Unseen Champions

The Hidden Youth of Jiu Jitsu

The air was thick and heavy inside the José Correa Sports Arena. The chants of various Jiu Jitsu teams echoed off the walls, the rhythmic thuds of bodies hit the mats like war drums. Fighters twisted and tussled on the mats, their faces scrunched in effort as they fought to gain an inch on their opponent. I sat there, spooning açaí into my mouth, my eyes fixed on the athletes pouring every ounce of themselves into each exchange. This wasn't just Jiu Jitsu. This was survival. This was a shot at being seen. A shot at a future.

I had traveled to Brazil to coach one of my students at the Brazilian National Jiu Jitsu Tournament. But as I sat there, surrounded by that raw, unfiltered intensity, I started to see things differently. What I thought was a simple coaching trip became something much more expansive – a wake-up call, a reminder of what this art truly means to those whose lives it can shift in an instant.

That's when she appeared – Maria. Standing tall, two gold medals glinting around her neck, she approached us directly as we sat in the stands. She had been making her way through the crowd, speaking to anyone with ears to listen who might help her get to the World Championships. Just minutes before, she had dominated her category and the absolute division, winning double gold against some of the toughest competitors in the country. And now, this champion was standing before me, selling raffle tickets, humbly asking for R$10,00 – the equivalent of $1.74 USD – to fund her dream of competing in the US. She was nervous, but when she spoke, her voice was steady. First, in Portuguese. Then, after I fumbled with my phone's translation app, she gracefully switched to English.

That small act said everything – her determination to connect with the world beyond Brazil, her willingness to fight for her dreams.

Maria is not a tragic story. She's a normal, hardworking kid who's poured countless hours into her training. In many ways, athletes like Maria are fortunate to be born in Brazil—the cradle of Jiu Jitsu where the sport is woven into the culture. Here, they have access to world-class coaching, can dedicate themselves to training days without social stigma and distraction, and grow up in an environment where the art is respected and understood. Yet this same birthplace presents the ultimate paradox—the financial barriers and visa restrictions that make competing in the US seem nearly impossible. Their talent and dedication alone are not enough; without financial support, even the most promising champions remain unseen beyond Brazil's borders, their future determined largely by chance encounters with those who might help them bridge that gap.

I handed her R$100,00 – about $18 USD. "I can't accept that," she said, looking concerned. "I don't have change..." I smiled and replied, "It's ok, I want to help." Her eyes widened with surprise as she accepted it. "May God bless you!" she exclaimed, the sincerity in her voice unmistakable. You could tell she walked away feeling one step closer to her goals. But in that moment, I thought little of it. I joked to my student that she could use a training partner like Maria. She agreed. We laughed it off and continued watching the tournament, the encounter already fading among the day's many memories.

It wasn't until later that night, alone with my thoughts in the hotel room, that the interaction replayed in my mind. "May God bless you," she had said. He already has, I thought to myself, a million times over. I was sitting there in that arena because of it. Perhaps it was for a reason, perhaps it was now my turn to be that blessing for someone else.

I continued to think about it more when I returned home the next day.

Was this really how these incredible athletes from Brazil made it to America? Selling raffle tickets and asking for small donations from strangers? No wonder some of these talents don't appear on the international scene until much later in their careers—if ever.

I couldn't help but connect her situation to my own past struggles. Growing up with little opportunity, finding refuge in Jiu Jitsu, and ultimately discovering myself and my purpose. Now I saw a need that directly correlated with my lived experience. I realized that my entire journey might have been preparation for moments like this—to recognize in others the same passion for jiu-jitsu that had transformed my own journey.

Looking back, I can see God's hand in this encounter. While Maria was pouring her heart into training, pushing through six-hour days, operating completely on faith that it will one day amount to something, God was simultaneously preparing my heart to recognize true passion when I saw it. He was cultivating in me the ability to see the abundance behind a simple request for help. What appeared as chance—being in that exact arena when Maria approached—was actually two separate journeys of preparation converging at precisely the right moment.

I've always said that passion lies at the intersection of preparation and opportunity. But now I understand something deeper—God works on both sides of that equation. He prepares hearts to give and hearts to receive, cultivating passion in one life while developing the ability to recognize and nurture it in another. When these prepared paths intersect, something extraordinary happens.

In Maria, I witnessed this intersection. Her passion was unmistakable, her preparation evident on the mats that day. But it was her boldness that truly stood out to me—that willingness to approach strangers, to put herself out there and grab life by the lapels. Many athletes have talent and work ethic, but that courage to actively seek opportunity, to declare it to the world, that was the difference maker. The opportunity now stands before her—a chance to compete on the world stage. Yet despite all her preparation and undeniable talent, there remains one obstacle that passion alone cannot overcome: resources.

She can't do it alone. The difficulty securing a visa, the cost of flights, accommodations, tournament fees – it all adds up. That's why I'm reaching out to you, my community, to help bridge the gap for Maria. With your support, we can bring her to Long Beach, California, where she can showcase her Jiu Jitsu on the world stage and inspire every young fighter back home who dreams of doing the same.

In supporting Maria, we're participating in what God has already set in motion. He prepared her through years of dedication and prepared me to recognize potential. Now, perhaps, He's preparing you to be part of the next chapter in her journey.

If you feel inspired to contribute, to be part of this life-changing opportunity, please reach out. Together, we can change the trajectory of a young athlete's life – and in doing so, we might just discover the purpose behind our own journeys of preparation.

And this is just the beginning. This initiative, which I'm calling "Gentle World," aims to support more young athletes near and far who demonstrate this same dedication to their craft but lack the opportunities and resources to reach their potential. The name reflects both our beloved "gentle art" of Jiu Jitsu and our mission—with your help, we hope to create a gentler world by opening doors for talented young athletes like Maria. Each hidden champion we help today creates ripples that will transform the sport tomorrow.

Thank you for your continued support and for being part of a community that believes in the power of Jiu Jitsu to transform lives.