Maggie Grindatti is an American grappler and Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt competitor.[a] A multiple-time World, Pan and American Nationals champion (Gi and No-Gi) in colored belt, Grindatti is a 2022 European Open Champion, an ADCC West Coast Trial medalist and a World and Pan No-Gi black belt medallist.[2]

Maggie Grindatti
BornMargaret Rose Grindatti
(1992-06-10) 10 June 1992 (age 32)
Saco, Maine, U.S.
DivisionMedium Heavy Gi
-74 kg (163.1 lb)
Medium Heavy No-Gi
-71.5 kg (157.6 lb)
TeamFight Sport
K team Martial Arts Academy[1]
Rankblack belt in BJJ[a]
Medal record
Representing  USA
Submission Grappling
ADCC North American Championship
Silver medal – second place 2019 Burbank, USA +60kg
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
World Championship
Bronze medal – third place 2021 California, USA −74 kg
European Championship
Gold medal – first place 2022 Rome, Italy −74 kg
Silver medal – second place 2020 Lisbon, Portugal −74 kg
Pan-American No-GI Championship
Silver medal – second place 2021 California, USA −71.5 kg

Biography

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Margaret Rose Grindatti was born on 10 June 1992, in Saco, Maine, USA. the daughter of Kurt and Kim Grindatti.[3] A team athlete since high-school, she played Division 1 field hockey while an undergraduate at the University of Pacific.[2]

After graduating with a Bachelor Of Arts (BA) in Health, Exercise And Sport Sciences in 2014, she moved to Hawaii where she was introduced to Brazilian jiu-jitsu through her uncle Jay Thompson an MMA promoter.[4] She joined K team Martial Arts Academy (a Relson Gracie Academy affiliate) and started competing, training under Robert Drysdale and Egan Inoue. After less than a year of training, she was promoted to blue belt.[2]

In 2016 she met Robert “Cyborg” Abreu during a training camp, she then joined his academy Fight Sports in Miami Florida. She became World champion three years in a row winning a World title at every belt level in both Gi and No-Gi.[5] In February 2019, Grindatti came second at the ADCC North American Trials in the +60 kg (132.3 lb) division after defeating Monique Ricardo in quarter-finals, N. Evangelista in the semi-finals but losing to Amanda Leve in the final.[2] In November 2019, Abeu proposed to Grindatti,[6]

Black belt career

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In December 2019, Grindatti was promoted to black belt by Abreu.[7] In 2020 she won silver at the European Open Championship, the following year she won silver at the Pan No-Gi Championship the bronze at the IBJJF World Championship. In February 2022 she won her first major IBJJF title becoming European Champion after defeating Magdalena Loska and winning gold at the 2022 IBJJF European Open.[8]

In April 2022 she participated to the ADCC West Coast Trials, she was defeated in the quarter-finals by Amy Campo.[9] In 2023 she won gold in Absolute at the IBJJF Austin Winter International.[10] After the tournament, Grindatti announced that she would be leaving Fight Sports and no longer represent the team.[11] Grindatti competed under Vagner Rocha Martial Arts (VRMA) at Midwest Finishers 12 on 11 February 2023 in a 3 v 3 women's team tournament. They lost in the second round, with Grindatti drawing her only match.[12]

Grindatti was then invited to compete in the women's under 66kg grand prix at Polaris 23 on March 11, 2023.[13] She lost in the opening round to Brianna Ste-Marie.[14] Shortly after the tournament, Grindatti announced that she had moved to ATOS and would be representing them in competition moving forward.[15]

Grindatti competed in the under 70kg grand prix at Enyo Grappling 4 on September 21, 2023.[16] She beat three opponents and won the tournament.[17] Grindatti then entered the medium-heavyweight division of the IBJJF No Gi Pan Championship 2023 on October 1, 2023 and won a bronze medal.[18]

Grindatti lost in the opening round of the IBJJF No-Gi World Championship 2023 and left her rashguard on the mat to signal her retirement from the sport.[19]

