Professora Jamie, a dedicated black belt under Professor Thiago Reinaldo, is both an active competitor and professor at Gracie Barra Stafford. Her journey into Brazilian jiu-jitsu began in 2017, following a lifelong interest in martial arts that was never realized until almost 30 years later.
The turning point came in 2016 when she sought a way for her son to learn self-defense amidst concerns about violence in his school. Discovering online videos of Brazilian jiu-jitsu, she was immediately captivated by its effectiveness and enrolled her three children at Gracie Barra Clarksville. Inspired by watching her children train, she soon joined them on the mats, marking the beginning of a profound personal journey.
Just a few months after receiving her blue belt from Professor Deanna Yohe at Gracie Barra Clarksville, Professora Jamie’s family relocated to Stafford, VA. In her search for a Gracie Barra academy where she could continue her training, Professora Jamie quickly realized that there were none in the entire state of Virginia. Determined to continue her training under Gracie Barra, she decided to start one herself. In 2018, Gracie Barra Stafford was founded, the very first in Virginia.
Professora Jamie began her training under Professor Thiago Reinaldo as a 1-stripe blue belt and following his promptings to challenge herself, she began her competition journey in earnest as she neared her purple belt. Since then, she has earned medals at both national and international levels, showcasing her skill and dedication to the art, a testament to Professor Thiago’s dedication to develop and inspire his students.
As professor, Jamie plays a pivotal role in shaping both the kids’ and adult programs and regularly leads the GB1 Fundamentals and women’s GBF classes. Her passion is to pass down to others the knowledge and skills that were passed down to her by Professor Thiago, strongly believing that “we are stronger together” – that by helping even just one student grow and improve, others will also grow and improve as a result of it. When one grows stronger, together all will grow stronger.
Professora Jamie’s story is a testament to the transformative power of Brazilian jiu-jitsu, illustrating how it can inspire, protect, and empower individuals and families alike.
Lineage: Mitsuyo Maeda > Carlos Gracie > Reyson Gracie > Osvaldo Alves > Henrique Machado > Thiago Reinaldo > Jamie Leland