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Flowing with the Go: A Jiu-Jitsu Journey Of The Soul
Winner of three awards---a 2012 eLit Award, a 2013 Indie Next Generation Award, and a 2013 Living Now award---"Flowing with the Go-A Jiu-Jitsu Journey of the Soul" is the story of one woman's path through grief. For what seemed like a lifetime and probably was, Elena Stowell wandered aimlessly in a personal prison of self-doubt and lack of purpose after her fifteen-year-old daughter Carly died suddenly before her eyes. By some combination of miracle and necessity, she walked into a Seattle area Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu gym and rolled for the first time in her life. Through that experience and others that followed, Elena discovered the tenets of the martial art form and healing were the same. With a ripping raw honesty and refreshing balance of humor and introspection, Elena’s story reminds us to never stop panning for the gold within ourselves.
148 pages, Paperback
First published June 26, 2012
142 people want to read
About the author
Elena Stowell
11 books4 followers"Oh you're a writer."
"No, I'm a biology teacher"
I'm still working to add my new label to the others, mom, wife, daughter, sister, friend,teammate. Flowing with the Go went from being a therapy project to being a cathartic experience that helped free me from the lonely and desperate hold that grief had on me.
I found a sport, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, that helped me heal and provided a support group like no other. With my spirit renewed, Flowing with the Go has now inspired me to give back. After taking the Portuguese translation of my book to Brazil, I was touched by the positive way BJJ inspired the young children in the Projeto Social to work hard to improve themselves and their lives. I have a charitable project running to help this cause, Give the Gift of a Gi www.jamminbjj.org. My book has opened doors I never knew were there. Thank you your interest.
"No, I'm a biology teacher"
I'm still working to add my new label to the others, mom, wife, daughter, sister, friend,teammate. Flowing with the Go went from being a therapy project to being a cathartic experience that helped free me from the lonely and desperate hold that grief had on me.
I found a sport, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, that helped me heal and provided a support group like no other. With my spirit renewed, Flowing with the Go has now inspired me to give back. After taking the Portuguese translation of my book to Brazil, I was touched by the positive way BJJ inspired the young children in the Projeto Social to work hard to improve themselves and their lives. I have a charitable project running to help this cause, Give the Gift of a Gi www.jamminbjj.org. My book has opened doors I never knew were there. Thank you your interest.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
March 10, 2020
I can’t even begin to understand what she went through when she lost her daughter, right in front of her. Just the idea chills me to the bone. I am so glad that she had support and that she was able to find something to help her through her grief. Amazing story of resilience and strength. 4 stars. Highly recommended, but be warned when you read it you are a parent. She does discuss the loss of her daughter. It might be difficult for a parent to read.
Disclosure: I met the author and spoke with her at length at ALA one year. She is an amazing woman. Very strong and went through something no one should ever have to go through. I respect her and what she has done.
Disclosure: I met the author and spoke with her at length at ALA one year. She is an amazing woman. Very strong and went through something no one should ever have to go through. I respect her and what she has done.
February 19, 2019
Elena brings a strong and vulnerable voice to her personal story of healing from grief after her healthy and athletic teenage daughter suddenly dies. I loved how she wove the lessons she learned in Jiu-Jitsu with the very real lessons one experiences when healing from loss. Many times I realized tears were rolling down my face as I read and other times my mouth dropped in awe at the bravery and tenacity Elena exhibited as she found her way back from the depression that swallowed her. So very inspirational. Thank you, Elena for writing this beautiful tribute to yourself, to Carly, and to so many others who have experienced debilitating loss.
December 19, 2017
amazing book, i found myself nodding in agreement throughout the book
December 27, 2019
A short read on one woman’s journey through the grief of losing her daughter.
September 3, 2023
Excellent read.
December 11, 2013
The novel starts with the death of Elena's daughter, and Elena's struggle with her grief and inability to do anything. She starts doing physical activities to help work through this grief, and ends up finding Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. It details her training with Coach Foster at Foster Jiu Jitsu in Kent, WA, including her decision to start competing.
It's a book about loss, grief, healing, and jiu jitsu. In every aspect there is an exploration of Elena's emotions and how the training impacted that. She explores her family dynamics, including her relationship with her husband. Still, the focus is on how jiu jitsu helped her heal.
