John Danaher, the renowned coach of Gordon Ryan, the best No-Gi grappler in the world and owner of Kingsway Jiu Jitsu, has recently taken on a new protégé: Helena Crevar. You may have heard of the Ruotolos, a young family who achieved great success in the grappling world, and you will soon be hearing more about Helena too. In fact, Ryan even mentions her in his book, praising her marketing and branding skills, particularly her signature pigtails.
Update: Helena Crevar Makes History at CJI 2 (August 2025)
Helena Crevar just added another massive achievement to her young career, winning the most lucrative women’s jiu-jitsu tournament in history at CJI 2. The 18-year-old New Wave standout defeated Sarah Galvao in the finals, securing not only revenge for a previous loss in the gi, but also a record-setting $100,000 prize.
The path to the title wasn’t easy. Crevar edged past reigning ADCC double gold medalist Adele Fornarino in the opening round, then faced Galvao — fresh off her own upset win over Ana Carolina Viera. In a dramatic back-and-forth battle, Crevar sealed victory with a slick Aoki lock submission, cementing her status as one of the sport’s brightest stars.
With this victory, Crevar now holds titles across Polaris, Who’s Number One (WNO), and CJI, all before the age of 19. Her rivalry with Galvao is already being billed as one of the most exciting storylines in women’s grappling, and her win at CJI 2 confirms she’s not just a rising prospect — she’s firmly at the top of the sport.
Helena’s Background
Helena Crevar has rapidly risen through the Brazilian Jiu‑Jitsu ranks under the tutelage of John Danaher at New Wave/Kingsway Jiu‑Jitsu in Austin, Texas, a move she made at just 15 years old. Her progression through the belt system came at breakneck speed: she earned her purple belt in September 2024, her brown belt in December 2024, and made history in June 2025 as the first female athlete ever promoted to black belt by John Danaher .
Her competitive record is nothing short of astonishing. At just 17, she became the youngest ever medalist at the ADCC World Championship, securing a silver medal and becoming the first female to land a heel hook at the event . In 2024, she captured the Polaris 70 kg lightweight title, defending it successfully . Early in 2025, she cemented her elite status by submitting Elisabeth Clay at WNO 27, becoming the youngest WNO featherweight champion . She also swept the IBJJF World and Pan Championships at brown belt in 2025 .
In terms of sheer numbers, her win rate is staggering. Sources credit her with around 151 fights, 148 wins—with approximately 130 victories by submission, reflecting her technical dominance and finishing prowess . On Instagram, her stats reflect her current rankings: #1 at 155 lb, #2 at 145 lb, and #4 pound‑for‑pound globally, with undefeated records in major promotions like WNO, Polaris, UFC Fight Pass Invitational, and the KC Pit .
Helena Crevar Merch
Recently Helena has teamed up with future Kimonos (just like her team mate Gordon Ryan) and you can get your hands on her latest apparel, including her signature funky rashguards here.
Check out our 2025 edition of Rising Stars in BJJ.
