Teen Jiu-Jitsu Phenom Challenges Sport's Masculine Image

19-year-old Helena Crevar is the top-ranked and highest-paid athlete in women's no-gi Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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Helena Crevar, a 19-year-old from Texas, has quickly risen to become the top-ranked and highest-paid athlete in women's no-gi Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Despite her young age, she has compressed a typical five-year climb from purple belt to black belt into just nine months under the tutelage of legendary coach John Danaher. Crevar's dominance in the sport, which is often seen as masculine, is challenging the narrative and helping to draw more women to the sport.

Why it matters

Crevar's rapid rise and success in the male-dominated sport of jiu-jitsu is challenging the perception that it is a masculine endeavor. Her emergence as a female star is helping to draw more women to the sport and break down gender barriers.

The details

Born in Las Vegas to Serbian immigrants, Crevar was homeschooled and steered into multiple sports before discovering Brazilian jiu-jitsu at age 8. Once shy and bullied, she became obsessed with the strategy and technique of the sport, returning to gyms where she had previously been beaten and studying the moves with precision. Crevar has now amassed 354 fights with just 7 losses, finishing 307 matches by submission. She recently won a $100,000 purse at a major tournament, still half of what male champions earn but a record-setting amount for a woman.

  • Crevar discovered Brazilian jiu-jitsu at age 8.
  • Crevar compressed a typical 5-year climb from purple belt to black belt into just 9 months.
  • Crevar recently won a $100,000 purse at a major tournament.

The players

Helena Crevar

A 19-year-old from Texas who is the top-ranked and highest-paid athlete in women's no-gi Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

John Danaher

Crevar's legendary coach who has helped guide her rapid rise in the sport.

Xande Ribeiro

A world champion in jiu-jitsu who says what Crevar has done is "unprecedented".

Ruben Delgadillo

One of Crevar's early coaches who described her as being "like an android" in her precision and technique.

Mark Zuckerberg

A figure who has voiced the claim that jiu-jitsu cultivates "masculine energy", a notion that Crevar's success challenges.

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What they’re saying

“What she has done, it's unprecedented. I don't think anyone can ever reproduce [it].”

— Xande Ribeiro, World champion (Texas Monthly)

“She was like an android. If you told her to move three inches to the left, she'd move exactly three inches to the left.”

— Ruben Delgadillo, Early coach (Texas Monthly)

“It's a rough sport—a fighting sport, but maybe not masculine—girls can do it as well.”

— Helena Crevar (Texas Monthly)

The takeaway

Helena Crevar's rapid rise and dominance in the male-dominated sport of jiu-jitsu is challenging the perception that it is a masculine endeavor. Her emergence as a female star is helping to draw more women to the sport and break down gender barriers, proving that women can excel at the highest levels of this fighting discipline.