Kimberly Garrison: Roller-derby skater is kicking butt, taking names

DANECIA BERRIAN, a North Philadelphia native, is a compassionate, demure fifth-grade teacher by day and a rough-and-tumble roller-derby diva by night.

I was pleasantly surprised when the soft-spoken 30-year-old revealed that she was a roller-derby athlete when she came to me for workout advice.

I asked what attracted her to the sport, and she said: "I can take all of my aggression out on the floor. I can hit a girl going at the top speed with my body, put her on her ass or send her flying into the crowd and not have to apologize . . . because we're playing a sport. That to me is the best thing about roller derby."

Berrian got into the sport at the suggestion of her best friend, a roller-derby skater in Atlanta.

"I was bored and looking for a challenge, so I tried out for the [Philly Roller Girls] league in February 2006 with 150 other girls," Berrian recalled. Much to her surprise, she was one of 11 finalists selected that year, and she's been rocking and rolling ever since.

Berrian, one of only two African-American skaters in the Philly area league, and she says they're looking to diversify.

Now, if you think roller skating is just a fun cardio workout for girlie girls, you obviously have never seen a kick-butt women's roller-derby game. This is a sport for the warrior goddess who likes to glam up and kick butt, too.

Old-school roller derby came on the scene about 88 years ago. An original American contact sport, it's experiencing a rebirth these days mostly among women, both amateur and professional skaters. Currently, there are more than 200 all-female leagues throughout the United States.

Approximately 40 skaters comprise the Philly Roller Girls, made up of three teams - the Broad Street Butchers, the Heavy Metal Hookers and the Philthy Britches - plus the Liberty Belles, the all-star travel team.

A devastating blocker, Berrian plays for the Broad Street Butchers and the travel team. "It's all-female power, moving at speeds of 20 to 30 mph on skates," she said. "You can be 100 pounds or 250 pounds, but if you have the agility and skill, you can do this, too."

Determination, a competitive spirit and tough buns are also prerequisites for this gutsy sport that's attracting women from diverse backgrounds - bartenders, doctors, lawyers, artists and teachers like Berrian.

Roller derby is hard on the body; you need strong and flexible muscles to prevent injuries. Berrian works out in the gym besides team practices three to four nights a week. "It's hard work, and I don't think people realize what it really takes to do this sport - the practice, time and the effort," she said.

Besides sweat equity, players must invest in high-quality skates plus knee, elbow, wrist and mouth guards - gear that can cost upward of $500. Travel team members spend an additional $3,000 to $4,000 a year for travel expenses.

Knowing all this, if you think you've got what it takes, go to www.philly

rollerderby.com to find out when the next tryouts will be held. Or you can participate by cheering these courageous ladies on while they spin, soar and fly on skates.

The Warrior Cup Championship and East Coast Extravaganza are coming up in June at the league's home arena, the Sportsplex in Feasterville. Check the Web site for more details.

To help you prepare for your first roller-derby game, here's a brief glossary of some key terms:

WFTDA: Women's Flat Track Derby Association.

Fresh meat: New inductees.

Jammer: The player trying to complete a lap over the other team and score points.

Blocker: The player trying to stop a jammer from lapping and scoring.

Jam: The 90-second interval the jammer has to score points.

Period: Three 15-minute periods are played in a game.

Whipping: Pushing or pulling your teammate to gain momentum and speed.

Penalties: Illegal blocks, fights and bad behavior will get you in the penalty box.

Ben Miller has issued a challenge to people in the Delaware Valley who want to lose weight while also helping the hungry. He started the "Donate My Weight" campaign, which pairs weight loss with donations to help the hungry. Ben began this journey in January at 460 pounds; he's down 75 pounds and is donating a pound of food to the Philabundance food bank for every pound he loses. Go to

» READ MORE: www.donatemyweight.com

to find out more. *

Kimberly Garrison is a certified personal trainer and owner of One on One Ultimate Fitness in Philadelphia (www.1on1ultimatefitness.com).

E-mail her at

kimberly@1on1ultimatefitness.com. Her column appears each Thursday in Yo! Chat with her on her Daily News weblog, the Girlfriends' Locker Room, at www.girlfriendslockerroom.com. Her new podcast, "Philly Fitness and Health," is available for download every Thursday at www.philly.com.