Sophia’s Bio:
Sophia was born in Melbourne, Australia in May of 1979 and has an identical twin sister. Sophia’s love of training all started when she was 4 years old as a Jazz and ballet dancer. At the age of 11, she began gymnastics with her twin sister and both girls thrived, spending almost 10 years training at a national level.
Having to retire from gymnastics due to a serious long term injury Sophia was still keen to pursue something both physically and mentally challenging. In 2002 at the age of 22, she began Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, a martial art that focuses primarily on ground technique.
Sophia was the first Australian female to receive a black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu back in 2010..
She is a 4 x State, 4 x National, 4 x Pan Pacific and 4 x Pan American Champion. She is 2 x No Gi World Champion, a World Champion and a 3 x World Champion medallist.
Her competitive career has taken her throughout Australia, the United States, Japan, Brazil and Europe. In 2007 Sophia moved to the United States to live to continue her competitive career in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
Now retired from competing in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu she focuses on travelling the world and teaching BJJ seminars, running her signature SophiaFIT Lifestyle Camps, that focus on health, nutrition and empowerment. Sophia also teaches Brazilian Jiu Jitsu classes at the UFC and host women's self defense workshops amongst gyms and corporate groups to help staff learn to defense themselves..
Sophia is now focusing on competing in Ms Figure competitions. She has taken first place at the both shows she has entered and became the Overall Unlimited Champion in the Figure category for the NPC federation for 2015.
Sophia also has had many years of experience as a teacher and coach. She began teaching gymnastics in 1994 at age 14. She has an extensive background as a gymnastics coach. She received her Level 1 Certification in 1996 and has work with students both beginner and elite at different schools and institutions throughout Australia.
Sophia is a qualified Trainer, Coach and Fitness Nutritionist: FIA Fitnation Cert III & IV (Melbourne, Australia) and NASM, CPT FNS (Las Vegas, USA,) She specializes in functional strength and conditioning, women's health and nutrition. Her knowledge on nutrition goes far beyond eating for weight loss or for performance. She integrates nutrition and her specific modalities for overall holistic health and wellness. “Food has the power to cure you or to kill you slowly.”
Collectively Sophia has almost 2 decades of experience as a gymnastics coach, Jiu Jitsu teacher and personal trainer, working with individuals and big groups in studios and corporate centers. Sophia has had experience in occupation health and safety, post rehabilitation and various sporting instututes. She has worked with young and old, beginner and elite, and every different body type and fitness level imaginable.
Sophia is also a writer for multiple reputable health and fitness magazines. Here most current articles can be read here: https://sophiadrysdale.squarespace.com/articles-by-sophia-1/
Sophia's focus is to share her knowledge about health, fitness, training and BJJ with a focus on women's health. She strives to inspire and empower women and encourage them to follow their dreams through her training, personalised sessions, group classes and seminars and lifestyle camps.