By Trevor A. Keveloh

Well folks, it’s not 100% official, but damn it’s close. School is OUT for many of you! The best way to emphasize that feeling is to celebrate and that’s what we did.

Fight Chix teamed up with Neal K Events  to kick off the summer in style and hosted a fashion show at SpyBar.  We’ve had a few previous events at SpyBar and have worked with Neal K in the past and we must say it’s always been successful and extremely fun. SpyBar has a trendy and literally underground feel to it providing the best DJ’s Chicago has to offer. The ambience is welcoming with an array of VIP/Bottle service areas, 2 good sized bars, an attentive bar staff, hospitable door staff and a professional host/management team that can easily be found for all your needs. With that being said, it seems easy to host an event at this club. True, but not so true. The effort it takes to into putting on a show like this can go back months at a time. All the production leading up to when to first model walks onto the runway, can be exhausting, but we love it. Neal K Events have proven that they can step up to the plate and swing away with the best in Chicago.

The show itself went flawlessly, successfully and was an overall enjoyable experience. Fight Chix offered 8 sexy and talented models to hit the runway to showoff some classic styles along with our newest styles. Our white tank “Be Strong, Be Sexy,” is one of our hottest sellers not only because of it’s bold FIGHT CHIX logo on front, but when the sublimated burnout feel hits your body with comfort it will always makes you feel sexy. One of our newest designs that’s been getting a lot of attention is the “Love and Honor,” tee which comes in white, black and turquoise. The cut accents all the right places and the cotton/spandex fabric allows you to move around with freedom and expression.

If we talk about tops, we have to talk about bottoms and ladies, our newest designs are a HIT. My favorites are the, “Boy Beater,” booty shorts which come in black and pink. Made from a pure cotton fabric with sequins on the rear, they are especially different because rather than being sewn on, they are heat-pressed. This allows a no stitch feeling on the backside with 100% comfort.

I have to re-iterate on what a success this was and like I said before, how much fun we had. I have to give thanks to everyone involved in this show. All of our models, make-up and hair stylists, Neal K Events, the SpyBar staff and anyone else I forgot to mention, we thank you as well.

If you are looking for event information from Fight Chix, please contact… Trevor@FightChix.com or on Twitter

Marisol Romero is no stranger to Fight Chix. We met her a few years back through Robert Drysdale at the World MMA Awards. He told us very specifically, keep an eye on this girl, she is a killer. Marisol was not only a Brazilian Jujitsu prodigy, she was a very mature young lady who was wise beyond her 12 years of age. We are looking forward to seeing her again when we are in Vegas for the UFC Fan Expo, but we wanted to update all the Fight Chix fans on what Marisol has been up to lately!

Lately, I’ve been focusing on school and work. I work at a reptile store here in Las Vegas called The Snake Shop, and we focus in selling exotic pets such as: snakes, lizards, geckos, frogs, spiders, scorpions, etc. I also have a new Lizard! He’s a baby Savanna Monitor!

My dad, with out a doubt. He works so hard to put a roof over my head, and clothes on my back. He does everything in his power to make sure I’m happy. He trusts me enough to let me go out, and he trusts my judgement on friends. He is the best man I know and hopefully I can be a good figure like that to my kids!

If there are kids out there reading this, that are not in the best home environment, might be in a tough school or neighborhood, what advice would you offer them?

My name is Dawn Marie Fiore, and I’m truly honored to have the opportunity to share my story with the Fight Chix community.
I’m a military spouse and mother of 3 children, Gianna and Joseph, ages 14 and 9, and my eldest, Tony, who is now 24 and married.

I’ve been a professional graphic designer for 26 years, and I currently work full time for the University of Delaware. My duties have varied immensely throughout my career, but my primary duties to date consist of display design, website design, technical illustration, photography, desktop publishing, and videography. Lately I’ve been toying around with some animation projects, but I wouldn’t consider myself proficient just yet. Here’s a link to some of my work. I’ve been employed by UD for almost 12 years, and I think my job is very challenging, but also a lot of fun.

In the past I held a part time job as an aerobics instructor at a local gym. Last year I became re-certified with AFAA in group exercise instruction and CPR/AED, and I traveled to NYC for training and certification in Powerstrike kickboxing, taught by founder Ilaria Montagnani. I plan to maintain my certifications and begin a Powerstrike class in Delaware once my busy schedule frees up the time for this commitment.

What/Who/How did you get into MMA/BJJ/TKD?
For as long as I can remember, I’ve been fascinated with martial arts and the idea of being able to fight with competency and confidence. I grew up with my brother, Chris, who is 4 years older than me. For a while, he found picking on me to be his favorite activity. In addition, I was painfully shy, so I suspect this combination was what prompted my passion for learning how to fight. I jokingly thank my brother every now and then for picking on me and making me tough.

I first joined a tae kwon do school when I was a 23-year-old single mother of my 7 year old son. Although I fell in love with the sport, I was forced to leave and return 3 times. The first time was due to an injury, and the other 2 times were because I remarried and became pregnant with my second and third child. Raising a growing family, working full time and being a military spouse made it very difficult to maintain consistency in training. It wasn’t until I was diagnosed with MS that I found the will and determination to return and fulfill my goal of obtaining my black belt.

After finally being promoted to 1st Dan black belt in 2009, I once again was forced to leave due to life circumstances. It wasn’t until last year that I finally was in a position to make the commitment to return to training. I began researching various schools and disciplines near my job, which is over an hour away from home. I eventually decided to join Elite Brazillian Jiu Jitsu in Newark, DE. The school is owned and operated by Jeff Mitchell, who is a first generation black belt of Robson Moura – one of the greatest Brazillian Jiu Jitsu masters of all time. Before long, Jeff’s unique, meticulous,  and incredibly patient style of training made my decision to join a very easy one. After joining Elite, I began taking MMA classes, which allowed me to incorporate my previous Tae Kwon Do training with grappling. This was incredibly exciting and totally new to me, and it wasn’t long before I became totally hooked.

What kind of future plans do you have in the sports?
I intend to continue martial arts training as long as I’m physically capable of doing so. During times when I’m unable to attend class because of family responsibilities, my children’s sports practice or homework, or my husband’s being sent on a mission, I make the time to continue training at night after my kids go to bed. I frequently practice Tae Kwon Do forms and Haidong Gumdo swords forms in my back yard, alternating between various other programs like Powerstrike, Beachbody Insanity, and Sparticus workouts. Staying very active is imperative to being prepared for the intensity of BJJ and MMA classes, as well as preventing injuries.

 What are your favorite aspects of the sports etc?
I suspect I may be addicted to the endorphin rush that I experience when being physically challenged, and my absolute favorite way to fulfill this “compulsion” is through high-intensity workouts. I enjoy the confidence that comes with training, and I try to inspire everyone I know with this mindset – to believe that with enough will and determination, all things are possible.

When you were first diagnosed with M.S. what went through your head?
My initial symptoms of multiple sclerosis came out of the blue. On February 8, 2004, I arose from my desk to join my friends on a lunch break and I was struck with the most horrible feeling of vertigo. The entire world around me was spinning, and no matter what position I was in, it didn’t stop. The vertigo continued and became worse, eventually leaving me unable to even drive to work. It wasn’t until 3 reputable neurologists confirmed the diagnosis that I finally accepted the truth and began taking medication, which took about a year. How long did this take?

I believed that all aspects of my life would be taken over by a variety of handicaps and impairments. I knew virtually nothing about MS and had very strong, negative associations with being in a wheelchair. Above all, I was terrified of being completely dependent on others.

After beginning MS medication and completing a one-week regimen of IV steroids (which reduced the swelling in my brain), my vertigo began to subside. I realized that this diagnosis did not have to be synonymous with a death sentence. The possibility of having some semblance of a normal life just might exist.

Aside from MMA, etc, what or who have helped you cope with M.S.?
There mainly are 2 things that have helped me to cope throughout the past 8 years of my life. The first and most powerful has been my ability to see the light at the end of the tunnel. It’s normal to become depressed and feel hopeless after receiving a devastating diagnosis like MS, but you simply cannot allow yourself to stay there. I’m very fortunate to have a wonderful husband, caring family and fantastic friends who have been understanding, tolerant, and patient. Without this level of support, I surely wouldn’t have been able to recover as well as I have.

