In December 2025, Lara Lea Trump stepped onto the mats for the first time as a white belt, beginning her Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu journey under the guidance of former Bellator fighter Leah McCourt. The session took place at the academy of coach Marcelo Cohen, whose facility provided the backdrop for Lara's formal introduction to the art.
Fundamentals and Self-Defense
The training combined core BJJ fundamentals with practical women's self-defense scenarios, giving Lara an applied foundation from her very first session. A central topic was the distinction between gi and no-gi BJJ — a conceptual divide that shapes how practitioners approach the sport at every level. Lara trained in a gi, experiencing firsthand the grip-dependent, technique-rich environment that defines that format and rewards precision over athleticism alone.
The session was filmed for Fox News, bringing public visibility to Lara's entry into the sport and reflecting broader media interest in the Trump family's engagement with Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Following the session, Leah McCourt publicly praised Lara's natural athleticism, identifying it as a promising foundation for continued development on the mats.
