LONG BEACH, Calif. - eTradeWire -- In her first year as a black belt, Bridgett Brumbaugh of Active Jiu-Jitsu stormed onto the world stage, earning bronze in the Adult Female Black Belt division at the 2025 IBJJF World Jiu-Jitsu Championship. The prestigious event, held in Long Beach, California, at the Walter Pyramid, is considered the pinnacle of competition in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ).

Brumbaugh's path to the podium was nothing short of extraordinary. After a year of balancing law school, training, and competition, she faced the sport's most dominant figure, Gabrieli Pessanha, in the semifinals. Although Brumbaugh was submitted, her performance cemented her as a rising threat in the division. Pessanha went on to defeat Tayane Porfirio in the finals, claiming her tenth world title.

Brumbaugh's bronze medal comes after earning silver at the 2024 World Master IBJJF Championship, showcasing a rare level of consistency and determination across age and skill brackets.

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Her success at Worlds was made possible with the support of coach Professor Pierre Loarte, a black belt from Guigo Jiu-Jitsu International, known for his high-level instruction and global coaching experience in Peru, Brazil, and now the U.S. Loarte's guidance, paired with his dedication to using jiu-jitsu to uplift underserved youth, played a key role in preparing Brumbaugh for the sport's biggest stage.

"Bridgett has the heart, focus, and spirit that champions are made of," Loarte said. "This is only the beginning."

Other standout moments at the 2025 IBJJF Worlds included Erich Munis capturing his sixth Open Class world title, and Anderson Munis taking gold in Super-Heavyweight, both helping Fratres BJJ maintain its dominance among men's teams.

With her blend of grit, humility, and passion for animals and social justice, Bridgett Brumbaugh is more than a fighter she's a force to watch in the evolution of women's jiu-jitsu.