2 days ago
12-year-old Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu star aiming for world championships
A 12-year-old athlete is making a name for herself in the fiercely competitive world of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Taya Jones, who trains at Gracie Barra Salisbury and Gracie Barra Frome, was recently named a Gracie Barra UK ambassador athlete for 2025.
Advertisement
The title is reserved for the most promising young athletes within the organisation.
Taya secured silver at the IBJJF Rome Open, narrowly missing gold in a close final against an experienced Brazilian opponent.
Read more
Taya has her sights set on the world championships. (Image: Gracie Barra Salisbury)
She only recently moved up to her current yellow belt division, marking the match as a significant step forward in her career.
This achievement follows her first European gold win in October 2024 in Lisbon, Portugal.
Taya has also competed in invitation-only events this year, including Tanto in Weston-super-Mare and ENYO, the UK's leading all-female grappling showcase, where she secured a dominate victory on Saturday, June 7.
Advertisement
The recent competition had a star studded audience including actor and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competitor Tom Hardy, who signed Taya's gold medal.
Her coach at Gracie Barra Salisbury, Callum Swift, said: "Taya trains with unmatched dedication — almost every day of the week — and has shown the mindset and talent to compete at the very highest levels.
"She represents the future of Gracie Barra and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in the UK, and I wager that she will become a future black belt world champion."
Taya is now focused on the World Championships in Abu Dhabi this November and has launched a GoFundMe campaign to help cover travel and accommodation costs.
Advertisement
She continues to train and compete almost daily as she prepares for the international stage.
Fans and supporters can follow her journey on Instagram at by searching 'tayaj_bjj_tagb'.