This was a hard book to read. I was in tears in the first chapter. As I've gotten older, my empathy has grown to a point where hints of things can make me cry, and this book was like being smacked in the face with tragedy. It was a hard enough read that I had to put it down for a week or two.
I enjoyed getting to know Elena through the book - she has put so much of herself into this book, and her heart shows through. I also liked getting to know BJJ through her eyes. It turns out Elena and I have a lot in common - celebrating small victories, to starting BJJ late in life, to our general outlook on BJJ. I also learned a lot about Coach Foster, and his teaching style.
I've written before about vulnerability in BJJ, and that's what struck me the hardest about this book - it was as vulnerable as you can get. It made me care for Elena, for her family, and for her situation. I think it would be impossible to read this and NOT feel care for her.
I would recommend this to people who like reading about grief recovery, or Lifetime style movies. It's not a plot heavy book, but rather an emotional exploration. It's also not heavy on BJJ terminology, so non-BJJ folks can enjoy it. It's also a good suggestion for coaches or teammates to help broaden their empathy as to other reasons people would start training. I would hesitate to give it to someone who had recently lost a loved one - I would wait until they were ready to read about someone else's pain.
Disclosure: Elena sent me this book free. She didn't ask me to write a review or to mention it on my site - she just wanted to share her heart with me.
It's a book about loss, grief, healing, and jiu jitsu. In every aspect there is an exploration of Elena's emotions and how the training impacted that. She explores her family dynamics, including her relationship with her husband. Still, the focus is on how jiu jitsu helped her heal.
This was a hard book to read. I was in tears in the first chapter. As I've gotten older, my empathy has grown to a point where hints of things can make me cry, and this book was like being smacked in the face with tragedy. It was a hard enough read that I had to put it down for a week or two.
I enjoyed getting to know Elena through the book - she has put so much of herself into this book, and her heart shows through. I also liked getting to know BJJ through her eyes. It turns out Elena and I have a lot in common - celebrating small victories, to starting BJJ late in life, to our general outlook on BJJ. I also learned a lot about Coach Foster, and his teaching style.
I've written before about vulnerability in BJJ, and that's what struck me the hardest about this book - it was as vulnerable as you can get. It made me care for Elena, for her family, and for her situation. I think it would be impossible to read this and NOT feel care for her.
I would recommend this to people who like reading about grief recovery, or Lifetime style movies. It's not a plot heavy book, but rather an emotional exploration. It's also not heavy on BJJ terminology, so non-BJJ folks can enjoy it. It's also a good suggestion for coaches or teammates to help broaden their empathy as to other reasons people would start training. I would hesitate to give it to someone who had recently lost a loved one - I would wait until they were ready to read about someone else's pain.
Disclosure: Elena sent me this book free. She didn't ask me to write a review or to mention it on my site - she just wanted to share her heart with me.
January 24, 2016
To say this book was a tearjerker does not do justice. It is more than that, it is a book written with heart and soul from a grieving Mother that turned tragedy into triumph. I have had a great blessing of knowing the author personally from when I was a student of hers in high school. Very well written and a very heartwarming story of overcoming adversity.
July 30, 2012
I missed this book when it was over. Elena has a strong spirit, beautiful soul, and amazing ability to write. I wish I could share Flowing with the Go with the entire world. Grieving or not; Jiu-Jitsu or not; parent or not . . . EVERYONE has something to absorb from Elena's journey.
April 15, 2013
An amazing personal journey, the author Elena Stowell shares her personal journey in such a way you can not put the book down once you start. This Portuguese version was edited and translated by Salomao Rovedo in Brazil. He did an excellent job!
October 14, 2012
I was fortunate enough to have been the editor and "writing coach" on this fabulous novel. It's one of which I am proudest.
Review: It will change your life, in all the right ways. Do it.
Review: It will change your life, in all the right ways. Do it.
January 10, 2013
Sad but good read. Very emotional.
April 15, 2013
One of the best books I have ever read! Once I started I could not put it down. This was a very honest book of loss and recovery! Elena Stowell is a very amazing lady.
April 8, 2015
Great book, though a bit of a tear jerker at times.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews