I’m a retired pro fighter and I still train jiu jitsu. I’ve noticed more and more women are training this over the years which is a good thing. However it requires you to direct body on body contact with guys.
Anyway there is a young ambitious Tom boy who started training at my gym. She wrestles in college so she’s very strong for her size and very aggressive. She often picks me out to train with (drills and live sparring). I could easily overpower her if I went full on but I know how to keep my pace in check to challenge her but not beat her up.
I think that’s the reason she sought me out as a training partner (when there are sometimes over 20 guys in the class). It’s because I have experience to not go too easy but not too hard either. Also experienced guys are less likely to do something creepy/stupid (cheap feels). I don’t think about that at all when I roll jiu jitsu with women. It’s inevitable that you will each others bodies in all places during training but it’s not (nor ever should be) a sexual thing.
Anyway I noticed she smells funny. Yes it’s a mma gym and not a place to worry about perfume/cologne. But you are supposed to have good hygiene out of respect to your partner. I always make sure I got on fresh clothing, deodorant and if I can help it be recently showered.
She is pretty cute and maybe this is her way of making guys think twice about hitting on her. But it’s gross. It’s happened twice in a row now. If she was a guy a someone would of definitely said something. I was stuck with her for an entire hour once and I had to hold my nose the entire time.
What is a polite way of letting her know besides avoiding her during training?
What Girls Said
You can try saying something like "Hey, I just wanted to let you know that you've smelled a bit strange the last couple of times we've been practicing jiu jitsu. It might be your laundry, or maybe something else you're using? Either way, I wanted to give you a heads-up so you won't be surprised." This approach is direct and allows her to address the issue before it becomes a bigger problem. It's important to be respectful and tactful when bringing up personal issues like this, and to focus on helping her find solutions rather than making her feel embarrassed or ashamed.
I think it's okay. Especially since that's a etiquette thing.
Be gentle and let her know what you do to freshen up before rolling.
But it's also possible she just has bad BO and sweats quickly. It may not be something very much in her control.
She trains a lot. She’s also a wrestler (takes one to know one) and we are typically “We don’t give a f*ck about pain, smell, etiquette, etc. we only care about winning” when it comes to this.
I am thinking about talking to another one of the female mma fighters in the gym about this who I’m pretty cool with this. You do go through a ton of laundry in training. It’s also the summer time so it’s even more sweaty. But this is twice in a row now. Everybody is going to smell time to time but not twice in a row.
I used to do judo and 2 of the girls I trained with had bad body odor. One smelt like kippers, her body just produced that scent. The other smelt of sour dough I'm guessing due to thrush. If its not BO I wouldn't say anything.
She might like you
You know when I first saw I her admit she was cute. Petite but tough little Tom boy. But that smell quickly changed my opinion. I tried it let it go the first time thinking it’s the gym and everybody has their smelly days. But the second time got to me.
There is another female fighter in the gym I’m pretty cool with. I’m thinking of asking for her advice on that.