Haven Jiu Jitsu: Safe Training Space

Hi, I'm Haven

I discovered jiu jitsu as an adult, as a mother, and as someone learning how to return to my own body. Jiu jitsu has given me a new experience of my own power and agency, and it has been integral in my healing journey.

Haven Jiu Jitsu is about using the mat as a place to reconnect with yourself. I hold space for jiu jitsu to happen by creating the conditions for you to find your own strength, your own solutions, your own capacity to respond under pressure.

My background is in teaching. I'm a BC certified elementary school teacher with years of experience leading groups of children, and my approach has always been rooted in curiosity and play. I trust the natural intelligence of the body, and the confidence that grows when someone discovers something for themselves.

I started Haven Jiu Jitsu because I want to share what jiu jitsu gave me, and because I believe everyone deserves a space to learn to fight. I am on a mission to support a world where people are wholly embodied and empowered. I am committed to holding a space where everyone can have fun, try new things, and build trust in themselves.

Our Approach

At Haven Jiu Jitsu, we learn to fight by playing simple, one-on-one games. Instead of teaching techniques, we set up specific, live-action situations that give you the chance to find your own movement solutions. Every game has clearly defined objectives, and you choose the level of intensity you want to play with.

What makes Haven unique is our focus on nervous system regulation. In class, we move between the intensity of fighting and pausing to connect with our breathing and heartbeat, keeping everyone grounded and safe.

Our training is grounded in polyvagal theory, which describes how the nervous system shifts between states of safety, activation, and shutdown. Many of us have learned to shut down in the face of intensity as a survival strategy. Learning to fight in a safe, structured space can gradually rewire those patterns of freeze and dissociation, so we can be fully present in our bodies and build trust in our ability to respond to whatever life brings.

Haven Jiu Jitsu is accessible to everyone, regardless of experience, age, fitness, or physical limitations. Move at your own pace and choose your level of intensity at any moment. Anyone can begin from exactly where they are.

I am coming back to training after having my third baby and this is one of my first live rolls. My partner trains regularly and she is strong, I'm working hard just to stay in it.

What I see in this video is how calm I am. Even when I am caught in submissions I can't escape, I'm still calm. When I first started jiu jitsu I would panic, try to do too much, and burn through all my energy.

What changed for me is how I train. Being in a safe space, with women, where nobody is trying to prove anything, is what allowed me to actually feel what is happening in my body instead of just surviving it. This is where the calm comes from.

This is exactly what Haven Jiu Jitsu is about. It's not about being the best in the room. It's about learning to stay present when things get hard. That's a skill that changes everything, on the mat and off it.

FAQs

What is Jiu Jitsu?

Jiu jitsu is a grappling art where two people use balance, pressure, and positioning to control each other on the ground. Instead of relying on strength, you learn how to use leverage and timing to move, escape, or pin your partner. It is practical, adaptable, and can be learned by anyone.

Is it safe?

What should I wear?

Who can join?

Comfortable workout attire is good. Tight fitting pants and shirts are best, so your clothing won't get grabbed and possibly ripped.

Our classes are open to adults, teens, and kids, including complete beginners and people who have never done anything like this before. You do not need to be strong, fit, or confident to start. We meet you exactly where you are, and you can choose your level of intensity at any moment.

Our focus on mindful connection to self supports a training environment where people are encouraged to listen to their bodies and take breaks when needed. This is helpful in preventing injuries, and for working consciously to protect any physical limitations people are coming with.

In our approach, we combine mindful nervous system regulation practices with Jiu Jitsu to create a safe, conscious training space. We learn Jiu Jitsu by playing live games and solving simple movement problems together, rather than memorizing techniques.

What makes Haven Jiu Jitsu unique?

What if I don't like being touched?

That's a good place to start. The Haven Jiu Jitsu training space includes a place to sit and watch. You can learn a lot just by watching. We also invite people to join in the games at the level that feels right to them. This can look like going slow and talking through the movements.

Connect

hello@havenjiujitsu.com