Women in BJJ: Top Athletes, History and Training Guide

Women's BJJ has gone from a niche to one of the fastest-growing parts of the sport. The current generation of female athletes is competing at every major event, the women's brackets at IBJJF Worlds and ADCC are deep and competitive, and most modern academies have an active women's training community. This is the working guide: the top athletes, the history, the challenges, and what newcomers should know.

At a glance

• Top current female BJJ athletes: Bia Mesquita, Mayssa Bastos, Danielle Kelly, Ffion Davies, Tayane Porfírio, Tammi Musumeci, Gabi Garcia (heavyweight), Helena Crevar (rising prospect)
• Major women's BJJ events: IBJJF Worlds, IBJJF Pans, ADCC (since 2022 with full women's divisions), WNO, Polaris
• Belt system: Identical to men's. Same time-in-grade, same standards, same ranks
• Women-only classes: Available at many major academies. A good starting point for absolute beginners

A short history of women in BJJ

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu was male-dominated for most of its history. The Gracie family produced female practitioners early (notably Yvone Duarte, the first female BJJ black belt, promoted in 1990), but women remained a small minority on the mats through the 1990s.

Things shifted in the late 1990s and 2000s. A new generation of female competitors began to win major titles and bring visibility to women's BJJ. The IBJJF added more women's divisions over time. Female-only training spaces and women's competitions appeared. By the 2010s, women's BJJ was an established part of the sport rather than an afterthought.

The 2020s have accelerated this further. ADCC added a full women's bracket. WNO regularly features women's main-event matches. Female competitors now sign professional contracts comparable to many of their male peers.

Pioneers and early champions

The names that opened the door:

• Yvone Duarte: The first female BJJ black belt, promoted in 1990. Pioneered competitive women's BJJ in Brazil.
• Megumi Fujii: Japanese grappler and MMA fighter who held a long undefeated MMA streak and was foundational to early women's submission grappling.
• Kyra Gracie: Granddaughter of Robson Gracie. Multiple-time IBJJF World Champion in the early 2000s and one of the most visible women's BJJ figures of her era.
• Hannette Staack: Multiple-time IBJJF World Champion and ADCC veteran. One of the most decorated women's competitors of the 2000s.
• Leticia Ribeiro: Multiple-time IBJJF World Champion under the Gracie Humaitá lineage.

Top current and recent female athletes

Bia Mesquita

Multiple-time IBJJF World Champion across weight classes and absolute. One of the most decorated women's competitors of the modern era. Known for a complete game with strong guard work and pressure passing.

Mayssa Bastos

Multiple-time IBJJF World Champion in the lighter weight classes. Known for an extremely technical guard game and consistent results across both gi and no-gi formats.

Danielle Kelly

ONE Championship submission grappling star and one of the most popular women's competitors of the modern era. Known for an aggressive submission game and crossover appeal beyond traditional BJJ. See our Danielle Kelly profile for the full take.

Ffion Davies

Welsh black belt and ADCC competitor. One of the most successful female grapplers from outside Brazil and the US. Known for a sharp, technical game in both gi and no-gi.

Tayane Porfírio

Heavyweight champion with multiple IBJJF Worlds titles. Known for her physicality and strong top game.

Tammi Musumeci

Multiple-time IBJJF World Champion and sister to Mikey Musumeci. Strong technical fundamentals carried from the same family pipeline as her brother.

Gabi Garcia

Multiple-time IBJJF World Champion in the women's heavyweight division. Dominated her weight class for nearly a decade and remains one of the most well-known names in women's BJJ.

Mackenzie Dern

BJJ black belt who transitioned to MMA in the UFC. Multiple-time IBJJF World Champion before the move to MMA and remains an influence on women's grappling.

Helena Crevar

Rising prospect at New Wave Jiu-Jitsu under John Danaher. ADCC medallist at age 17 and one of the most highly-rated young female grapplers in the world.

Tracey Goodell, Janni Larsson, and others

The depth of the women's competitive scene now means a long list of top-tier athletes beyond the names above. The lighter weight classes especially have become some of the most competitive divisions in the sport.

Challenges women face in BJJ

The honest version of the challenges, with practical context:

Training partner mismatch

In smaller academies, there may be no other women on the mats. The realistic response: most BJJ training is done with people of different sizes, and a well-coached academy will pair you with safe, controlled training partners (often, but not always, women).

