In a short amount of time, 11-year old Malia Mangaser has made a name for herself on the national Jiu Jitsu scene.
Malia Mangaser stands atop the podium after winning the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation’s Kids Nationals recently in Las Vegas. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)
A grey belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Malia is currently the top ranked female in the Jiu Jitsu World League organization. She is undefeated in her weight class with 16 consecutive wins.
Malia, who lives in Cerritos, Calif., is the daughter of Amanda Mangaser Dalrymple, a 1997 graduate of Bellefontaine High School, and the granddaughter of Bellefontaine resident Kem Dalrymple.
Malia most recently competed in the international Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation’s Kids Nationals in Las Vegas and won her division.
The rising Jiu Jitsu youth trains two to three hours per day. She has received coaching from Brazilian black belt and two-time Pan American champion Robson Rodrigues since 2015. Malia also trains with Patricia Fontes, who is a 2015 World No-Gi champion.
She will next compete at the SJJIF World Jiu Jitsu Championships in two different divisions in October.