Penny Thomas

Penny Thomas (born 2 July 1979) is a South African submission grappler and 3rd degree Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) black belt^[a] practitioner and coach. After opening South Africa's first jiu-jitsu academy in her garage, Thomas won two BJJ world champion titles. Subsequently, she relocated to the United States, where she trained under the guidance of Luis Heredia and later Leticia Ribeiro.

Penny Thomas
Born	(1979-07-02) 2 July 1979 (age 44)^[1] Durban, South Africa^[2]
Residence	Maui, Hawai
Weight	150 lb (68 kg; 10 st 10 lb)
Division	Medium Heavyweight Gi weight classes −74 kg (163.1 lb) No-Gi weight classes −71.5 kg (157.6 lb)
Style	Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Team	Gracie Humaita Maui Jiu Jitsu Rickson Gracie Nova Gen BJJ
Teacher(s)	Leticia Ribeiro Luis Heredia Micah Atkinson
Rank	3rd deg. BJJ black belt^[a]
Occupation	Brazilian jiu-jitsu instructor Yoga instructor^[3]
Medal record Representing  South Africa Grappling ADCC World Championship 2007 Trenton, USA +67 kg 2009 Barcelona, Spain +60 kg ADCC North American Championship 2010 Belleville, USA +60 kg FILA World Championship 2012 Cracow, Poland +64 kg Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World Championship 2007 Long Beach, California −74 kg 2008 Long Beach, California −74 kg 2009 Long Beach, California −74 kg 2010 Long Beach, California −74 kg 2011 Long Beach, California −74 kg 2011 Long Beach, California Absolute Pan-American Championship 2007 Florida, USA − 74 kg 2009 Florida, USA − 74 kg World No-GI Championship 2007 California, USA − 71.5 kg Abu Dhabi World Pro Championship 2011 Abu Dhabi, UAE +65kg

Throughout her career, Thomas became four-time black belt Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion, two-time Pan American champion, World No-Gi champion, FILA World grappling champion, Grapplers Quest world champion and ADCC Submission Wrestling world champion.

Considered a pioneer in the sport, Thomas is the first jiu jitsu black belt from the African continent and the first South African black belt world champion.^[1]

Career

Penny Thomas was born in Durban, South Africa on 2 July 1979.^[1] She started training gymnastics from age 5, becoming part of the South African Junior Olympic team by age 12.^[4] Following spinal surgery, she was compelled to leave gymnastics, but kept practicing a variety of sports.^[1]

Early career

In 2001, while training in kickboxing, Thomas was introduced to Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) by Micah Atkinson. At the time, South Africa lacked formal BJJ schools or qualified instructors, and Atkinson had been practicing with his brother using Carlson Gracie instructional VHS tapes.^[5] After Atkinson received his blue belt from Royce Gracie in London, Thomas and he decided to open the country's first jiu-jitsu academy in her garage.^[6]

Thomas began traveling to Brazil to train, becoming the first South African female to receive a blue belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu.^[7] After she started competing she won the 2004 World Jiu-Jitsu Championship as a blue belt, winning the title again as a purple belt the following year.^[5] In 2006, she left her career as a software developer and relocated to Hawaii to train under the tutelage of 5th degree black belt Luis Heredia.^[8]

Thomas's dedication to the sport, and the lack of female competitors at the time, led her to sometimes compete against male opponents.^[6] In 2007, she earned a silver medal while participating in the Men's Gi brown belt division of the 2007 Triple Crown Aloha State BJJ Championship.^[9] That same year, Thomas won the 2007 World Jiu-Jitsu Championship, becoming the first non-Brazilian athlete, alongside Laurence Cousin and Emily Kwok, to win her division in the brown/black belt category;^[10] she then won the Pan American championship and the world No-Gi championship.^[b][1]

Black belt career

In 2007, Thomas relocated to San Diego to train under Leticia Ribeiro, joining the Gracie Humaita female team; in May of that year, she became ADCC Submission Fighting World champion, after defeating Lana Stefanac in the final.^[12] In 2008, Thomas received her black belt from Heredia, becoming the first person from the African continent to attain a BJJ black belt.^[5]

At the 2009 ADCC World held in Barcelona, Spain, Thomas won a silver medal after defeating Shanti Abelha in the quarter-final and Cris Cyborg in the semi-final,^[13] before losing by leglock to Hannette Staack in the final.^[14] In March 2009, she secured her second world championship title after defeating Valerie Worthington in the medium heavyweight final.^[15][16]

