JESSICA ROMERO W hen junior Jessica Romero transferred to Harding in the spring, she found it hard to immediately become involved in campus activities. As an exercise science major, Romero was looking for an exciting way to stay healthy and break the monotony of schoolwork. She found her solution in mixed martial arts. Finding the Impact 360 martial arts gym five minutes from campus, Romero decided to join a traditionally male-dominated sport. "I was a little bit scared just because the day I went in there weren't any girls," Romero said. "All the guys that were in there [had] been doing it for a while, so it was really intimidating just being a girl and knowing that you're not as strong as everybody else in there. But they were all so welcoming because they really want more girls in there because it's definitely a male-dominated sport." Despite Romero's disadvantage to her training partners, she persisted and learned ways of defeating her opponent with something other than strength. Romero studied a technique known as Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, which was a fighting style that did not rely on power. " Martial arts are one of those things where you don't particularly have to be the strongest person out there just because it involves so much technique," Romero said. "One of the things we do to get better ... is Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. That style of fighting is designed to where a smaller, weaker person can still defeat a bigger, stronger opponent." Freshman Bryce Mitchell often trained with Romero and said that he appreciated her presence if! the gym. "She's always [had] a positive attitude," Mitchell said. "Jessica has improved a lot, and I see her improving even more in the future. Being a female, we don't treat her different. I roll with her like she's a dude." Training in mixed martial arts was a challenge for Romero, but she appreciated the amount of work it required, particularly because it benefited her health. As an exercise science major, Romero found mixed martial arts a practical activity to mirror her academic schoolwork. "You really have to work at it, and you really have to study this sport, and you have to practice so much," Romero said. "I like that it's such good exercise and good cardio, but you don't even really feel like your exercising because it's so much fun. If you practice and put in the time, you really start seeing results." Romero's sister, sophomore Jillian Romero, supported Jessica's participation in mixed martial arts. She thought it was a fitting activity for her sister, but simultaneously a healthy challenge. "It's right up her alley, but it's also out of her comfort zone, just in the social aspect of it and just putting herself out there and being vulnerable for people to hurt her," Jillian said. Jessica inspired Jillian to take a self-defense class. While not interested in mixed martial arts as a hobby, Jillian realized the value of the exercise and education in self-defense. Jessica emphasized that the benefits were mental as well as physical. "Obviously if you're in shape and you get good at something, it's going to boost your confidence," Jessica said. "That's how it's benefited me the most. I have something that not very many people do, and I'm getting good at it. They say that exercise is the best way to boost your confidence, and it definitely has done that." Amber Houston 139
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