Juan Villa:
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Visalia, CA 93277, USA |
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Fresno, CA. - 11/17/2008 - She was supposed to find a new style of dance and try it for her class at Fresno State. But after 18 years of dancing she wanted to try something different, something completely different. The professor approved it and then Brittany Briano was introduced to Brazilian jiu-jitsu, a grappling art that uses moves similar to those used in wrestling.
Briano had never tried any martial art despite wanting to wrestle since she was six.
“My parents would always tell me that girls don’t do that,” Briano said.
It’s now been six years since she began training at Royce Gracie Jiu-Jitsu of Fresno, one of the first schools in the world to be officially licensed by three-time Ultimate Fighting Championship tournament champion Royce Gracie, and things have changed since her beauty pageant days with her mother.
Just two weeks ago Briano made her profesional mixed martial arts debut during the Palace Fighting Championship’s “All In” card held at the Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino in Lemoore, Calif. Her fight with Paulina Ramirez of Hanford was a historic one as it was the first time the PFC held a women’s bout on one of their cards.
Despite that, fighting can’t be a full time job for Briano at the moment.
“If I could make a living out of it I would totally do that but it’s hard whether you’re male or female,” Briano said. “So you still have to have a nine to five.”
That nine to five for Briano is at Gottschalks in Fresno where she works as an assistant buyer. When she’s not working there she can be found teaching and training at RGJJF, which is owned by her boyfriend and professional mixed martial arts fighter Tosh Cook. Being able to teach and train every day has helped Briano evolve as a fighter.
“I’ve always known that Brittany was tenacious enough to be a fighter,” Cook said. “But only over the past couple years when she really started to put the striking together with her jiu-jitsu and really started pushing hard at the tournaments did I realize that she was going to be a fighter.”
http://collegian.csufresno.edu/2008/12/03/for-the-love-of-the-fight/
Thanks for looking.
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Check out The Collegian's website at http://collegian.csufresno.edu
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In August of 2004, a year after I began taking pictures, I started doing freelance work for the Visalia Times-Delta. This has been very fun and helpful. I’ve learned a lot about shooting for a newspaper in the time I‘ve been there. The paper has four staffers, Steve Fujimoto, Johanna Vossler, Ron Holman and Teresa Douglass. All four of them have been great. A special thanks to Ron for sponsoring me and Gary Kazanjian for teaching me a ton.
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Check out my galleries below. Thanks.
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| Last Update: |
176 days ago |
| Member Since: |
1.26.2005 (Senior Member) |
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The images below are from the
portfolio of Juan Villa. They are presented here for your viewing pleasure. These images may not be used elsewhere and are protected by copyright. To see these images, click on the icon and you will see a much larger image.
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"For the love of the fight"
Fresno, CA. - 11/17/2008 - For the love of the fight: Former Fresno State student makes her professi... |
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"For the love of the fight"
Fresno, CA. - 11/17/2008 - While most athletes can get away from their coaches after a difficult pra... |
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"For the love of the fight"
Fresno, CA. - 11/18/2008 - Finding training partners is something most male fighters don’t have to w... |
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"For the love of the fight"
Fresno, CA. - 11/19/2008 - No matter how long a fighter trains for a fight if he or she doesn’t make... |
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"For the love of the fight"
Fresno, CA. - 11/20/2008 - The time had come for Briano to make her way to the ring, but she soon re... |
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"For the love of the fight"
Fresno, CA. - 11/20/2008 - The objective of most martial arts is to hit and not be hit. But chances ... |
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"For the love of the fight"
Fresno, CA. - 11/20/2008 - Throughout training Cook had been relentless with Briano about getting to... |
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"For the love of the fight"
Fresno, CA. - 11/20/2008 - It was announced as 30-27, 30-27, and 30-27, a unanimous decision for Pau... |
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"For the love of the fight"
Fresno, CA. - 11/20/2008 - Three rounds and less than 10 minutes later it was all over. The fight ha... |
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"For the love of the fight"
The Collegian at Fresno State
http://collegian.csufresno.edu/2008/12/03/for-the-love-of-the-fight/ |
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