This is Pippa. She spent her early years skate-boarding, sailing and catching lizards around Rye, wanting be a vet when she grew up. After finishing school, she spent a few months in Nth America snow-boarding, only to return too fit to sit around studying.
You did cross-fit every single day for seven years?
No breaks. I started coaching, and then competing. In 2011 I was two spots away from being part of the biggest cross-fit competition in Australia. Only 50 were are chosen to compete.
You were a Ninja Warrior before they were even a thing.
Nah – I’m way more shredded now – back I was still a little weed. Plus I was a vegan. It wasn’t until I started Olympic weightlifting and eating meat again that I began getting real muscle.
You accredit a lot of it to food – ultimate day diet?
Bfast: 4 eggs, avocado and salad with apple cider vinegar
Lunch: wagyu meat, bone broth and silver beet
Dinner: slow cooked red meat with roast veggies
I don’t like coffee, fruit or snacking.
Got any titles?
I’m the 2016 light weight no-gi blue belt World Champion in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ). arrived a week early but couldn’t train because I had a bulged disc in my neck from sitting weird on the plane. I still won. Also
– Pan Pacific champion in multiple divisions (2015)
– placed third at the 2017 Japan ADCC which is a grappling tournament.
Ever hurt yourself bad?
At the start of the year I tore ligaments from my knee in training. I couldn’t walk, I just lay there with my knee in spasms. I was totally fkced. I spent months doing small rehab, slowly resorting basic function: wiggling my toes, moving my ankle, then gently bending my knee, taking baby steps literally until I was better.
No surgery?
I think we rush to surgery too quickly nowadays, and don’t go ahead with common sense. I think surgery is necessary sometimes but I think it should be a last resort rather than an option. A friend had the same thing happen to his knee, the doctors told him he had to get surgery but I helped him rebuild it the way I did, and he is also healed.
… AAAAAND haven’t you forgotten something???
Ten days ago I won my first MMA fight for Push The Hex aka the Aussie UFC. Three min x five rounds. I had really bad liver poisoning after a heavy body shot in training a week before it. I didn’t really recover until two days before the fight.
Were you hurting the following day?
I got kneed multiple times, punched in the face and kicked heaps, then ended up spewing right after I won – but I didn’t really bruise or feel that bad the next day. I was still pumped about it to be honest.
You’re a WEAPON PIP. What next?
I got my BJJ purple belt a few weeks ago, so maybe will try to go to World’s with my coach, training partner, best friend and maddawg boyfriend Jules.