When you think about the future of grappling, one name echoes louder every day: Helena Crevar. At just 16 years old, this BJJ prodigy has already carved her place among the sport’s elite. But what’s the secret behind her meteoric rise? Today on GrapplerHQ, we’re pulling back the curtain on Helena Crevar’s training methods, mentorships, and competition mindset that make her a force to be reckoned with.
Starting Young: Building a Foundation Early
Helena began her Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu journey at just 8 years old in Las Vegas, Nevada. Unlike many young athletes, she wasn’t just “dabbling”—from the start, Helena trained with intense focus. Her early competition career exploded, racking up over 150 matches (most of them submission victories) before even reaching her mid-teens.
Her standout accomplishments early on included:
- 6x Pan Kids Champion
- Fight 2 Win Champion
- Multiple NAGA Expert Titles
The lesson? Start early, start often, and build a competitive mindset right from the beginning.
Inside Helena Crevar’s Training Regimen
Helena’s training isn’t for the faint of heart. Here’s how she structures her preparation:
1. Balanced Gi and No-Gi Training
Unlike many specialists, Helena splits her time between Gi and No-Gi grappling. This keeps her game diverse and allows her to transition easily between IBJJF and ADCC-style rulesets.
2. Positional Sparring Focus
Helena spends countless hours in positional sparring — drills that sharpen her ability to fight from disadvantageous spots. Whether it’s back escapes, side control, or guard retention, she conditions her body and mind for every possible scenario.
3. Strength & Conditioning
Helena doesn’t rely solely on technical prowess. She incorporates:
- Resistance band work to strengthen her legs
- Functional strength training to improve grip and core stability
- Stamina circuits to maintain peak performance during long tournament days
(Yes, she’s working smarter and harder.)
4. Mental Preparation
Winning isn’t just physical — Helena practices visualization techniques and controlled breathing drills, both recommended by her coach to sharpen mental endurance under pressure.
Training Under the Legends: New Wave Jiu-Jitsu
One of the biggest turning points for Helena was joining New Wave Jiu-Jitsu, under the legendary John Danaher — the mastermind coach behind grappling titans like Gordon Ryan and Garry Tonon.
Danaher’s coaching has elevated Helena’s already brutal game to a whole new level:
- Stronger leg lock systems
- Tighter back control strategies
- Precise positional dominance mindset
Being immersed in a room full of world champions has pushed her to constantly seek small improvements daily — a true Danaher philosophy.
Recent Achievements: Proof Her Training Works
Helena’s results speak volumes:
- Double Gold at 2023 IBJJF No-Gi World Championships (with 100% submission rate)
- Silver Medalist at ADCC 2024 World Championships (-65kg division)
- Polaris Lightweight Champion
- WNO 145lb Champion
Even in setbacks, like her match against Sarah Galvao at the 2025 IBJJF Pan Championship, Helena’s attitude stayed resilient. She’s known for reviewing her footage immediately, finding flaws, and coming back sharper — the mark of a true champion.
Key Takeaways for Aspiring Grapplers
Helena’s rise isn’t accidental. If you want to take a page out of her book, focus on:
- Consistency over everything: Train often, even when motivation dips.
- Don’t specialize too early: Become dangerous in both Gi and No-Gi.
- Find great mentors: Train with the best, and learn from their systems.
- Sharpen the mental game: Mindset matters as much as mat time.
Conclusion
Helena Crevar is the perfect storm of passion, technique, and strategy — and she’s just getting started. Her training secrets are no longer secrets: it’s relentless work, world-class coaching, and a hunger to learn every single day. Grappling fans, if you’re not already following Helena’s journey, now’s the time — she’s rewriting the future of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Stay tuned here on GrapplerHQ for more athlete spotlights, technique breakdowns, and exclusive training insights!
