weeks to catch up with family and friends and hold a series of seminars around the country. Not to be missed, her women's seminars and husband Robert's seminar schedule can be found below.
I had the privilege of interviewing Sophia this weekend, and here's what she had to say:
First up, congratulations are in order! You received your black belt, got married and became a mum recently and I heard (from the Dominance MMA guys on our ADCC trip) you were straight back on the mats and managing the Drysdale Jiu Jitsu Academy.
Can you tell us about your family (husband Robert Drysdale and daughter Athena) and how you're adjusting to motherhood both on and off the mats?
Everything happened all at once. In the space of one year, I received my black belt, got married, bought a house and had a baby. My lifestyle is extremely different now to what it used to be. For years I have been travelling and training and competing which has been my main focus. I lived out of two suitcases and I had no commitments other than training. Now I am a business woman, a wife and a mother and an athlete. With all these extra commitments I can definitely say that BJJ and competing as such is no longer my main focus. Becoming a mother has been the biggest change of all. It is alot of work but at the same time it is the most rewarding.
 |
| Robert and Sophia Drysdale head up the successful Drysdale Jiu Jitsu Association |
For the first time in a long time I feel grounded and centered.
Robert is very supportive and a great father and great coach. Luckily I
have a dream baby and she allows me to train every day, but there are
times during class while Robert is teaching that
she is fussy, and Robert will hold her (so cute) while he teaches so
that I still get to train. He understands what a huge effort it is for
me to get on the mat. My time is so precious these days... but together
we make it work.
 |
| ...and baby makes 3 - Athena Drysdale |
My body went through huge changes from an athlete to a pregnant
woman and back to an athlete. I kept fit throughout the whole pregnancy
and I was back on the mat two and a half weeks after giving birth -
which in hindsight was too soon. The ligaments in
my hips were so stretched and damaged from giving birth that it took me 3
months to rehabilitate them. My main focus since the birth was to get
back to the level I was at before getting pregnant. Now I am back in
peak physical condition and I am preparing to
compete in the No Gi World Championships. I was No Gi World Champion in
the Brown/black belt division in 2009 - ideally I would like to reclaim
my title, but we will see.
 |
| At the 2009 World No-Gi Championships, where Sophia became the first Australian woman to secure a IBJJF World title |
There are a lot of
women out there that feel like being female and/or a mother are barriers
to them succeeding in or even training BJJ. I've heard women say 'BJJ
is not really something I can take seriously because I'm a girl/I've got
kids' or 'I can't fit BJJ into the budget/schedule' or 'There's no
benefit in doing BJJ class, the men are all too big and strong'.
From
your personal experience as a female practitioner and as a coach, what
encouragement can you give to these women?
Firstly it takes a certain type of woman to want to to BJJ in the
first place. Let's face it, you are rolling around with sweaty men and
it is very confronting both physically and emotionally. Having said
that, if your passion is BJJ then, focus on your
dream and don't let anyone- friends/culture/family tell you otherwise.
As one of the first women to really get into the sport there were very
few other women in the scene but I did not let that discourage me.
Throughout this whole journey, I have never strayed
from the thought that if a smaller/lighter guy can do it, then I can do
it and I think this unwavering belief has been the integral key to
achieving my black belt.
 |
| Think BJJ is only for guys or tomboys? Think again - Sophia is a great example for all women, shown here on her wedding day with her mum and twin sister Lou Lou |
I think that BJJ is the best self-defence out there and every woman
should at least do about 6 months of training to learn the basics. The
self empowerment that goes along with knowing that you can protect
yourself is priceless. With all the family commitments
of being a wife and or mother, plus the commitments in the work place,
it does make it more difficult to make the time to train, but with good
organisational skills it can be done. It is essential for every person
to dedicate time to just themselves and to
focus on their own goals and dreams. For me that time is my BJJ.
 |
| Organisation is key for Sophia in making time to train as a new mum |
After conquering
the Australian BJJ circuit, you moved overseas in 2007 and trained under
Rigan Machado, Rickson Gracie and Robert Drysdale. In interviews you've
talked about overcoming a number of obstacles like homesickness, injury
and a lack of female training partners.
What were the factors that
contributed to your decision to move and got you through some of these
obstacles?
After competing for a number of years in Australia I branched
out to compete overseas as there were many more girls to compete with.
My last competitions in Australia was in 2006 at the Pan Pacs where I
won the purple belt division and then early 2007
for the ADCC trials where I came 2nd. I then moved to the States and
competed in the Pan Ams in April 2007 and won the purple belt division
for the second time in a row before getting my brown belt. As the only
brown belt in Australia at the time I was unable
to compete so I made the States my new home.
The journey overseas has been very difficult at times but I have
learnt a lot of lessons and I am definitely a stronger person today
because of these experiences. I went overseas to experience life as much
as to progress with my BJJ - and that I did.
