BJJ, Body Image, Anxiety and Claustrophobia with Livia Giles

<p>&nbsp;Livia Giles is a first degree black belt, a world champion international competitor, coach, physiotherapist and combat sports board member.&nbsp;<br><br>Liv has a wealth of experience dealing with the pressure of being an elite athlete and spoke with Georgia about:&nbsp;</p><ul><li>The community in BJJ</li><li>The value in learning a skill</li><li>BJJ as meditation&nbsp;</li><li>Being obsessed with being the best</li><li>Being smaller than most people on the mat</li><li>How to teach people how to train with you &nbsp;</li><li>Effective communication during rolls</li><li>How to create a club culture that welcomes women</li><li>Why women need to roll with women</li><li>&nbsp;How nerves and anxiety are a good thing</li><li>How she stopped focusing on feeling good or bad in competitions</li><li>Why you should compete more often&nbsp;</li><li>Having a panic attack/ feeling claustrophobic in a competition&nbsp;</li><li>Tapping due to claustrophobia</li><li>The physiology of panic attacks</li><li>Weight cutting and body image</li><li>Appreciate your body!&nbsp;</li></ul><p>Liv started out as a gymnast in Poland. At age 18 she retired and transitioned into track cycling. When she was 24 she decided to take a break for competitive sport and went to university to become a physiotherapist. While working as a physiotherapist she met her now husband Dr Lachlan Giles PhD who introduced her to BJJ. And the rest is history..&nbsp;</p><p>Liv's Achievements in BJJ include:&nbsp;</p><ul><li>Copa Podio Superfight Winner (2016)&nbsp;</li><li>UAEJJF Abu Dhabi World Pro 2nd Place (2018)&nbsp;</li><li>ADCC Asian Trials 2nd Place (2015) U</li><li>AEJJF Abu Dhabi World Pro 3rd Place (2017)&nbsp;</li><li>IBJJF World Champion (2016 brown, 2013 blue)&nbsp;</li><li>IBJJF World No-Gi Champion (2013 purple)&nbsp;</li><li>IBJJF Asian International Open Champion (2014 purple, 2016 brown)&nbsp;</li><li>IBJJF Melbourne International Open Champion (2015** purple)&nbsp;</li><li>IBJJF Melbourne International No-Gi Open Champion (2015