Olympic Champion Helen Maroulis Secures Her First In-Competition Submission

[@davidvincent3959]

Nice job to both competitors. No easy match up taking on an Olympic wrestler in a no - gi tournament.

[@dewalddewet759]

Reverse the roles, and make it a wrestling match. Helen will tech her in no more than 30 seconds.

[@nathanlosinski824]

Congratulations Helen!

[@TigrMchine]

From a competion standpoint, blue has always been broken. And this match is exhibits A, B, and C. An Olympic wrestler should have to compete at a minimum of purple, even with 2 months of BJJ training.

[@rstlr01]

I mean I came back to grappling after 18 years away as a very average out of shape former d2 college wrestler and was subbing blue belts within a couple months. Have even won a couple blue belt sub only comps in the gi. Got 1 stripe on my white belt after a years IBJJF is to blame apparently.

[@timothycarey3883]

The blue belt division is full of purple belt sandbaggers, rarel a newer blue in their.

[@TigrMchine]

@@timothycarey3883 I partially agree. The athlete doesn't decide their belt though. Their coaches do, and the organzations like IBJJF decide what makes someone auto-blue, auto-purple etc,

[@TigrMchine]

@@rstlr01 Yeah, I've seen wrestlers make the transition after a layoff. 90% of the time they take it to sub grappling with the quickness.

[@tichtran664]

Sorry NO CAN DO. IBBJF set up the rules. Heck even a person who has done BOTH Judo and freestyle wrestling ( as well as sambo, MMA,and beach wrestling) HAVE to compete at blue belt level. Actually Laetitia Blot have AT LEAST 3-4 years bjj training ( along with Luta Livre training) for MMA so MAYBE Laetitia Blot can compete at purple belt level.

[@Leo_dude]

Watched all her matches, definitely blue belt in Jiujitsu skill

[@ccc-qo6ls]

Like you are the authority. Oh I forgot you’re a world champion black belt.

[@alexneville8168]

​@@ccc-qo6lsi think that was sarcasm

[@Seegie16]

yah maybe in submissions and guard. But a black belt in takedowns and positional wrestling which is whats considered the invisible aspects of bjj. So mno not fair. Shes a sandbagger

[@gabrielalicea4803]

❤❤❤❤ awesome!!! Congratulations

[@jr.8509]

Awesome she still on the mats

[@MrTresto]

The blue belt did pretty awesome considering she was going against an olympian wrestler

[@dewalddewet759]

She did not, considering that Helen is not a grappler.

[@mosey69]

Are we gonna see more of her matches??

[@williamworrell6058]

She’s gotta feel strong as hell

[@eugene7518]

Congratulations Helen Maroulis. December 12, 2024

[@conwaytwitty8634]

She’s a stud.

[@mineshaftrisotto]

Nice job Helen!

[@JacobsWay]

Great job to her opponent. Going against an Olympic wrestler is definitely no easy match and she did pretty well considering that. I do agree that anyone with a history of wrestling in the olympics shouldn't be at the blue belt level lol that's insane

[@jimmyjam86]

she's good

[@chethammer]

I've never seen aref in a suit before and I watch a lot of combat on KZbin

[@tichtran664]

Now imagine a person who has BOTH Judo and freestyle wrestling background. I remember Laetitia Blot ( first judoka then later freestyle wrestler. Also did sambo and later MMA) who did both. Was average in freestyle wrestling ( In fact in her FIRST UWW/ FILA international competition she was eliminated quickly). But I am sure she could do well in nogi and maybe also GI BJJ competitions.

[@tichtran664]

Laetitia Blot was average in freestyle wrestling and beach wrestling. Where there are NO submissions. But did well in judo , sambo, and MMA where there is submission.

[@tichtran664]

And I am sure Laetitia Blot can do well in catch wrestling where you could win by pin or submission.

[@АндрейСид-ф1м]

As much as I love judo, in the current IBJJF or ADCC rules, only wrestling and bjj matter. Judo is nice, but isn't going to be the difference in no-gi matches,

[@tichtran664]

@@АндрейСид-ф1м Well she did the wrestling part. Plus also trained in bjj and Luta Livre ( partly influenced by catch wrestling) for MMA.

[@WillGage-c7l]

Victoria Anthony

[@Ksmit192]

An Olympian can compete as a blue belt? If my Fuji suparaito gi is now illegal under the new ibjjf rules then this should be too.

