Step into any serious grappling conversation and you’ll soon hear the name Helena Crevar. At just 18 years old, she’s already shaking up the world of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and now stepping into ONE Championship’s grappling arena. Her story is less about hype and more about a decade-long commitment to the art.
A Decade On The Mats, Starting At Age 8
Training began early for Helena, starting at just eight years old in Las Vegas. By her teens, she was already setting herself apart, winning international awards in both Gi and No‑Gi. But at 15, she made a decisive move, relocating to Austin, Texas, to train under John Danaher’s elite New Wave Jiu-Jitsu team. That move, in many ways, launched her into the spotlight.
The Danaher Path: From Junior Black Belt To Female First
Being coached by John Danaher means understanding Jiu-Jitsu as a system, not just a game. Under his guidance, and often alongside top names like Gordon Ryan and Garry Tonon, Helena accelerated through the ranks with surgical precision and vision.
Promotions came quickly: she earned her purple belt in September 2024, brown in December 2024, and officially received her black belt in June 2025, making her the first woman ever awarded a black belt directly by Danaher. That’s not path-based, it’s performance-based elevation.
Elite Titles Before Adulthood
At just 17, Helena became the youngest medalist in ADCC history, earning silver and also being the first female athlete to execute a heel hook submission during the tournament. That alone marked her arrival among the elite of the sport.
Her resume doesn’t stop there. In 2024 she took the Polaris 70 kg championship, and in 2025, she tabulated major titles at the IBJJF World and Pan Championships at brown belt, claiming the championship title in both events.
Why She Stands Out
What makes Helena so rare isn’t just the medals that she’s won, but her mindset.
Many argue that she’s been competing with black belt-level intensity since long before she technically earned the rank. That being said, her game isn’t just one-dimensional. Her stats speak for itself :her submission rate is over 60% by heel hooks and leg attacks. Her mindset is analytical, deliberate, and fearless, even under fatigue.
She treats each match like data; every training session a time of refinement and every competition a lesson. She exemplifies the Danaher school ethos: strategic, scientific, and always precise.
Next Chapter At ONE Championship
With her ONE Championship signing now official, Helena joins a promotion investing in women’s grappling. She’s the first female grappling signing at bantamweight and featherweight there. While her first challenger hasn’t been named yet, but if her past is any indicator, she’ll most definitely face her opponents with composure and control.
Why You Should Watch
Helena Crevar is more than a young black belt. She’s a template for what modern Jiu-Jitsu can be for aspiring female grapplers, a blend of attack, strategy, and composure. She rose not by inheritance or hype but by consistent, daily improvements under one of the sport’s greatest strategists.
It’s certain that everyone can most definitely see her as proof that passion plus smart coaching equates to performance, even when that performance starts as a teenager.
That being said, after the hype and seeing her track record, are you as excited to watch her unfold in ONE Championship as we are? Let us know who you’d like to see her face first!
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