- At just 17 years old, Helena Crevar has officially received her Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt — and not from just anyone, but from legendary coach John Danaher.
- The Helena Crevar black belt promotion took place at Kingsway Jiu-Jitsu, formerly known as New Wave, and it marks a symbolic passing of the torch to a new generation of elite female grapplers.
- Helena is now John Danaher’s first-ever female black belt.
Grappling’s Teenage Prodigy Gets the Black Belt Nod from Danaher
In a moment as historic as it was inevitable, Helena Crevar’s black belt promotion was announced this week by none other than John Danaher himself.
The 17-year-old has been dominating elite-level opponents in no-gi tournaments for the past two years, racking up submissions and superfight wins with a fearlessness that defies her age.
Danaher — known for shaping the likes of Gordon Ryan, Garry Tonon, and Nicky Rodriguez — doesn’t hand out belts lightly. His student promotions are deliberate and often years apart. Which is why Crevar’s ascension has caused such a stir.
There is no one who deserves it more than @helenajiujitsugirl. She is here every day, twice a day, 7 days a week. She never complains, always trains hard, and is here the morning after big competitions.
– Gordon Ryan –
This Isn’t Just Another Black Belt
It’s not every day a teen BJJ prodigy receives a black belt from the most respected mind in modern jiu-jitsu.
But for Helena Crevar, whose career includes appearances on Who’s Number One, Polaris, and several top submission-only cards, this was more than just a ceremonial milestone — it was validation.
Crevar made waves for being one of the few teens competing (and winning) against seasoned black belts before officially holding the rank herself. She’s faced and submitted names years older, often stepping in as a late replacement or underdog, and proving she belongs at the top tier.
Today is one of the most special days for me and in my jiujitsu career, that I’ll remember and cherish as one of the most meaningful moments for the rest of my life
– Helena Crevar –
The First Female John Danaher Black Belt
The black belt promotion wasn’t livestreamed, hyped, or broadcast on a podcast — it came via a single photo on social media, posted by Crevar with her signature smile and Danaher standing beside her. Subtle? Yes. But its implications for the sport are anything but.
For Kingsway Jiu-Jitsu, the team formerly known as New Wave, it’s the latest move in a rebranding effort that seems to signal a focus on developing future stars rather than relying solely on legacy names.
It also comes during a period where Danaher himself has been stepping back from day-to-day coaching duties due to ongoing surgeries, making his presence and endorsement all the more significant.
We all got to watch history today as John Danaher, after 30 years of Jiu-Jitsu, promoted his 1st female black belt.
– Gordon Ryan –
What This Means for Women in BJJ
Crevar’s promotion also reopens the conversation around women in BJJ — not just as competitors, but as centerpieces in elite teams. Her black belt isn’t an outlier; it’s a forecast.
The women’s divisions have been heating up in recent years thanks to athletes like Ffion Davies, Elisabeth Clay, and Brianna Ste-Marie. But Crevar, with her youth and star power, could soon surpass them in mainstream recognition.
She’s already shown a flair for both self-promotion and submission-hunting, a deadly combo in today’s grappling ecosystem. And now, after the Helena Crevar black belt promotion, sponsorships, superfights, and perhaps even mixed-rules bouts are definitely in her future.
I’ve been competing with black belts since I was 14 years old and a green belt whenever competitions allowed me and now I’m officially a black belt, so I can’t wait to step on the mats as a black belt and make my team proud!
– Helena Crevar –
Helena Crevar Black Belt Promotion Is Just the Beginning
The Helena Crevar black belt moment may seem like the closing of a chapter — but it’s actually the start of something far bigger. With her new rank and Danaher’s stamp of approval, she’s now on a collision course with the top athletes in her division.
Whether she chooses to focus on submission grappling, jump into ADCC, or test herself in other formats, one thing is certain: she’s no longer the underdog teen with a blue or purple belt. She’s a black belt — and now the target on her back just got bigger.