[@willieluv]

She destroyed that poor girl mount twice 8 pts pass guard twice 6pts come on man it’s not fair

[@Alex-xg5gc]

@@Ksmit192 correction, the rules of the competition prevent even Olympic wrestlers from competing above blue until they've either won worlds or put in the required time and received a promotion from their coach ( who may decide to keep them at blue longer for reasons having nothing to do with what competition division is appropriate for them). Don't blame the competitor. Blame the ibjjf. If they've met their time in rank requirement and still being sandbagged, blame the coaches

[@emanuelsolis9481]

Sandbagging definition "to hide the truth about oneself so as to gain an advantage over another". In her case she didn't hide that she is an olympic gold medalist wrestler. It's not her fault at all if she was listed in blue belt division since IBJJF rules said so.

[@willieluv]

To be clear I am blaming her or holding ill will towards her. Her coaches should know better

[@Alex-xg5gc]

@@willieluv in her case the coaches have no say. The rules of this competition business actually force her to compete at blue belt. Her only options are to compete at blue or not compete at all.

[@shogunjobu]

❤❤❤❤

[@philippinepalestra]

Tbh, very few BJJ schools/instructors promote a student based on no gi grappling skills. If they do, it's kinda an honorary belt, especially when the student is really good in no gi competitions. More often than not, and we know it during promotion day, they promote based on technical proficiency in gi techniques. So technically and traditionally, Helen Maroulis, I believe, is a BJJ blue belt as far as gi grappling is concerned - her Oympic gold medal notwithstanding.

[@AnonbinArymouse]

Sounds like an antiquated system, not founded in the real world. Gi teaches you false grips, you're not going to pull off with anyone even remotely proficient in self-defense in warm weather locales. Not going to catch me wearing more than a t-shirt for ten months out of the year, and if you try the silly jumping nonsense, you're going to catch a punch, kick, or slam into the ground. No silly turtle defense for me, thank you. Yes, I roll both gi and no gi. Gi is clearly inferior, because guys I can roll stomp in no gi, can artificially pull on a gi, and a belt that hangs out. When will tradition for the sake of tradition go away? Why do you think judo produces the least amount of top ten competitors in MMA? Be honest, and you'll have to concede the truth. I love Jiu Jitsu, but gi was and is antiquated. It's mind-numbingly boggling that there isn't just a complete shift to no gi.

[@Алексей-н7н2щ]

what is color of belt opponent?

[@moonrunrs]

Blue

[@froggy3496]

are you blind brother

[@lordsneed9418]

great wrasslin

[@animadverte]

Belts should be abolished, as in wrestling and combat sports. Keep them for recreative practicians at most, not for sport competitions.

[@eugene7518]

I agree. Abolish all belts. This makes IBJJF more legit and prestigious. December 17, 2024

[@Tjk55555]

Where’s pat’s match

[@honeyhole411]

Oh the classic “grab a head and queeze” 😅

[@elee717]

Imagine doing bjj for only 2 years and you draw her as your first round 🤣

[@piratapirata78]

Helen Maroulis vs ?????

[@makingkidsgreatagain3043]

How irresponsible of the ibjjf to put a monster like this in blue belt 😅

[@cheesetoochalk]

Shield Maiden.

[@julesverne5072]

A pro wrestler against a blue belt… c mon😂

[@tichtran664]

@@julesverne5072 LOL 🤣. I like the word " pro wrestler". Remind me of Kevin Lloyd a " pro wrestler" who is ALSO a REAL catch wrestler ( snake pit Wigan) , freestyle wrestler, and bjj competitor.

[@dewalddewet759]

She not a pro wrestler genius.

[@x-Musashi-x]

Olympic wrestlers or Olympic judokas at blue belt? 😂

[@johndiramio]

0 bjj just smash i feel bad for blue belt

[@behindtheseeyesiseewhatyou8953]

Waste of time. Transition to Judo and get a gold.

[@anthonypearsall5851]

Wrestling for about 20+ years, Helen Maroulis has been smashed to the mat thousands of times and it adds up (she's 34 now). She was recommended to try BJJ after her most recent injury and finds it much easier on the body. Sport judo is all about being smashed to the mat thousands of times -- getting away from that was the goal.

[@behindtheseeyesiseewhatyou8953]

@ yeah BJJ is for those who can’t hang with Judo. I agree

[@tichtran664]

​​@@behindtheseeyesiseewhatyou8953 Disagree. Judo don't have leg lock heck judo DON'T allow leg grabbing anymore. They don't have nogi competition. DON'T allow cross training anymore. The ONLY time judokas won at ADCC is when judokas ALSO knows catch wrestling ( Sanae Kikuta) or BJJ.

[@tichtran664]

Right how many judokas won at ADCC?!Not many. Only a few like Sanae Kikuta who knew BOTH Judo and catch wrestling.

[@behindtheseeyesiseewhatyou8953]

@ top judoka have this little thing know as…… The Olympics… silly wabbit