I have travelled the world and met many amazing people and I have been
blessed enough to have been coached by the best. I did suffer from a
series of horrific injuries which took me off the competition circuit
for almost a year and it was difficult when I
was in the States alone. Now I am in a great place with a truly amazing
man who is my coach and husband.
 |
| At the 2009 Pan-Ams as a brown belt |
Do you think that travelling/moving overseas is an
integral part of learning BJJ? Did you find it difficult to set yourself
up so far from home?
I do not think that moving overseas is completely necessary to
achieve your dreams in BJJ. If you plan on competing in purple brown and
black belts divisions, then you will have to travel for these
tournaments which is costly but there are sponsorship
options. As long as you have a supportive academy and good traning
partners, you can progress and make it to the top while being here in
Australia. Besides, competing is only one aspect of the BJJ journey. Mat
time regardless of where you are is what makes
you a great practitioner. Competition time is what makes you a great
competitor.
Now there are more girls who are training and there is a greater
sense of community which is providing somewhat of a support network.
Your contribution with your wesbite is an example of some of the outlets
that women in the sport can use, to help support
them on their BJJ journeys.
 |
| 2008 World Championships - competing an an international level before BJJ became popular for girls in Australia |
Do you have any memorable or funny moments from your time overseas?
I have been living in the States on and off for the past 4
years. I recently got my greencard so I now feel half American! Having
said that I will always be an Aussie and my way of thinking is sooo
Australian and always will be. Probably for me the
most memorable moments overseas are winning the World No Gi
Championships at brown/black belt level, getting married and having my
beautiful baby.
You've set a great example - and indeed pioneered a career path - for a
number of female BJJ athletes in Australia. You'll be visiting
Australia soon to teach seminars and sharing your philosophy, techniques
and experience. What are some of the key concepts you'll be presenting?
There are two main reasons why I love to teach and get in touch
with as many women who are training as possible. The first one is to
give them moral support and to show them that it can be done. The second
is to show them techniques that work much better
for smaller/lighter people. I am shown techniques by male
instructors that work for males (like all of us girls are) and
constantly I need to tweak them to make the moves work for me. I would
like to show these modifications and to show techniques that work
much better for women that focus on using mobility and flexibility
rather than explosive strength.
 |
| Robert and Sophia will be visiting Gracie Oceania in Sydney for a BJJ seminar 26 November 2011 |
Robert and Sophia Drysdale's Australian/New Zealand seminar dates 2011 - for more information please contact the host academies directly or email seminars@drysdalejiujitsu.com
Robert
Melbourne:
Saturday November 12, 10am -1pm, Dominance Mixed Martial Arts, (www.dominance.com.au)
Sunday November 13, 10am - 1pm Dominance MIxed martial Arts
Perth:
Saturday November 19th - Thurday 24th, Training Camp, The Arena MMA Australia (www.thearenamma.com.au)
Sunday November 20, 4pm, The Academy of Mixed Martial Arts (www.mixedmartialarts.com.au)
Sydney:
Saturday November 26, 10am - 12pm, Gracie Oceana Jiu Jitsu (www.gracieoceania.com)
Sunday November 27, 10am - 1pm, Sinosic & Perosh Martial Arts (www.spma.net.au)
Sunday November 27, 2.30pm - 5.30pm, Ultimate Fighting Arts (wwwultimatefightingarts.com.au)
Monday November 28 (Afternoon), The Arena MMA Sydney
Adelaide:
Tuesday November 29 (evening) Extreme Training Center (www.extremetc.com.au)
Thursday November 30 (evening) Extreme Training Center
Brisbane:
Friday Decemeber 2, 6.30 - 8.30pm (awaiting academy details)
Saturday Decemeber 3, 12-3pm Sassom Fitness & MMA (www.sassom.com.au)
Townsville:
Sunday December 4, 11am - 2pm, Kick Start Fintess/The Arena MMA Townsville (www.kickstarttownsville.com)
Monday December 5th - Wednesday Decemeber 8th, Training Camp, Kick Start Fintess/The Arena MMA Townsville
Wellington (New Zeland)
Saturday December 10, 10am - 1pm, GSW Martial Arts, (www.gsw.co.nz)
Auckland (New Zeland)
Sunday December 11, 10am - 1pm, Ground Control East Auckland (www.groundcontrol.net.nz)
Sophia
Melbourne:
Saturday November 12, 1pm-3pm, Dominance Mixed Martial Arts, (www.dominance.com.au)
Date and time yet to be confirmed, Defiance Academy, Boronia (www.cpabjj.com.au)
Sydney:
Saturday November 26, 2pm - 4pm, Sinosic & Perosh Martila Arts (www.spma.net.au)
Adelaide:
Thursday December 1, (daytime) Extreme Training Center (www.extremetc.com.au)
Brisbane:
Saturday December 3, 10am-12pm Sassom Fitness & MMA (www.sassom.com.au)
Wellington (New Zeland)
Friday December 9, 6.30 - 8.30pm, GSW Martial Arts, (www.gsw.co.nz)
Auckland (New Zeland)
Monday December 12, 6.30 - 8.30pm, Ground Control East Auckland (www.groundcontrol.net.nz)
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