Northampton grappler ranked among world’s top 10 in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

A young martial artist from Northampton has been ranked among the world’s elite after securing ninth place globally in her Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu division.

Monét David, who represents ZR Team UK and trains at ZR Team Northampton, is currently ranked 9th in the world in the Grey Belt, Teen 1, Female Medium Heavy category. With an ELO rating of 1017, she sits within the top 25% of competitors worldwide, marking her out as one of the leading athletes in her division.

Training out of Benham Sports Arena, Monét’s rise up the rankings follows an exceptional run of performances on the international circuit. In 2026, she claimed gold at the London Spring Kids Championship, defeating Zhen Rei Quek in the final. She also secured first place at the European Kids No-Gi Championships and is currently on a four-match winning streak.

These results build on an already impressive competitive record. Monét is a previous IBJJF European Champion, an Elite BJJ Junior National Champion, and has accumulated multiple major victories across the UK competition scene.

Away from competition, Monét is also contributing to the development of younger athletes in Northampton. Alongside her sister, Naimah David, she helps coach the Onyx Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Youth Squad, supporting and mentoring the next generation of competitors.

Together, the sisters are playing a key role in the continued growth of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in the town. Working with the coaching team at ZR Team Northampton under Professor Bradman Cuffy, they are helping to build one of the UK’s most promising youth squads.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is one of the fastest-growing sports among young people in the UK, with participation and competition standards rising rapidly each year. The sport combines technical grappling, discipline, and strategic problem-solving, attracting a new generation of athletes across the country.

ZR Team Northampton’s success is increasingly placing the town on the national and international map. Its athletes regularly compete against, and defeat, competitors from some of the world’s most established academies, including Checkmat, Gracie Barra, Ares BJJ, De La Riva Jiu-Jitsu, and Artemis Jiu-Jitsu.

With another appearance scheduled at the IBJJF European Kids No-Gi Championships later this year, Monét will have a further opportunity to improve her world ranking and continue representing Northampton on the international stage.

As the sport continues its rapid growth, having a local athlete ranked inside the world’s top ten stands as a significant achievement for Northampton. With emerging talent across the ZR Team programme, the town’s future in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu looks increasingly strong.

More information about ZR Team Northampton, its classes, and competition programme can be found at https://brazillianjiujitsu.com.