Championships and accomplishments

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Main Achievements (black belt level):[2]

  • IBJJF European Open Champion (2022)
  • 2nd Place IBJJF European Open (2020)
  • 2nd Place IBJJF Pan Championship No-Gi (2021)
  • 3rd Place IBJJF World Championship (2021)

Main Achievements (Colored Belts):[2]

  • IBJJF World Champion (2017[b] blue, 2018 purple, 2019 brown)
  • IBJJF World Champion No-Gi (2016 blue, 2018 purple, 2019 brown)
  • IBJJF Pan Champion (2017 blue)
  • IBJJF Pan Champion No-Gi (2018 purple, 2019[b] brown)
  • IBJJF American Nationals Champion (2016[b] blue, 2017 purple)
  • IBJJF American Nationals No-Gi Champion (2016 blue, 2017[c])
  • UAEJJF USA National Pro Jiu-jitsu Championship - Gi (2018 purple[20])
  • 2nd Place IBJJF American Nationals (2017[c] purple)
  • 2nd Place ADCC West Coast Trials (2019)
  • 3rd Place IBJJF American Nationals No-Gi (2016[c] blue)

Notes

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  1. ^ a b under Roberto “Cyborg” Abreu
  2. ^ a b c Weight and absolute
  3. ^ a b c Absolute

References

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  1. ^ "Margaret Rose Grindatti - BRAZILIAN JIU JITSU CHAMPION". Fighters Choice - Supplements Developed by Fighters for Fighters. 10 June 1992.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Maggie Grindatti". BJJ Heroes - Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Team History, Fighter Stats, Biographies and News. 29 December 2019.
  3. ^ "2013 - Field Hockey". University of the Pacific. 16 August 2021.
  4. ^ "A Jiu Jitsu Fairy Tale". Girls in Gis. 21 January 2020.
  5. ^ "Kingz Athlete Spotlight: Maggie Grindatti". KingzKimonos.com. 26 January 2023.
  6. ^ Kaye, Kimberly (24 November 2019). "Roberto "Cyborg" Abreu Pops the Question to Grappler Maggie Grindatti". Jiu-Jitsu Times.
  7. ^ Kaye, Kimberly (21 December 2019). "Maggie Grindatti of "The Borgs" Earns Black Belt After No-Gi Worlds Win". Jiu-Jitsu Times.
  8. ^ "International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation -". International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation.
  9. ^ "ADCC West Coast Trials Results". BJJ Heroes - Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Team History, Fighter Stats, Biographies and News. 4 April 2022.
  10. ^ Burne, Kathrine (30 January 2023). "Top Competitors Dominate At IBJJF Austin Winter International 2023". Jitsmagazine.com.
  11. ^ de Souza, Diogo (19 February 2023). "Three Elite Competitors Leave Fight Sports". JitsMagazine. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  12. ^ "Midwest Finishers 12 Full Results And Review". JitsMagazine. 12 February 2023. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  13. ^ Lindsey, Alex (18 December 2022). "Polaris Announces Under 66kg Women's Grand Prix". JitsMagazine. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  14. ^ "Polaris 23 Full Results And Review". JitsMagazine. 12 March 2023. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  15. ^ Burne, Kathrine (19 March 2023). "Maggie Grindatti Joins ATOS". JitsMagazine. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  16. ^ Phillips, Sabrina (15 September 2023). "Enyo Grappling 4 Will Feature The Promotion's First Grand Prix". Jitsmagazine. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
  17. ^ "Enyo Grappling 4 Full Results And Review". Jitsmagazine. 22 September 2023. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  18. ^ "IBJJF No Gi Pan Championship 2023 Full Results And Review". Jitsmagazine. 2 October 2023. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  19. ^ Burne, Kathrine (10 December 2023). "Maggie Grindatti Announces Retirement On The Mat At IBJJF No Gi Worlds 2023". Jitsmagazine. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  20. ^ "Margaret Grindatti - Fighter profile". UAE Jiu Jitsu Federation. 15 February 2023.