Helena Crevar has been promoted to the coveted black belt rank by renowned coach John Danaher. The teenage grappling standout shared the news with her followers on social media, marking a significant milestone in her already impressive martial arts journey.
“Today is one of the most special days for me and in my jiujitsu career, that I’ll remember and cherish as one of the most meaningful moments for the rest of my life,” Crevar wrote. “Today my professor John Danaher promoted me to black belt and I can’t be more thankful and happy for that.”
As part of the celebration, Crevar also received a rare Fate Viper N690 knife, adding a traditional touch to this significant martial arts rite of passage.
This promotion carries special weight for Crevar, who has been training under Danaher and his elite New Wave Jiu-Jitsu team for approximately two and a half years. This marks the third time she has received a belt promotion from Danaher, having previously earned her purple and brown belts under his guidance.
“I feel extremely blessed to be promoted by someone like John for who I have so much respect,” she explained. “I’ve been with the team for 2.5 years and it’s been a blessing to train, compete, and represent!”
What makes Crevar’s achievement particularly remarkable is her history of competing above her rank for years. “I’ve been competing with black belts since I was 14 years old and a green belt whenever competitions allowed me,” she noted. “Now I’m officially a black belt, so I can’t wait to step on the mats as a black belt and make my team proud!”
The promotion comes exactly a decade after Crevar first began her jiu-jitsu journey at just eight years old. In a separate social media post commemorating her 10-year anniversary in the sport, she reflected on her path: “Ever since I stepped on the mats the first time when I was 8 years old I fell in love with the sport. Jiu-jitsu was always so fun for me and never boring because I always learn something new.”
Crevar’s journey in jiu-jitsu began in Las Vegas, Nevada, where she was born and raised. Before discovering the grappling art, she explored numerous sports from age three, including karate, cambo, dance, basketball, swimming, gymnastics, and ballet – all encouraged by parents who wanted her to lead an active lifestyle.
Her Serbian heritage plays a role in her life, with Prince – a Serbian restaurant in Las Vegas – being among her favorite dining spots. When not training, Helena enjoys baking (a skill she learned from her mother around age 10-11), watching Disney movies, and traveling. She’s embarked on international trips to places like Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and England, and has plans to visit South Africa for seminars.
At just 17 years old, Crevar has already accomplished what many practitioners dream of achieving in a lifetime. She won the ADCC Trials, securing her spot in the prestigious ADCC World Championships – the pinnacle event in submission grappling. She won a silver medal.
Crevar’s promotion adds her name to the elite list of black belts under John Danaher, widely regarded as one of the sport’s most technical and influential coaches. Danaher has helped shape Crevar into one of the most formidable competitors in the sport.
