By Kyle Roberts
TOKYO — Owen Hebert’s first day at the world championships ended almost as soon as it began. His second ended one ruling short of a gold medal.
Hebert, a Ruston High School freshman who trains at Triad Martial Arts Academy, represented Team USA at the 2026 SJJIF World Jiu-Jitsu Championships, held Sept. 3-6 at Yoyogi National Gymnasium in Tokyo. He left Japan as the SJJIF gi world silver medalist.
“My experience in Japan was amazing,” Hebert said. “The culture was very respectful, the city was unreal, and competing there was an experience I’ll never forget.”
The championship, sanctioned by the Sport Jiu-Jitsu International Federation, included both gi and no-gi competition and brought together athletes from the United States, Japan and other countries. Gi matches are contested in the traditional uniform, while no-gi competitors wear grappling attire, a format that generally produces a faster, wrestling-oriented style. The SJJIF organizes international sport jiu-jitsu competition and works toward greater worldwide recognition of the sport.
The setting added to the moment. Yoyogi National Gymnasium was originally built for the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games and later hosted events during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Hebert entered both divisions. His no-gi tournament ended in the opening round on a referee stoppage, and neither Hebert nor the Team USA coaches were initially clear on the reason for it.
He answered the next day in the gi bracket, advancing through the field to reach the world championship final. That match stayed tied through regulation and went to sudden-death overtime. After an extended consultation among tournament officials and Hebert’s coach, the deciding ruling went to his opponent.
The ending was difficult, but the silver medal marked a major achievement on the world stage, particularly coming one day after the no-gi disappointment. It was a familiar path for Hebert, who dropped his opening no-gi match at last year’s UWW Grappling World Championships in Greece before rebounding to win bronze in gi. He said that trip paid off in Tokyo.
“I feel like my experience in Greece helped me stay composed under pressure because I had already competed on the world stage,” Hebert said. “I knew what to expect and felt more comfortable going into this event.”
Hebert was 14 during the championship and turned 15 less than a week after returning home. Along with jiu-jitsu, he competes in wrestling and football at Ruston High, a three-sport load that sets him apart from many of the athletes he faced internationally, who specialize in jiu-jitsu and train in the discipline year-round.
He qualified for Tokyo by winning gold at the AAU/SJJIF Team USA Trials in June, securing his second Team USA berth of the summer. Earlier that month, he won the UWW Team USA Trials to qualify for the UWW Grappling World Championships.
The silver adds to a growing resume. Along with his 2026 world medal and two Team USA qualifications this year, Hebert is a UWW Grappling World Championships bronze medalist, an Adidas Wrestling Nationals All-American, a Louisiana middle school wrestling state champion, and a Louisiana folkstyle state champion and state runner-up. He is also a two-time AGF No-Gi national champion, a six-time AGF world champion, an IBJJF bronze medalist, a Junior Olympic judo silver medalist and a national karate champion.
Hebert said the lessons from Tokyo will carry forward.
“A couple of things I’ll take away from this event are the importance of staying composed when facing adversity, not allowing one moment to define the entire outcome and trusting that I have put in the work to succeed,” Hebert said.
He also credited his faith and the people who helped him get to Japan.
“I’m very blessed that God has given me this platform to glorify Him through this sport,” Hebert said. “I want to thank my community, USA Grappling, Coach Josh and my parents for all of their support and for helping me get here.”
