Fighting 'like a girl' (and beating boys)

I’ve been on a bit of a health kick lately, and honestly, it’s been refreshing. Between smarter food choices and staying active, I’ve been feeling more energized and confident. So, when the chance came up to spend the weekend at my National Guard Armory for Military Combative training, I thought, “Why not?”

Little did I know, I was about to spend hours grappling, sweating, and proving just how much “fighting like a girl” can mean holding your own—and then some.

The training focused on Jiu-Jitsu, and let me tell you, it wasn’t just for the faint of heart.

Each match required us to fight for the...