Brown belt

Leslie "The Peacemaker" Smith is a Brazilian jiu jitsu brown belt and a pioneering former professional mixed martial artist. Known worldwide for her relentless pace, high-volume striking, and refusal to back down, she now channels that same intensity into building confident, technical, and solid training partners on your home mats. Leslie blends her Cesar Gracie jiu jitsu roots with the lessons of a lifetime in combat sports. 

Over a twelve-year MMA career, Leslie competed on the sport’s biggest stages, including Invicta FC, the UFC, and Bellator as “The Peacemaker”. She logged more than twenty professional fights against elite opposition and became a fan favorite for her grit, forward pressure, and willingness to take on anyone, anytime. That experience deeply shapes her teaching: she knows what works under real pressure and what actually keeps people safe.

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Beyond the wins and records, Leslie’s story is about resilience and advocacy. She has fought through injuries, tough losses, and the politics of professional fighting, and emerged as a respected voice for athlete rights and safer, more equitable training environments. That same protective instinct shows up on your mats: she is fiercely committed to making Discovery Bay Jiu Jitsu a place where beginners feel welcome, women feel supported, competitors feel challenged, and everyone has permission to learn at their own pace.