Second, my passion for being physically fit has had an undeniable affect on my recovery. When I decided to go back to Tae Kwon Do, I relied heavily on my knowledge gained from being an aerobics instructor in my twenties to understand what I needed to do to prepare. I knew that the part of my brain that was damaged initially was the vestibular center, located in the brainstem. Through research, I began to believe that a new path around these damaged neurons could be developed with training. Many hours of practicing spin kicks, rolling and falling, and moving my body in different directions often induced nausea, but I had a very clear goal. Ultimately, my insatiable desire to feel great and be healthy allowed for an almost complete recovery.

Tell us about being the wife of a USAF pilot (how you met, etc) along with being a mother.
My husband, Christian, and I met in a small club one evening when I was out with my roommate, Cheryl, having a few drinks. He approached us and asked us to join him and his friends at another table. After giving him a bit of a hard time, Cheryl and I agreed and my life with Christian began. When we were first married, my husband worked in an Air Force maintenance squadron as a C-5 aircraft mechanic. After graduating from college, he decided to become a commissioned officer and go to pilot training. Having my husband be away from home for training or missions for long periods of time has always been difficult, but dealing with the realities of wartime has certainly been the most challenging. Only through faith and true love is it possible to live with the stress of these circumstances without worrying yourself to death. Our thoughts of reuniting and our lives together has always been a powerful source of strength for us.

When you workout alone, just you and the bag, gym, mats, etc, what do you have pounding on your headphones?
I have a somewhat eclectic taste, but I definitely prefer upbeat music when working out. The type of music I choose will depend on the type of workout. For hitting or kicking a bag in my basement, I’ll listen to anything from Green Day, The Offspring or Linkin Park to Ke$ha, Katie Perry or Pink. It really depends on my mood, like most people. If I’m practicing forms or doing yoga, I enjoy either complete silence or the sounds of nature in my backyard.

What fighter, female and/or male, inspires you to this day?
It’s difficult to choose only one fighter to represent all those who’ve inspired me over the years because there have been so many. To name a few of my favorite trainers, Tae Kwon Do Grand Master Seok H. Yoon, founder of Powerstrike, Ilaria Montagnani, and BJJ trainer Jeff Mitchell. I eagerly look forward to meeting Robson Moura someday, and suspect I’ll once again be inspired by his skillful mastery of BJJ techniques.

How did you hear about Fight Chix? I actually learned about Fight Chix by accident. I recently joined several new martial arts groups on LinkedIn, and while poking around I came across CEO Elisabeth Nuesser’s profile. I was instantly impressed with her ambitious attitude and quickly realized we shared some of the same perspectives. We both believe in the value of empowering women, and we both want to somehow advocate this empowerment. In spite of these desires, I have yet to discover my way of accomplishing this.

What message do you have to people who have been diagnosed with M.S. ?
I’ve learned many great lessons in my eight year journey, but I must impress upon all newly diagnosed to continue writing your story. Continue making goals and striving for excellence. Life as you know it does not have to end if you believe in yourself and the ability of the human body to regenerate and renew. Challenge your weaknesses and they will inevitably become stronger. Take care of your body and your mind, as they are of equal importance, and learn to have discipline in this care. Hopefully someday a cure for MS will be found, but until then, we must all persevere and never, ever give up the fight!

Details and tickets can be purchased here!

SPYBAR
646 N. Franklin St
Chicago, IL 60654
Saturday, May 12, 2012 at 9:00 PM to the wee hours of the morning

Fight Chix is having a sale–-come and get it!!

Its that time of year again ladies!

ALL ABOUT ME Boutique
makes it
All About You!

On Friday May 4th 2012
7-10pm
at 115 Bourbon Street!

A Mothers Day Tribute to ALL Women!

This is our 8th Ultimate Shopping Event!

Come on out for a night you deserve!
Only $5.00 admission
all you can eat buffet
cash bar
Complimentary valet
and over 40 of the best vendors to shop from!

So mark your calendars, invite your friends, spread the word!
Hundreds of woman attend every year, so arrive early!!

