“I’ve never done this before but I have lived local my entire life. Recently I became a mother and my son is just now eight months old. I’m a single mother. I’ve done jiu jitsu for years and during pregnancy I trained and at six months pregnant I went to the gym for the last time….. I go to Newborn cascao in Spokane. My coach owns it and his name is James Weed.

This is not about me…… I just recently have experienced such amazing human nature that blows me away and single mothers in this area who feel that they can’t do jiu jitsu is wrong for one reason. My gym. At six months pregnant I belt tested to purple belt. I have been back training full time with my infant along side me. The first day I went back I was biting my nails nervous. Worrying he might cry or scream or throw a fit while my coach was teaching class or that I would drive all the way out to this gym for nothing. I got there and someone immediately took my baby and told me to get changed. I got changed and came out on the mat. By this time warm up was starting and my coach was walking around holding my son in his arms…. Gi on and all the while his class started routine. When warm up was done he handed my infant to the first person front and center and began to teach a move. Once done he picked him back up and walked around, baby in arms, correcting students as he went. Then this continued all night. Once class was done someone helped walk me out to my car and told me drive home safe. The second night…… The same thing. This has continued for three months.
I have never worried about going to the gym with my infant. This is the type of thing that I wish people knew…… Maybe you aren’t the person to go to but I just hope that women in this area know there is hope. Jiu jitsu is the best thing for women’s self defense and especially single mothers. Every day I’m there someone helps out.

Newborn Walter Cascao….. This is your protege. Thank you. So much love and support.”