During Grappler's Quest women's superfight at UFC Expo in Las Vegas in May 2010, she submitted Shayna Baszler via rear naked choke.^[17] At the 2010 IBJJF World Championship, competing under Gracie Humaita, she won silver in the brown and black belt medium heavy division,^[18] losing to Michelle Nicolini by 3×2 advantage points in the final;^[19] the following year, she participated in the 2011 Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship, earning a silver medal after a points-based loss in the Women's +65 kg final against Gabi Garcia.^[20][21]

At the 2011 ADCC World, Thomas secured a win in the first round against Talita Nogueira with a rear naked choke, before facing Gabi Garcia who won the match after securing a shoulder crush from side control;^[22] Thomas then suffered a knee injury during the bronze match against Ida Hansson,^[23] finishing the championship in fourth place.^[24][25] That year she competed at the 2011 IBJJF World, winning silver in her division (medium heavyweight) after losing to Talita Nogueira in the final;^[26][27] competing also in openweight she won bronze after facing Gabrielle Garcia in the semi-finals.^[28] At the 2012 IBJJF World Championship, she won silver after losing to Fernanda Mazzeli in the middle heavyweight final.^[29]

In 2012, Thomas won the FILA world grappling championship. The following year, she received an invitation to compete at the 2013 ADCC World championship in Beijing, China, where she faced defeat against Maria Małyjasiak.^[30] After a hiatus from competition, Thomas made a comeback in 2019, winning a silver medal in the medium heavyweight category at the IBJJF World Master Championship.^[31]

Personal life

Outside of grappling, Thomas has won a prestigious advanced mathematics tournament and has received multiple awards for her artworks.^[1][4]

Championships and accomplishments

Brazilian jiu-jitsu

Main achievements at black belt level^[1]

• 2 x IBJJF World Champion (2009,^[32][b] 2007^[33][b])
• IBJJF Pan America Champion (2007^[b])
• IBJJF World No-Gi Champion (2007)
• 2nd place IBJJF World Championship (2011,^[34][b] 2010,^[35][b] 2008^[36][b])
• 2nd place IBJJF Pan America Championship (2009^[b])
• 2nd place IBJJF World Championship (2012^[37])
• 2nd place IBJJF World No-Gi Championship (2008)
• 2nd place IBJJF World Masters Championship (2019^[31])
• 3rd place IBJJF World Championship (2011^[c])

Main achievements (lower belts)^[1]

• 2 x IBJJF World Champion (2005 purple,^[39] 2004 blue^[40])
• IBJJF Pan America Champion (2006 purple^[41]
• CBJJO World Cup Champion (2006 purple)
• Gracie Worlds Champion (2006 purple / brown / black belt)
• 2nd place IBJJF World Championship (2003 blue^[42])
• 2nd place Triple Crown Aloha State BJJ Championship (2007 Men’s brown belt division^[9])

Grappling

Main achievements:^[1]

• ADCC Submission Fighting World Champion (2007^[43])
• ADCC North American Championship|ADCC North American Champion (2010^[44])
• FILA World Grappling Champion (2012^[45])
• NAGA Hawaii, Advanced Gi & No-Gi Champion (2007)
• South African National Grappling Champion (2005)
• Grapplers Quest Superfight Champion (2010 Las Vegas, 2010 Boston)
• Grapplers Quest No-Gi Champion (2009 Del Mar & LV – open weight, 2008 LV & NJ)
• 2nd place ADCC Submission Fighting World Championship (2009^[46])
• 4th place ADCC Submission Fighting World Championship (2011)

Instructor lineage

Mitsuyo Maeda > Carlos Gracie Sr. > Helio Gracie > Rickson Gracie > Luis Herédia > Penny Thomas^[1]

