GIRL FIGHT

CAGE CHIX

Inside the cage with the ladies of MMA

Inside Girl Fight MMA: New Jersey’s First Women’s MMA Academy

By Chris Cella on December 4, 2010

Prairie Rugilo—owner and founder of Girl Fight MMA in Toms River, New Jersey—has been around martial arts her whole life. As a child she studied Tae Kwon Do and earned her black belt by the age of 11. Her studies evolved to learning boxing and judo, and she eventually trained in Muay Thai Kickboxing, where in 2005 she was awarded her Black Arm Band by Master James Wellington/Vichai Academy.

She recently spoke with Cage Chatter about her gym—Girl Fight—the first and only mixed martial arts academy in New Jersey to offering MMA just for women.

Cage Chatter: What was your motivation behind opening up Girl Fight?

Girl Fight: While I was training, I was getting tired of the ‘tough guy’ attitude at the gyms. And I was thinking about a place for women where they can train comfortably and still learn MMA. Back when I used to teach I was more committed to my own training, so I knew I wanted to get back into the teaching. When I used to train with the girls we always had a good time, and I wondered if we could bring that over to the kickboxing world and MMA. I had the idea and it took off from there. The girls are what have made Girl Fight everything it is.

Cage Chatter: Since opening, have you seen a large volume of interest from women wanting to learn MMA rather than simply cardio kickboxing?

Girl Fight: Yes, when I first started Girl Fight, most girls came in thinking they were coming in for a fitness type of thing. So I had to teach them it was martial arts, not a fitness class, and at one point I thought it was just going to be glorified cardio kickboxing.

But when the first girl got her arm band—her first ranking—the attitudes changed. They started taking the training a lot more seriously, began watching the UFC and they wanted to go watch the live fights in Atlantic City. I’ve seen a lot of girls that just came in to train get the itch where after only a few months they wanted to take the sparring class and full contact class. So we have about 15 girls right now who are trying to reach their goal of fighting within the next year. We attract girls with a strong mind who stick with it. They are very competitive, and once they see another girl progressing in it, they want to do it for themselves.

Cage Chatter: What advice would you give to a female interested in MMA but not sure how to start?

Girl Fight: I would say first off take a class and see if you like it. The actual fighting aspect, that comes down the line. A lot of the girls like to punch and kick, but when it comes to the fitness and everything that goes into competing, that scares them away. Get in there and try something new, and see if it is for you. Don’t be intimated if it is an all guy environment. A good school is going to promote any female fighters.

Cage Chatter: How important is it for you to help the women you train understand that they can accomplish anything in this sport that men can?

Girl Fight: I think in life in general it’s important to understand that they can. My number one goal is to inspire women to do what’s in their hearts. They can do anything, no matter what their husband or boyfriend tries to tell them. We have a lot of guys who won’t take the girls serious in the training, and when they come to the gym for their graduation, they see that the girls are doing real MMA and not simply cardio kickboxing.

It’s very important to me that my goal is to empower women that they can do anything they set their minds to. I know Martial arts have gotten me through many tough times in my life just due to the training and dedication it takes, and to be head strong to push through all the training.

Cage Chatter: What do you feel as a female martial artists has been the biggest reason women’s MMA has propelled so much in the past year or two and is finally getting the recognition it deserves?

Girl Fight: A lot of women have the same mentality that ‘if she can do it I can do.’ They see another girl doing it, and they want to try it for themselves. I think the reason why its take of is because finally the media is showing it on TV. So for women who may have been intimidated to walk into an all men’s school and see what it’s about, they see it on TV and see there is a market for them and it is something they can do. A huge reason is that mainstream media has started to push it.

Cage Chatter: Being the first female only gym in NJ says a lot of the progression of the sport, and I think you have started a trend that will catch on quickly. What does it mean to you to to be a major contributor in brining women’s MMA to NJ?

Girl Fight: Its overwhelming. I don’t even feel worthy of this ride I’m on right now! It means a lot. Seeing anybody that starts a female only MMA gym—it would be be flattering. We will always be the original, and I’m hoping others can see that it’s a great idea and something that people should be doing. It means a lot to me. I hope people recognize that there is a market for women and it’s not cardio kickboxing. We train as hard as the guys; maybe we’re a little more light hearted and have more fun, and there’s a little more talking going on during training, but these girls all train hard. I’d be flattered and excited to see other all girl gyms.

Cage Chatter: When you first opened Girl Fight a year ago, did you envision that it would take off the way it has?

Girl Fight: No, absolutely not. We were supposed to be a two-day a week program. I would’ve been happy with 10 girls, ecstatic with 20. When I started hitting the numbers I was hitting student wise, I was overwhelmed, not even prepared for what had happened. These girls are amazing; they’re superwomen too. They balance working, going to school, raising families, and still find time to train and train hard.

Cage Chatter: Can I have a prediction for the UFC 124 fight between Georges St. Pierre and Josh Koscheck?

Girl Fight: I’m a St. Pierre fan, I think most ladies are! I’m going with GSP.

At Girl Fight, Sku Prairie Rugilo does more than simply teach women about MMA. To lead by example and show her students they can go as far as they want in the sport of MMA, she plans on taking a Muay Thai fight in Atlantic City in either January or February of this coming year, and has been working on her ground game in hopes of having a true MMA fight in 2011.

Cage Chatter wishes Prairie and everyone at Girl Fight much success with all they do.

Original interview can be found: http://cagechatter.com/Cage_Chix.html