This event is very special to us..
Mothers day is a special day and is to be celebrated and all women deserve a special day. We started this event after loosing my mother in 2008 to honor her memory as well as give all women a night out to spoil themselves..

See you at the 2012 Ultimate Shopping Event!

Visit link below for Venue info and directions…
http://115bourbonstreet.com/special_events_detail.asp?SpecEventsID=638

For more info message us at southsidedivas@aol.com

Hosted by ALL ABOUT ME Boutique
5912 w 111th st Chicago Ridge, IL 60415
Like us on FB for updates, sales, and upcoming news and events!

Fight Chix is proud to have Jillian and Jocyeln Lybarger as a part of the Fight Chix Team! They are fighting this weekend in Tuff Nuff To honor them we are giving YOU a deal! Enter “TWINS” at checkout and get 25% off your entire order! So don’t miss out—offer ends midnight on Sunday!

Fight Shorts are back in stock!

Check out ALL the new Spring Styles now Available!! New T-shirts, V-necks, Yoga Pants, Booty shorts and MORE!!

Amy you don’t fight in the cage or ring, but you are certainly a fighter…tell us what you have been battling in the last year.

First, I would like to thank Fight Chix for asking me to be part of such a beautiful and empowering movement for all women, fighting many different types of battles, everywhere. Yes, not just in the past year but since 2003 I have been fighting Multiple Sclerosis. I went out in the heat one day in 03, came in and was literally blind, on and off a few times a week for months. Days where it feels like I’m carrying 50 lb weights around my ankles & wrists, full body tremors and for the next 5 years many weird symptoms (exacerbation’s) would arise. I was eventually diagnosed in 2008 at the age of 30. After going to the neurologist for an MRI where they found lesions on my brain, did a spinal tap among many other tests I was given a confirmed diagnosis. I will NEVER forget that moment. I went many years without knowing what was going on with my entire body, mind & many days even my spirit. It was an uphill battle, day in and day out, trying almost to “convince” others that there was something more going on than simply just not feeling well. I have been through many tragedies through my lifetime (losing my parents by the age of 18, sexual abuse, bullies) and I wasn’t prepared to hear that now I had a chronic illness, with no cure. Many days I am able to run miles on end, I am happy, always smiling and try to make my good days GREAT, but I must stay aware that if I push too hard, I will have repercussions in the days to follow. Just by looking at me you’d probably never know what a fight it is on the inside, just to get enough energy to take a shower, get ready, dressed and eventually out the door. I was thankful & Blessed for the diagnosis though, as it gave us answers, and now I was prepared to become educated & find the right tools that i needed to fight!

You also have some people that depend on you…tell us about them and how you manage to juggle everything?

I do have 2 sons, Landin who is going on 9 & Ethan is 7. They are both wonderful little boys who have been handed a lot at such a young age to try and understand. They are my little warriors & are what keep me fighting everyday. Their father and I recently went through a separation, and they stay with him for the most part, because my health is so unpredictable… but they only live 2 miles away & anytime I am able to be a great mom, my energy is solely focused on just that. They are fortunate to have a great father who I have the utmost respect for, because he is always ready and able to do everything for them. I give him so much credit!! But, that being said, yes.. they do depend on me as a mother and I do the best I can with the life we’ve been handed. Dad handles most all of the physical activities, I focus on the more relaxing things, such as reading, artwork, games, walks. Lol, its almost like grandma time some days. I’ll never forget the day Landin asked me, “mommy, when you end up in a wheelchair are you still going to be able to play with me”? My answer, ” I would race you until my wheels fell off”! It was like being gutted right on the spot, but you have to act quick. I don’t lie to my children about the MS, but I’m not going to give them the impression that I need to constantly have excuses, either. There are times when I have them, and we literally don’t leave my bed because I’m worn down. We will just lay there and talk, laugh, watch funny you-tube videos & take silly pictures. We love those memories just the same. I want to be the best I can be for them, as I know how it is to grow up absent of parental guidance in some form or another especially into adulthood & I know they deserve the best of both worlds. I wish my parents could see what beautiful grandsons they have today & this pushes me even more to make sure my boys have me as long as God will allow possible.

