Ladies first jiu-jitsu helping women find strength and purpose

NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. — The reasons for learning a sport are endless.

For some, it is to get stronger and faster. For others, it is all about feeling better, healthier, or more confident.

In some cases, like with jiu-jitsu, some want to learn to feel safer.

“I do think it’s really important for girls in particular to learn jiu-jitsu. It’s a ground grappling sport and it can help you. It can save you,” said Amanda Gambone, She-Devil Jiu-Jitsu student.

Gambone trains at the New Port Richey studio called the Den alongside her daughter.

“It’s really important to know how to defend yourself. There’s predators everywhere,” said Eveeana Cortez, 13.

The teen spars with women double and sometimes triple her age.

Inside the Den, it is about more than just sport or defense. The women who take the classes say it is a safe place for women.

“It’s hard to find a women’s-only class or even women in a class,” said Michele “Bella” Milo, founder of She-Devil Jiu-Jitsu.

Milo opened the dojo in June 2025 after a conversation with a woman who was interested in jiu-jitsu, but was uncomfortable with the idea of training.

“I met a woman who was watching her child’s class, and she just wouldn’t start. She said, ‘It looks so much fun, but I have been in a domestic violence situation and I don’t think I would ever feel comfortable doing that with a man,’” said Milo. “And so then the light bulb went off and I was like, this is something that a lot of women need.”

The Den is a place that puts women first. Women like Ren Lee.

“It really saved my life coming here, to be honest,” said Lee.

She lives with ADHD and Autism and admits she struggles to regulate her emotions.

“This has been my saving grace, especially for things where I don’t feel like I should be talking or I feel like I don’t really fit in anywhere. I can always come here,” said Lee.

Milo says men are not excluded, with co-ed classes available. But there is an understanding that women come first here.

“I kind of found a found family here,” said Lee.

This month there is a Galentine’s Grappling Weekend. It is two days of ladies-only training with eight local female black belts. To sign up, click here.