Yacqueline Arosemena
Panamanian martial artist Yacqueline Arosemena just added a major milestone to her resume, taking home a bronze medal at the IBJJF World Championship in Las Vegas. It’s no secret that this annual Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tournament draws some of the toughest grapplers on the planet, making any podium finish a huge deal.
A Grueling Path to the Podium
She didn’t take the easy route to get there. Arosemena jumped into both the Adult and Master divisions, weighing in at a lean 135.6 pounds for the 141.8-pound bracket. Facing a stacked group of 12 fierce competitors, she battled her way through the ranks. She racked up two solid wins—including one via points and submission—before dropping a hard-fought match.
Achieving the Ultimate Black Belt Dream
The bronze medal wasn’t the only thing she took home from Vegas. In a massive career moment, Arosemena was officially promoted to black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. This adds yet another layer to her already impressive combat sports background, sitting right alongside an existing black belt in Karate and an orange belt in Judo.
Heartfelt Gratitude for Her Team
Reflecting on the weekend, she was quick to credit the people in her corner. “I am very happy for these achievements,” Arosemena shared, noting the prestige of such a high-level world event. She views the podium finish as a collective victory, giving special thanks to God, her husband, her family, head coach César Pérez, and her training partners at the Serpente Panama academy.
Dominating the Global Rankings
Honestly, this IBJJF run is just the latest highlight in what has been a stellar year. Back in early August, she captured her third Pan American Ne Waza championship alongside her second Fighting System title. The numbers speak for themselves: she’s currently ranked first in the Americas and eighth worldwide in Fighting System, plus second continentally and sixth globally in Ne Waza.
Riding a Serious Hot Streak
With a fresh black belt tied around her waist and a dominant streak across multiple grappling disciplines, Panama’s top martial artist is showing zero signs of slowing down. It’s going to be incredibly fun to watch where she decides to take her newly minted rank next.
