Another European championship weekend, another two gold medals for Onyx ZR Team Northampton. At the 2026 European Kids IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi Championship in Lisbon on 10–11 October, Monét and Naimah returned as defending champions after winning gold at last year's event in Dublin. Both returned with gold again, but their stories could hardly have been more different.
For Monét, the weekend was about technical execution under pressure. For Naimah, an unexpected change of plans became a lesson in coaching. Together, their experiences show what we want to develop through kids Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Northampton: intelligent, adaptable young athletes.
Monét: two matches, two submissions and a seven-second finish
Defending a European title brings expectations. Monét entered a four-person division and made an extraordinary start: her opening match ended in a submission after just seven seconds. She followed it with another submission victory in the final, winning both matches and successfully defending her title.
Two fights. Two submissions. Another European gold. The finish was spectacular, but the real story is the training behind it: recognising an opportunity, controlling the exchange and executing with precision under pressure.
Naimah: a gold medal without a match—and a new responsibility
Naimah travelled to Lisbon determined to defend her title on the mat. Unfortunately, a late withdrawal left her without an opponent. Despite efforts to find a replacement, no suitable contest could be arranged and she was awarded gold uncontested.
That distinction matters. Naimah did not win a competitive match this weekend, and missing the opportunity to test herself was disappointing. Yet she did not waste the experience. Instead, she stepped into the coaching role, guiding Monét, observing opponents and helping with tactical decisions.
Her preparation increasingly involves studying footage, analysing performance metrics and developing technical and tactical strategies. In Lisbon, she had to apply those habits from the corner, communicating useful observations while somebody else competed.
Teaching young Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu athletes to think
Good BJJ for kids means more than showing techniques and asking students to repeat them. Why does an opponent lose balance? What makes a submission available? When should an athlete maintain control, change direction or abandon an attack? We want children to understand those principles and learn to solve problems.
Naimah's contribution demonstrates why. Coaching requires observation, pattern recognition and communication, all of which can deepen an athlete's understanding of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and improve their own future performances.
What international competition teaches our kids grappling team
Across both days in Lisbon, we recorded footage, reviewed performances and studied some of Europe's emerging grappling talent. We looked at positional exchanges, technical decisions and how young competitors respond under pressure.
Not every observation becomes a new technique. Sometimes it confirms something we already teach; sometimes it exposes a weakness or changes how we understand a position. We bring those lessons back to Northampton to improve the way we coach. Competition isn't just about collecting medals. It's about collecting knowledge.
Kids BJJ, wrestling and judo in Northampton
Our wider youth grappling pathway includes kids Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, kids wrestling and kids judo. Judo develops balance, posture, throwing mechanics and safe falling; wrestling builds takedowns, pressure and scrambling; Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu develops positional control, escapes, submissions and technical problem-solving.
Although No-Gi BJJ is not the same sport as judo, principles such as timing and off-balancing can transfer when adapted to different grips and rules. The aim is a versatile technical foundation, not to confuse disciplines.
Competition is optional. Some children pursue international medals, while others train for confidence, coordination, friendships and the satisfaction of learning a demanding skill. Both belong in a strong youth programme.
Two golds. Two different stories. One stronger team.
Monét defended her European title with two submissions. Naimah received an uncontested gold, then made a valuable contribution from the coaching corner. We are proud of both athletes for the way they approached the weekend.
We return to Northampton with two medals, another year of experience and new knowledge to share. The medals are a reward for the journey. The knowledge is what we bring home.
ONYX ZR TEAM NORTHAMPTON — Always thinking one, two, sometimes three steps ahead.
Looking for kids Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Northampton?
Explore our kids martial arts programme, meet our coaching team, see the current timetable or request a free first class. We confirm the suitable session before you attend.
Further reading: Monét's journey to Lisbon · Onyx competition team · Official IBJJF results.