Kendall Reusing (born 29 October 1997) is an American grappler and Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt competitor. A former freestyle wrestler, Reusing is a five time Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion in colored belt and the 2019 No-Gi Jiu-Jitsu black belt World Champion.[1]

Kendall Reusing
BornKendall Marie Reusing
(1997-10-29) 29 October 1997 (age 26)[1]
NationalityAmerican
Division
StyleBrazilian Jiu-Jitsu
TeamGracie Barra
TrainerTom Reusing
Rank
Medal record
Representing  United States
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
World No-Gi Championship
Gold medal – first place 2019 California, USA +76.5 kg[2]
Silver medal – second place 2019 California, USA Absolute[2]
Pan American No-Gi Championship
Gold medal – first place 2021 California, USA +76.5 kg[3]
Silver medal – second place 2021 California, USA Absolute[3]
Abu Dhabi Grand Slam
Silver medal – second place 2019 Los Angeles, USA +80 kg
SJJIF World Jiu-Jitsu Championship
Gold medal – first place 2019 California, USA +80 kg

Early career edit

Kendall Marie Reusing was born on 29 October 1997 in Dana Point, California,[1] the daughter of accomplished Brazilian jiu-jitsu competitor Tom Reusing.[4] From a young age she trained in Judo, Jiu-jitsu and freestyle wrestling. As a teenager Reusing won the California State Wrestling Championship as well as 4 US National Wrestling Championships before joining Team USA .[5] In 2016 she returned to jiu-jitsu winning numerous championships, winning double gold at the 2018 World No-Gi championship as a brown belt, before getting promoted to black belt in 2019.[1]

Black belt career edit

2019–20 edit

During her first year as black belt, Reusing won gold at the World No-Gi Championship and silver in the open-weight division; she then finished second at the UAEJJF Grand Slam L.A. before winning the SJJIF World Jiu-Jitsu Championship.

Reusing represented Gracie Barra alongside Felipe Trovo and Carlos Souza in the team grappling event Subversiv 3 on August 28, 2020.[6] Reusing defeated all four of her opponents at the event and Gracie Barra won the tournament.[7] She was then invited to compete against Leah Taylor in the co-main event of Submission Underground 18 on October 4, 2020.[8] Reusing won the match by submission in EBI overtime.[9]

2021 edit

On March 27, 2021, Reusing fought Nathiely de Jesus in the main event of Fight 2 Win 168, losing the match by submission.[10] She then returned to team grappling as part of the Gracie Barra team at Subversiv 5 on May 1, 2021.[11] Reusing won her match against Maggie Grindatti, but her teammates both lost and Gracie Barra were eliminated in the opening round.[12] Reusing fought Talita Nogueira in the co-main event of Fight 2 Win 173 on June 11, 2021 and won the match by submission with a choke.[13] She returned at Fight 2 Win 177 on July 16, 2021 and fought Maria Malyjasiak in the co-main event, losing by submission.[14]

In October 2021 Reusing won the Inaugural Polaris Women's Openweight championship by defeating Venla Luukkonen via Submission,[15] the following month she won the ADCC North American Championship in the 60 kg+ division.[16] Although victory at this trial did not guarantee an invite to the 2022 ADCC World Championship, Reusing was given an invite to the event as a result of her performance.[17] She was also invited to compete in the Heavyweight division at the Who's Number One Championships on September 25 and 26, 2021.[18] Reusing won her first two matches but lost to Rafaela Guedes in the final, taking second place at the tournament.[19] During Worlds 2021 she did not compete but served as a commentator for FloSports.[20] At the Pan-American No-Gi Championship, she won gold in her division and silver in the open-weight division.[1]

2022 edit

Reusing was invited to compete against Ffion Davies for the inaugural women's openweight title in the co-main event of Grapplefest 11 on February 26, 2022.[21] She won the match by decision and became the promotion's first openweight champion.[22] Reusing was then booked to defend her Polaris title against Amanda Leve at Polaris 19 on March 26, 2022.[23] She retained the title after her opponent Leve forfeited due to an injury.[24]

At the 2022 ADCC World Championship Reusing dominated her first match against Giovana Jara then got a knee injury following a failed takedown in the semi-final, losing via retirement from the match.[25] Reusing would have been eligible to compete for the bronze medal, but was unable to do so due to the injury she sustained in the previous match and had to forfeit.[26]

2023 edit

Reusing returned to competition to defend her Polaris openweight title against Leticia Cardozo in the co-main event Polaris 26 on November 4, 2023.[27] She won the match by decision and retained the title.[28] She then competed at the IBJJF No-Gi World Championship 2023, where she won the super-heavyweight division for the second time.[29]