Notes

1. Under Luis Herédia^[1]
2. brown and black division^[11]
3. Absolute/Openweight^[38]

References

1. "Penny Thomas". BJJ Heroes. 1 March 2011.
2. "Penny Thomas – Fighter Page". Tapology. 22 November 2020.
3. Maui, Om (1 February 2013). "Instructor Penny Thomas at Om Maui on February 8, 2013..." mauiyogafitness.com.
4. Grant, T.P. (31 May 2012). . Bloody Elbow. Archived from the original on 24 July 2023.
5. "Fighters Magazine v35i04". Issuu. 30 January 2015. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
6. Burne, Kathrine (1 February 2023). "10 BJJ Legends Who Paved The Way For Women In Jiu-Jitsu". Jitsmagazine.com.
7. Naidoo, Renelle (30 May 2003). "Fight club craze comes to town". IOL.
8. Girls, Fighter (9 June 2010). "Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Fighter Penny Thomas". Fighter Girls.
9. "2007 Aloha State Championship results" (PDF).
10. . Sensō Jiu Jitsu. 13 May 2015. Archived from the original on 11 April 2021.
11. "Pan Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship 2007". Pan Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship 2007.
12. "A Penny Saved is A Penny Earned". Girls in Gis. 24 November 2015.
13. Holland, Jesse (26 September 2009). "Abu Dhabi Combat Club (ADCC) 2009 Barcelona quick results". MMAmania.com.
14. "ADCC Submission Fighting World Championship 2009 • ADCC NEWS". adcombat.com. 26 September 2010.
15. "2009 World Jiu-Jitsu Championship Results – BJJ Legends Magazine". BJJ Legends Magazine – Training Tomorrows Legends Today. 20 June 2009.
16. "Penny Thomas vs. Valerie Worthington, 2009 IBJJF World Jiu-Jitsu Championship – Grappling Bout". Tapology. 22 November 2020.
17. Girls, Fighter (31 May 2010). "Penny Thomas Win Against Shayna Baszler". Fighter Girls.
18. "World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship 2010". World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship 2010.
19. "BJJ World Championships 2010 Results". BJJ Heroes – Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Team History, Fighter Stats, Biographies and News. 4 June 2010.
20. "World Pro Jiu Jitsu Cup Final Results 2011". BJJ Heroes – Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Team History, Fighter Stats, Biographies and News. 14 April 2011.
21. "A vitória de Gabi antes do maior desafio". Graciemag. 26 April 2011.
22. Tenney, Patrick (25 September 2011). "ADCC 2011 Over 60 kg Women's Semifinal Results: Gabi Garcia, Penny Thomas, Hansson, Staack". MMA Nation.
23. "ADCC 2011 Semifinal Results – BJJ Legends Magazine". BJJ Legends Magazine – Training Tomorrows Legends Today. 25 September 2011.
24. "ADCC Submission Fighting World Championship 2011 • ADCC NEWS". adcombat.com. 1 October 2010.
25. Gould, KJ (25 September 2011). "ADCC 2011 Finals Live Results and Blog". Bloody Elbow.
26. "Talita Nogueira vs. Penny Thomas, 2011 IBJJF World Jiu-Jitsu Championship". Tapology. 22 November 2020.
27. "IBJJF Worlds Brown belts & Women's black belt preview & predictions". Bjj Eastern Europe. 31 May 2012.
28. Elbow, Bloody (9 June 2011). "2011 IBJJF 'Mundials' World Jiu Jitsu Championship Results & Review". Bloody Elbow.
29. Girls, Fighter (3 June 2012). "Congrats All IBJJF 2012 Competitors". Fighter Girls.
30. "Polish Grapplers Shine At ADCC 2013: Maria Malyjasiak Takes Silver & Oskar Piechota Chokes Out Calasans & Beats Vinny Magalhaes". Bjj Eastern Europe. 21 October 2013.
31. "International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation –". International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation.
32. "World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship 2009". World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship 2009.
33. "World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship 2007". World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship 2007.
34. "World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship 2011". World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship 2011.
35. "World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship 2010". World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship 2010.
36. "World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship 2008". World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship 2008.
37. "International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation –". International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation.
38. "World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship 2011". World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship 2011.
39. "World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship 2005". World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship 2005.
40. "World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship 2004". World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship 2004.
41. "Pan Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship 2006". Pan Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship 2006.)
42. "World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship 2003". World Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship 2003.
43. "ADCC Submission Fighting World Championship 2007 • ADCC NEWS". adcombat.com. 7 October 2010.
44. Gaster, Rocko (18 May 2022). "ADCC All The Results". Strictly Fighters.
45. "Fila Grappling Worlds 2012, Full Review, Results & Pictures". Bjj Eastern Europe. 19 November 2012.
46. "ADCC Submission Fighting World Championship 2009 • ADCC NEWS". adcombat.com. 26 September 2010.