For seven months, junior Isabelle Pfeifer has been training in the arts of jiu jitsu and self-defense. In the month of January, Pfeifer got to put her training to use at the Blue Corner Ultimate Absolute 2018 jujitsu tournament.

“I went to Kansas City,” Pfeifer said. “I had a jujitsu tournament.”

The tournament took place on Jan. 27, and Pfeifer had three matches.

“I won against the girl who got first place, 11-0,” Pfeifer said. “But then I lost the other two matches.”

Pfeifer is being trained by two people, one of which owns the gym she goes to. At practice, they focus on different things at separate times.

“At practice we just go over jujitsu moves in the first half, and the second half of practice, we usually box and do kick boxing and stuff like that.”

At her competition, Pfeifer said she was nervous, but as time went on, her nerves subsided.

“It was scary,” Pfeifer said. “I was really, really nervous before hand. Throughout the matches, I got less nervous and got better. There were a lot of people there.”

In the future, Pfeifer plans to continue her practice, and hopes she improves.

“It helps me get rid of stress, helps me feel stronger as a person, and makes me feel better about myself,” Pfeifer said.

19ibraun@usd489.com