In the early morning hours of October 17, 2026, Ana Clara Dressel — a 14-year-old Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner from Lages, Santa Catarina, Brazil — used her grappling training to subdue an intruder on her family's property. The suspect, a 47-year-old man, had entered the family's garage, removed a power drill from a vehicle, and was in the process of stealing a brush cutter when Ana Clara's family confronted him. When challenged, the man claimed he was merely borrowing the items.
The Confrontation
A physical struggle broke out, initially involving Ana Clara's father. As the suspect attempted to flee, he struck Ana Clara's mother, Jaqueline Andreia Dressel, in the face. The situation escalated when the suspect produced a small serrated blade — a detail that proved decisive in shaping Ana Clara's response. Her parents managed to disarm him before she intervened.
Technique and Execution
With the blade no longer in the suspect's hands, Ana Clara moved in from behind and applied her Rear Naked Choke training with precision. She secured body hooks, landed a strike to establish control, then sank the choke — known in Portuguese as the mata leão — took the suspect to the ground, and immobilized him. Her father remained at her side throughout. Ana Clara held the position for approximately 15 minutes, releasing only after Brazil's Military Police arrived and placed the man in handcuffs. The suspect was arrested on the property and transported to the local police station for processing. Neighbor security camera footage reportedly captured the incident in full. News of the confrontation was widely reported on October 20, 2026.
