Albuquerque teen wins two gold medals at national jiujitsu tournament

An Albuquerque teen captured two gold medals at a recent national jiujitsu tournament, adding to the title she won last year.

Sarah Souza, 14, won the gi and no-gi divisions at the 2024 International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation American Nationals in Las Vegas, Nevada last weekend and now has her eyes set on a gold medal at the 2024 World Championships in Kissimmee, Florida on July 26-28. She took third place at last year’s world championships.

Souza has been practicing jiujitsu, a martial art that combines elements of judo and wrestling, since she was 9. She now competes in the heavyweight division of her age group and is an orange belt, which is held by advanced teen practitioners.

“If I feel I need to ever take a breath or let out any anger, I always go to jiujitsu,” she said during an interview with the Journal. “(It helps with) self defense and it keeps me healthy.”

Souza, a heavyweight, won a title in the gi division at the American Nationals for the second straight year and added a no-gi championship this year. A gi is traditional martial arts attire. Competitors in the no-gi division fight in athletic wear. This year she won all of her fights through submission and competed in the Teen 3 category, for practitioners ages 14 and 15 years old.

She is currently home schooled and trains three hours a day, six days a week at the Carlson Gracie Coyote Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Academy, run by her professor (instructor) and stepfather, Daniel Souza, a sixth-degree black belt, the highest ranking in New Mexico.

“I think the most important part (about jiujitsu) was not the fighting part, but it that it helped (Sarah) build confidence,” Daniel said. “Now, she’s very confident in what she is doing, not only on the mats, but in school, (doing) chores in the house, and with social relationships. She’s not scared anymore.”

Gabriela Souza said she and Sarah, her daughter, came to Albuquerque survivors of domestic violence.

“(Sarah) had a lot of feelings, she wanted to protect herself,” Gabriela said. Sarah found jiujitsu and “fell in love with it.”

Sarah said she aspires to train in jiujitsu for the rest of her life and to level up to a black belt, but simultaneously wants play a pivotal role in the lives of other survivors of domestic violence by teaching them how to defend themselves through jiujitsu. She said she plans to stay in New Mexico for college and become a veterinarian and jiujitsu coach.