Amy, you don’t really follow MMA that much, but you have said you are drawn to the female athletes, can you explain why?

No, ha ha I don’t really follow MMA very much, but, am really becoming interested in the sport just from some of my friends who participate. Also I’ve seen & heard about what a difference our local MMA gym, Georgetown MMA, has made in the lives of some of our local youth by increasing self esteem, overcoming tough histories, giving back to the community, just HUGE transformations… so, its hard to resist! It’s a sport that is pretty new to me, and I remember I used to always give the guys a hard time about watching it, now it’s peaking my own interest. The female athletes that I’ve seen in MMA are very intriguing to me, because one would (having no knowledge of the sport) expect to see these huge, strong, burly women fighting all of the time. After reading up on articles, watching interviews and just listening to talk, these women are so beautiful and strong from the inside & out, all of them. I have a lot of respect for the fight, but more respect for the will-power and strength that they endure each time they step in. I think its a beautiful sport to watch women become encompassed in; to train, fight, prove their equality & prevail at. It is very empowering!!

When you are down and feel defeated, where do you draw inspiration from to push forward?

This is actually the perfect day for me to answer this question. I was feeling down this morning, actually the past 2 days, I have been in bed & hurting. Today I woke up, and my emotions had gotten the best of me; I was way down. I posted a status on facebook & it was not a positive one. Life felt unfair for a moment. But, I made a promise to myself not long ago that, “this will NOT defeat me, and while I may have bad moments- I REFUSE to have bad days”. That status lasted all of 10 minutes. I absolutely refuse to let this or anything in my history define the woman I am becoming. I am so fortunate that I have always stayed on positive tracks in my life, so as to not let things lead me into dark spaces, or black holes. My inspiration comes from my faith and some inner drive to keep pushing forward. In just the past year, even on the days when I feel I am not going to make it, I am at peace… I realized, that I have been handed an immaculate opportunity in life, I am fully capable, and willing to talk to ANYONE about my life, positively, at any moment I need to. I can tell you where exactly it came from, God, HE placed these feelings, lessons & people (both negative and positive) in my life to draw inspiration from. Period.

Who do you look up too? Do you have any personal heroes?

Well, I come from a very strong bloodline of inspirational women who raised me with a passion for life and to fight for my dreams. I look up to anyone that can take a negative situation and turn it into a valuable lesson. But here’s the kicker, that lesson must be given to others and its strength passed on. Its kind of like passing the torch in the Olympics; we all have a fire inside of our hearts let it be good fire or bad fire, we can either choose to let it burn us into ashes or make use of that light & pay it forward. There have been many people enter and exit my life & I could put the “hero” label on anyone if I looked long and deep enough to find it. Cliche maybe, but my personal heroes are my children and my God.

Because of your drive to keep fighting, you will undoubtedly have other people look up to you! What advice would you give them?
Stay strong, keep fighting! No matter what you are encountering, look for the positive, even if its years down the road, its there. I wouldn’t take any of this back, not even for a day, because life is all about lessons & giving back. Don’t let negativity or experiences be an excuse to lead you on the wrong path. Never ever let tragedy overcome triumph. Never be afraid to take yourself to the bare minimum, lowest of lows, strip your life of all that “was” so that you can re-teach yourself whats truly important. Believe in yourself, show it to the WHOLE WORLD!! Before you know it you will be inspired, and want to inspire others every day of your life. You will live for that one moment when you receive a handwritten letter from a complete stranger, telling you how your 5 minute talk made a difference in their day or outlook. Let me tell you, there’s NO better confirmation from God that I’m doing my job. It will make you want to do it more!! Always, always give credit where it is due. Don’t be afraid to admit defeat, but learn the lesson, truly learn it….and move forward. We have but one life, you making the best of yours, will empower others to follow suit and want to do the same.

