Book One
The Mat as a Mirror
Reflecting Stories of Women's Strength and Confidence through Jiu-Jitsu
What happens when you step onto the mat carrying grief, self-doubt, and a decade of surviving spaces that weren't built for you? You find out what you're made of. The Mat as a Mirror is a collection of powerful, raw stories — Mariele's own and those of women who found Jiu-Jitsu at their lowest point and used it to rebuild.
This isn't a technique manual. It's an honest reckoning with what the mat reflects back — the fears, the breakthroughs, the bruises that become maps. Whether you train or you're simply human and trying, this book will speak to you.
"A raw and beautiful invitation to sit with our bruises and see them as maps of survival. Mariele writes with clarity, humility, and ferocity."
— Editorial ReviewBook Two
The Mat Journey
A Nonlinear Guide to Jiu-Jitsu
Jiu-Jitsu doesn't move in straight lines — and neither does this book. The Mat Journey is part open mat, part survival guide, part comedy relief. You pick your path, make choices, and roll through the pages the same way you do on the mats: with detours, resets, and plenty of surprises.
Whether you're a white belt learning to survive your first roll, a purple belt getting creative, or a black belt who still laughs at mat fails — this book meets you exactly where you are. It won't tell you what to do. It'll remind you why you keep coming back.
"It's not a manual. It's not a memoir. It's an open mat for your brain, your body, and your story."
— From the book
What Readers Say
Words from the mat community
"The Mat as a Mirror isn't just about Jiu-Jitsu. It's about every woman who's ever had to rebuild herself from scratch."
"Inspiring and uplifting, this book brims with positivity. The narration is lively, engaging and informative. A collection of empowering stories."
"This book doesn't flinch from the hard stuff — and that's what makes it beautiful. It's about grit, grief, and the quiet power of starting again."
"Mariele's journey is deeply personal, yet profoundly universal. What started as a hesitant 'okay' to attend a seminar became something far bigger."
"A must-read for any woman who's ever felt like she had to fight to find herself again. Powerful from the first page."
"Whether you're a white belt or a black belt, this book will remind you why you keep coming back. An open mat for your brain and your story."
About the Author
The woman behind the words
Brazilian writer. Resilience advocate. Purple belt. Based in New Zealand.
Mariele spent over a decade navigating the tech industry — cloud engineering, DevOps, and spaces that weren't always built to include her. When grief arrived with the loss of her father, she found herself on the Jiu-Jitsu mat, almost by accident. She never left.
That journey — from hesitant beginner to published author — became the foundation of her writing. She writes about what the mat teaches you when you stop resisting it: about strength, loss, identity, and the quiet power of doing hard things over and over again.
Her work has been featured in M2 Woman Magazine and the BJJHOOD podcast, and she speaks at events about resilience, transformation, and the philosophy of movement.
For Academies & Schools
Bring these books to your team
Both books work beautifully as academy resources — conversation starters for white belts, perspective shifts for veterans, and gifts that reinforce the culture you're building on your mats.
Contact for bulk pricing and signed copies for your academy.