Kristin Mikkelson

Kristin Mikkelson was born on August 24, 1988, in Cincinnati, Ohio, where an active, sports-oriented upbringing laid the groundwork for a lifetime in martial arts. Swimming, climbing, and backyard sports shaped a natural athleticism that she would later channel into elite-level competition.

At age 12, Mikkelson enrolled at Bauer's Martial Arts Academy under instructor Fred Bauer, beginning her journey in taekwondo. She never pursued competition in the Korean striking art, but her dedication was absolute — by age 19, she had earned a black belt and achieved the 2nd degree. Those years of structured training instilled precise body awareness, a deep respect for martial arts discipline, and a work ethic that would prove essential once she discovered Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

After graduating from the University of Cincinnati with a concentration in finance, Mikkelson relocated to Chicago in 2011. Drawn to grappling and its culture, she sought out Brazil 021 — one of Chicago's premier grappling academies, led by André Terêncio and Hannette Staack. Her connection to the sport and the academy was immediate, and competition quickly became central to her training identity.

A Pivotal Influence

Hannette Staack played a defining role in Mikkelson's development. As the first successful female martial artist Mikkelson had encountered up close, Staack's leadership, character, and competitive drive served as a direct catalyst for her ambitions on the mat. That influence, combined with extensive work alongside André Negao, shaped Mikkelson into a technically sharp and competition-ready grappler.

In 2012, Mikkelson made a deliberate and consequential choice: she stepped back from a career in finance and redirected her energy entirely toward jiu-jitsu. She took a less demanding job to accommodate an intense training schedule — a clear signal of how seriously she had committed to the sport.

Mikkelson's colored belt record stands as one of the most decorated of her generation among American lightweight competitors. Each belt level brought new hardware and raised her profile on the international stage.

Blue Belt Breakthrough

Mikkelson announced herself globally in 2013 by winning the IBJJF World Championship in the lightweight division at blue belt — her first major international title. That same year, she also earned a third-place finish at the same event, underscoring the depth and consistency of her performance.

Purple Belt Consistency

At purple belt, Mikkelson maintained steady output at the elite level, collecting back-to-back bronze medals at the IBJJF Pan American Championship in 2014 and 2015. Rather than a single breakout moment, those results reflected sustained performance across multiple competitive seasons.

Brown Belt Versatility

The brown belt campaign produced her most significant pre-black belt achievement: the IBJJF World No-Gi Championship title in 2016 in the lightweight division. That gold medal — earned without the gi — demonstrated a versatility that separated Mikkelson from competitors whose strengths were confined to a single format. A third-place finish at the IBJJF Pan American Championship in 2016 rounded out a colored belt career that included two world titles across gi and no-gi competition.

In June 2017, Hannette Staack promoted Kristin Mikkelson to black belt — a recognition of years of competitive excellence and deep commitment to Brazil 021. Mikkelson wasted little time establishing herself at the sport's highest level.

Immediate Black Belt Impact

In 2018, her first full competitive year as a black belt delivered a strong statement. She won gold at the IBJJF Asian Open in the lightweight division and followed with another gold at the IBJJF Atlanta Winter International Open, proving her colored belt success translated directly to the black belt ranks. She also reached the final of the IBJJF Houston International Open — finishing second — and claimed victory at the Twin Cities Invitational, painting the picture of a black belt performing with confidence and consistency from the outset.

The career Mikkelson built at the black belt level reflects the same competitive identity she developed under Hannette Staack and André Negao throughout her formative years: technically sharp, effective across both gi and no-gi formats, and anchored in the culture of one of Chicago's most accomplished grappling programs.