Salla Simola

Salla Simola was born in February 2002 in Hanko, Finland, a coastal town where she developed a broad athletic foundation spanning athletics, ballet, and tennis. That early exposure to diverse physical disciplines sharpened her coordination and competitive instincts — qualities that would later translate directly to the grappling mat. Among all those pursuits, jiu-jitsu proved the defining one: Simola began training at BJJ Hanko at just six years old, an unusually early start that gave her a substantial head start in technical development.

Her first instructor, Tony Bäckman, guided her through the foundational stages of jiu-jitsu in Hanko, overseeing her progression through the belt ranks up to blue belt. Bäckman's guidance established the technical habits that would underpin her later competitive success. At 16, Simola made a pivotal decision to relocate to Turku to attend a high school with special provisions for young athletes — a move that advanced her academic path while placing her within the training environment of FinnFighters Gym, one of Finland's foremost grappling institutions.

Simola's arrival at FinnFighters Gym in Turku marked a decisive shift in her development. Her years at BJJ Hanko had been conducted entirely in the gi, but FinnFighters introduced her to no-gi training for the first time — an experience that would eventually come to define her competitive identity. During this period, she worked extensively alongside Miika Suvanto, whose influence proved central to her colored belt career.

Jarkko Mäkelä assumed coaching responsibilities in Turku, overseeing Simola's promotions through purple and brown belt while recognizing her growth as both a technical practitioner and a competitor. Competing under the FinnFighters Gym and Hilti BJJ coalition, she earned IBJJF European titles in both the Gi and No-Gi formats — a clear demonstration of her adaptability across rulesets well before reaching the sport's highest rank.

The culmination of her journey through the belt system came on June 29, 2023, when Pedro Duarte conducted her black belt ceremony, formally marking Simola's arrival at the elite level of the sport.

Juvenile Foundations

Despite her gi-centric beginnings in Hanko, Salla Simola emerged as one of the most accomplished no-gi grapplers of her generation in the Meio-Pesado division (74 kg / 163 lbs), representing Finland on the international stage. Her competitive potential surfaced early: in 2019, she claimed both the IBJJF World juvenile title and the IBJJF European juvenile title, signaling the competitive temperament that would carry her to the sport's highest levels.

Professional Breakthrough

The 2024 competition year delivered the clearest statement of Simola's standing in professional grappling. She captured gold at the IBJJF World No-Gi Championship — the most prestigious title in the no-gi format — establishing herself as the top competitor in her division globally. That same year, she claimed a bronze medal at the IBJJF World Championship in the gi, confirming that her technical arsenal translates effectively across rulesets. She also reached the final of the ADCC Europe & Middle East Trials in 2024, earning a silver medal and cementing her place within the submission grappling circuit overseen by the Abu Dhabi Combat Club — widely regarded as the sport's most prestigious no-gi organization. The arc of her development, from a gi-only competitor in Hanko to a no-gi specialist on the world circuit, reflects both her adaptability and the formative influence of FinnFighters Gym.