Fight Chix is a brand with roots in MMA, but we have branched out to all women who are fighting their own battle. What does Fight Chix mean to you?
Honestly, when I was approached to do this interview, I was very humbled to say the least. I had scoped out the Fight Chix web page, dabbled in the clothing & apparel, etc… but I never in a million years realized that this is not just a brand of clothing. From the hot logo design (wouldn’t we all love to look like that, ha ha) to the words that follow, “Strong, Sexy, Empowering Women Worldwide”, it doesn’t take long to see that it is about so much more than just a steel cage and sexy women. To me, there are are many types “steel cages”, whether it be around our hearts, our bodies, or our lives, we all have them…..but, it’s the fight inside, the strength but most importantly the FAITH & WILL to survive that truly matter in the end!!! This ladies, is as strong, sexy, and empowering as it gets!! Again, thank you ALL at Fight Chix for the opportunity and blessing that it is to be able to share my story & hopefully some words of encouragement to others out there who may doubt themselves. Never give up the fight!! )

When did the 2 of you first get into MMA? What intrigued you?    I Jillian got into MMA 1st, Jocelyn soon followed after attending a title fight in Denver.  I would say what pushed me into MMA was missing the everyday training and being able to compete at a higher level.  I played sports my whole life threw out high school and college, so it made sense for me to stay in that type of mind set, it drives me.  I got into mma 4 years ago and Jocelyn about 3 years, we both pick it up really fast but still have a lot to learn each day.

Who were your biggest influences in sports/MMA both personally and professionally?  We both have huge respect for Gina Carno and the path she has made and started for womens mma,  Jocelyn and I both look up to different female and male sport stars, we love those who are true to the game and try not to one up someone by taking special Drugs to make there game better.  We are huge Gates fans he is the tight end for San Diego Chargers.

Tell us about growing up, your family and social life. Jocelyn and I grew up in Porterville Ca, we were born in San Diego, huge Charger and Paders fans.  We love any type of sport we can watch, even tennis and golf.  Jocelyn and I are very close now just like we were growing up, we played the same sports together and always pushed eachother to be better.  We are very close to are family, we have an older sister who is also like a best friend to us, she always has our back.  Jocelyn and I are very social, we love being the life of the party and making people laugh and smile.  In high school we got class clown 2 years in a row and both of us recieved “most athletic”.  We both love being on Twitter and Facebook and meeting new people and connected with old friends! Jocelyn on Twitter  Jillian on Twitter

What is your favorite music and/or musicians to workout too?  We are huge Celine Dion Fans, we also love some Dubstep, and even Courtny, we like all types of music, sometimes even mellow songs get us in the zone for a hard training session.  We both are NOT big on hip-pop with a lot of bad words in it.  Keep it clean is always good.  Right now we both are into “Skrillex” which is dubstep music, fast pace upbeat, it takes some getting used to at first!

If the two of you weren’t in WMMA, what other profession would you be in or pursing?   We do a lot of Women’s boot camp and help those who wanna change their over all Life style.  We also do a lot of one on one training, not fight training again just weight lost.  We love helping others.  We both work full-time jobs Jocelyn works for Verizon and I work for AT&T which is crazy! We both love are jobs and look forward to are futures with these companies.  So in our free time if we were NOT fighting we would be running more boot camps to help females set goals and over come there biggest fears!

How did you first hear about Fight Chix?  Fight Chix is 1 of the 1st brands I ever heard of in MMA! The logo alone is what stood out the most!  We both saw posting from Sam Wilson on Facebook, then we would see it ever where on ever female fighter, which is awesome!

What are each of your favorite styles in MMA?  Jocelyn loves wrestling she does not mind being on the ground at all,  I love Muay Thai and standing up and throwing kicks, and a ton of elbows.  Jocelyn and I are so different, so we make for awesome sparring partners.

What current fighters (female and/or male) do you enjoy watching from a professional stand point?  Jocelyn and I both enjoy watching Dominick Cruz his fighting style is quick and always on his toes, keeps everybody guessing,  everyone he fights can’t not tell what is coming up next.

Do you plan on being at the UFC Fan Expo in Vegas in July? If so, where do you plan to sign, both attend, etc?  Yes we both plan on being there, still up in the air on what booth we will be at.

I know this is cliche’ but it must be asked. If the two of you were one day to compete, “Warrior style,” against each other, would you accept the fight or decline?  We would decline the fight,  I am Jocelyn’s number fan as she is mine, there is no way we could do that to each other, and have our family go threw it!  One team One Dream!