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Jen Hall

BJJ BLACK BELT • TKD BROWN BELT

Assistant Head Coach for the Adult Program and general manager for the academy, Jen holds the distinction of being the FIRST home-grown Female BJJ Black Belt in the state of Virginia! A 2nd degree black belt, she has an extensive competition resume and over two decades of professional coaching experience.

Jen was briefly introduced to BJJ while attending college in 2004, but didn’t begin training in earnest until July 2005. Prior to taking up her post at the Fifty/50 Academy, Jen trained at a few other area Jiu-Jitsu gyms, but moved over to train under Ryan Hall full-time in 2008. After nine years of dedicated practice and world travel for competition against the best female grapplers there are to hone her skills, Jen was promoted to black belt by Ryan on October 14, 2014.

As a thirteen-time international medalist (including a IBJJF No-Gi World championship gold at brown belt, 5 medals from the IBJJF World Championship at various belt levels, and 2 from the Brazilian National Championship at brown), Jen knows what it takes to train and win at a high level in the world of women’s Jiu-Jitsu. A dedicated student and passionate, detailed instructor, Jen believes that all women should train BJJ because it is the only martial art that truly gives them the tools they need to reliably overcome a larger, stronger attacker.

When she’s not teaching or running the academy, Jen cares for her preschooler and her two huskies. She continues to train hard to improve her BJJ skills and although she has had a long competition layoff due to recent injuries and the baby, she hopes to return to international-level competition in the future. In addition to her credentials as a grappler, Jen holds a B.A. in Government & Politics from the University of Maryland, was the former head coach of the JV field hockey team at Yorktown High School in Arlington, VA, holds a brown belt in Tae Kwon Do, and was a professional swim coach who guided the early careers of multiple eventual world-level competitors. Jen has overcome a series of major surgeries to accomplish what she has in Jiu-Jitsu, demonstrating immense mental strength and resiliency that she strives to transfer into anyone she coaches.

Jen currently instructs the Wednesday night BJJ Fundamentals II, Women’s BJJ class, Teen’s BJJ and Youth Combat Club.

Some Of Jen’s Competitive Highlights

  • 5x IBJJF World Championship Medalist (Blue-Brown Belts)

  • 2x IBJJF Brazilian National Championship Medalist (Brown Belt Light Feather and Open Weight)

  • 4x IBJJF New York Open Champion

  • 2014 IBJJF No-Gi World Champion (Brown Belt Light Feather)

  • 2013 IBJJF European Championship Silver Medalist (Brown Belt Light Feather)

  • 2011 IBJJF No-Gi World Silver (Purple Belt Light Feather)

  • 2010 IBJJF No-Gi Pan American Silver (Purple Belt Light Feather)

  • 2010 Gracie Nationals Absolute Champion (Purple Belt Open Weight)

  • 2009 IBJJF Pan American Champion (Blue Belt Light Feather)

  • 2x Maryland Open Judo Champion