WRBJJ - Women Representing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Stats:
DOB – August 20, 1986
Hometown – Martinez, CA
Team – Nova Uniao/GD Jiu-Jitsu
Instructor – Gustavo Dantas
Training Since – October 22, 2007
Height – 5’5″
Weight Division – Feather (129 lbs)
Rank – 4th Degree Blue
Medal Count: 36 (23 Gold, 4 Silver, 9 Bronze)
2010 Rio International Open Champion
The first time Kristina Barlaan put a Gi on in October of 2007, she knew she had found more than just a hobbie or means of self-defense, she found something that she felt in the very pit of her heart, gut, and soul to be the embodiment of everything she could and wanted to be. Something that didn’t feel like forced learning, but something that felt like instinct, like a whole new world of movement opened up before her, a world she never knew existed, but always hoped ans dreamed that it did. She found the world of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.Starting out at the Cesar Gracie Academy in Pleasant Hill, CA, Kristina was able to train under Cesar Gracie himself and the highly decorated and respected Caio Terra. Kristina attended any and all classes possible religiously. Every technique learned acting as a drug in her system that kept her yearning for more. With only 6 months of training (Kristina injured her ankle and was not able to train for 2 months) she entered in her very first BJJ tournament, the 2008 International Novice Jiu-Jitsu Championship held on the same stage as the 2008 World Jiu-Jitsu Championship. Kristina won all her 3 matches by submission to claim the Gold. From then on, Kristina continued her hard and dedicated training with competition always on her mind, despite being a full-time student and working as a Veterinary Assistant. As a white belt, she had never lost in her weight.
Fighting in Amateur Muay Thai
Born and raised in the Bay Area of Northern California and with her deep dedication and loyalty to her team and new found family, Kristina had never in her life imagined that she would live anywhere else other than the Bay. But certain life circumstances would move her from the coasts of California to the deserts of Arizona. Not wanting any other instructor to claim her as truly theirs, Cesar Gracie promoted Kristina to Blue Belt in December 2008 before moving to Arizona. She had become only the 2nd female to ever be promoted to Blue by Cesar in his teaching career of over 25 years.
Now representing Team Nova Uniao and training under 3rd Degree Black Belt, Gustavo Dantas, Kristina focuses all her time into the learning, training, promoting, and instructing of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. As an active competitor, Kristina has been able to claim State, National, and International titles at both her weight and the Absolutes, despite only being a Featherweight, with her most recent and prestigious being both the 2010 Pan Jiu-Jitsu and 2010 Rio International Open Champion (Kristina placed 3rd in the Absolutes of both tournaments).
2009 No-Gi National Champion (Feather & Open Class)
Although still early into her Jiu-Jitsu career, Kristina aspires to one day be a Black Belt World Champion, but is most passionate about being able to instruct, coach, and inspire other female Jiu-Jitsu fighters to become Champions.
Facebook fan page is dedicated to all of the BJJ women of the world. We are a small but fast growing group with a huge heart and love for JIU JITSU!
Get the t-shirts and patches here: http://www.bjjwomen.com/
