Record number of female competitors on the mat

The South-West Jiu-Jitsu Championship returned to Geographe Leisure Centre on Sunday with its bi-annual event attracting record numbers.

Of 360 registrations, over 100 female competitors took part, ranging in age from 6 to over 40 years hailing from clubs across the South-West and Perth.

The event was supported by the City of Busselton and local businesses Servcon, Mandalay Holiday Resort, Margaret River Properties and Trade Hire.

“Our competitions have rapidly grown in popularity since we started in August 2023, and over recent years, we have seen an increasing number of women and girls training and competing Jiu-Jitsu,” event organiser Jai Macrides, owner of Busselton’s Flow State Jiu-Jitsu said.

“It provides females with a powerful way to build confidence, strength, and self-defence skills, and it’s great to see so many of them with the courage to compete.”

Kyah Dunkerton (17) from Busselton won double gold at the event. “I enjoy Jiu-Jitsu because there’s always more to learn and you meet so many lovely people you become a family. While competing, you get to see how much progress you and others have made since the last competition.”

The annual South-West Jiu-Jitsu Championships will return in August this year.