Fewer female competitors

Brackets in lower belts and lighter weight classes are sometimes small at local competitions. The IBJJF and major federations have invested in growing the women's brackets, and at black belt and brown belt the brackets are now consistently deep.

Cultural barriers in some academies

Some academies still have a meaningful gender imbalance and a culture that does not actively welcome women. The fix is choosing your academy carefully: look for women already training there, ask about women's classes, and visit before committing.

Self-defence framing

A lot of women come to BJJ for self-defence specifically. The good news: BJJ is one of the most effective self-defence martial arts. The realistic note: practice ground escapes and standing self-defence specifically, since the average street altercation does not look like a competition roll.

How to start as a woman in BJJ

A working starting checklist:

• Find an academy with active women training. Ask the head instructor about women's classes, the women's roster, and the academy's culture.
• Try at least two academies before committing. Most offer free trial classes.
• Buy a properly fitted gi. Women's-cut gis are available from most brands; standard cuts also work, just check the size chart.
• Get a rashguard. Worn under the gi and required in most academies.
• Train consistently. Two to three sessions a week is the sweet spot for steady progress.
• Tap early. Especially in the first six months. Tapping is information, not failure.

For gear recommendations, see our best BJJ gis, best BJJ rashguards and BJJ gear guide.

Women-only classes and gyms

Women-only BJJ classes are increasingly common. They serve two purposes:

• An entry point for absolute beginners who are not yet comfortable on a mixed mat.
• A dedicated training space for women working on competition prep, where the size matchups are more consistent.

Some academies run women-only classes weekly or twice-weekly alongside the regular schedule. A few academies are women-only entirely. Both models work.

That said, training with mixed groups is essential for long-term development. Women who only train in women-only spaces miss out on the size-differential adaptations that BJJ specifically is built around.

Frequently asked questions

Who was the first female BJJ black belt? Yvone Duarte, promoted in 1990 in Brazil. She is widely credited as the pioneer of competitive women's BJJ.

Who is the best female BJJ athlete? The all-time conversation usually centres on Bia Mesquita, Mayssa Bastos, Kyra Gracie, Gabi Garcia (heavyweight) and Tayane Porfírio. The modern era includes Danielle Kelly, Ffion Davies and rising names like Helena Crevar.

Is BJJ good for women? Yes. It is technical, strength-economical, and effective for self-defence. It is also one of the most inclusive martial arts in terms of body types and training styles. The community is broadly welcoming and the sport rewards consistency over athleticism.

Are women's BJJ belts different from men's? No. Same belt system, same ranks, same time-in-grade. See our BJJ belt system for the full structure.

Are there enough women's BJJ competitions? The competitive scene has grown significantly in the last decade. IBJJF, ADCC, WNO and Polaris all run full women's brackets. At black belt and brown belt, brackets are now consistently deep. At lower belts and lighter weights in smaller regional events, brackets are sometimes thin.

Can women compete in ADCC? Yes. ADCC added full women's divisions in 2022. The two main weight classes are under 60 kg and over 60 kg.

Where can I find a women-only BJJ class? Most major BJJ academies in cities now run at least one women-only class a week. Check the schedule of any academy near you, or ask the head instructor.

Is BJJ effective for women's self-defence? Yes. The leverage-based system means BJJ works against larger opponents, which is the realistic scenario for most women's self-defence situations. The most effective self-defence training mixes BJJ with standing awareness and avoidance practice.

Should I train at a male-dominated academy as a woman? You can. Many of the best academies are male-dominated and welcoming to women. The key is finding one with at least a few women already training and a head instructor who prioritises culture. Visit before committing.

Are there female BJJ black belt instructors? Yes, and the number is growing. Look for women's-coached classes or ask about black belt instructors at academies you visit.

The bottom line

Women's BJJ is in the strongest position it has ever been. The competitive scene is deep, the academies are more welcoming, the role models exist, and the gear and training resources designed specifically for women have caught up. If you have considered training and put it off because BJJ felt male-dominated, it is worth a fresh look. The barrier to starting has never been lower.

For more, see our profile of Danielle Kelly, our BJJ belt system page, the top BJJ athletes round-up, and the BJJ gear and best BJJ gis buying guides.