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competitive summary edit

Main Achievements at black belt level:[1]

  • IBJJF World Champion No-Gi (2023)
  • IBJJF World Champion No-Gi (2019)
  • 2nd Place IBJJF World Championship No-Gi (2019[a])
  • IBJJF Pan Champion No-Gi (2021)
  • 2nd place IBJJF Pan Champion No-Gi (2021[a])
  • SJJIF World Champion (2019)
  • 2nd place UAEJJF Grand Slam, LA (2019)

Main Achievements (Coloured Belts):[1]

  • 2x IBJJF World Champion No-Gi (2018 brown)
  • IBJJF World Champion (2017 purple)
  • 2x IBJJF World Champion No-Gi (2016 blue)
  • UAEJJF Abu Dhabi Pro Champion (2018 purple)
  • 2nd place IBJJF World Championship (2017 purple)
  • 2nd place IBJJF Pans Championship (2018 brown)
  • 2nd place UAEJJF Grand Slam, LA (2018 brown)
  • 3rd place IBJJF Pans Championship (2018 brown)

Instructor lineage edit

Helio Gracie > Carlos Gracie Jr. > Nelson Monteiro > Tom Reusing > Kendall Reusing[1]

Notes edit

  1. ^ a b Open weight division

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "Kendall Reusing". BJJ Heroes. 2019-12-26.
  2. ^ a b "World Ibjjf Jiu-jitsu No-gi Championship 2019". International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation.
  3. ^ a b "Pan Ibjjf Jiu-jitsu No-gi Championship 2021". International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation.
  4. ^ Smith, Ryan (2020-05-28). "On The Rise: Kendall Reusing". FloGrappling.
  5. ^ "Fight 2 Win 148 Competitor Kendall Reusing: "Don't Overvalue The Praise Or Hate"". Jiu-Jitsu Times. 2020-07-24.
  6. ^ Lindsey, Alex (August 27, 2020). "Subversiv 3 Brings Team Grappling Back – Full Lineups Announced".
  7. ^ Lindsey, Alex (August 29, 2020). "Subversiv 3 Full Results And Review".
  8. ^ Lindsey, Alex (September 17, 2020). "Submission Underground 18 Features Vinny Magalhaes v Mason Fowler".
  9. ^ Lindsey, Alex (October 5, 2020). "Submission Underground 18 Full Results And Review".
  10. ^ "Fight 2 Win 168 Full Results And Review". March 31, 2021.
  11. ^ Rogers, Kian (April 30, 2021). "Team Lineups Announced For Subversiv 5".
  12. ^ "Subversiv 5 Full Results And Review". May 2, 2021.
  13. ^ "Fight 2 Win 173 Full Results And Review". June 15, 2021.
  14. ^ "Fight 2 Win 177 Full Results And Review". July 17, 2021.
  15. ^ "Polaris 17 Full Results And Review". 10 October 2021.
  16. ^ "ADCC East Coast Trials: Full Results & Highlights". Bjjee. 2021-11-08.
  17. ^ Burne, Kathrine (April 30, 2022). "Two More Newcomers Announced For ADCC 2022".
  18. ^ Lindsey, Alex (August 14, 2021). "Women's Heavyweight Bracket Announced For WNO Championships".
  19. ^ "WNO Championships Full Results And Review". September 27, 2021.
  20. ^ "2021 IBJJF Pans". Black Belt Finals Results & Recap. 2021-09-06.
  21. ^ Rollo, Ian (January 12, 2022). "Full Lineup For Grapplefest 11: Daisy Fresh v Europe Announced".
  22. ^ "Grapplefest 11: Daisy Fresh v Europe Full Results And Review". February 27, 2022.
  23. ^ Burne, Kathrine (February 12, 2022). "A Title-Fight And Two More Elite Matches Added To Polaris 19".
  24. ^ "Polaris 19 Results, Jimenez, Reusing, And Williams Win In England". BJJ Heroes. 2022-03-26.
  25. ^ Stein, Liam (2022-09-17). "Live Updates & Results – 2022 ADCC World Championships". FloGrappling.
  26. ^ "ADCC 2022 Live Results, Play-by-play, Analysis, Highlights, More". September 18, 2022.
  27. ^ Burne, Kathrine. "Kendall Reusing To Defend Title Against Leticia Cardozo At Polaris 26". Jitsmagazine. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  28. ^ "Polaris 26 Full Results And Review". Jitsmagazine. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  29. ^ "IBJJF No Gi World Championship 2023 Full Results And Review". Jitsmagazine. Retrieved 11 December 2023.