August Spotlight: Dominyka Obelenyte

The Grappling Girls Guild catches up with one of the youngest up and comers in BJJ! Sixteen years old and already a multiple time BJJ World Champion. Come meet Dominyka Obelente…

Full Name: Dominyka Obelenyte
Team: Marcelo Garcia NYC
Age: 16

Brief Grappling Resume:
2nd Place-Juvenile-2008 Mundials
1st Place-adult blue belt- 2009 NY Open
2nd Place-adult blue belt- 2010 Pan Ams
2nd Place-adult blue belt- 2010 NY Open
1st Place- adult blue belt- 2010 Mundials
1st Place- adult blue belt- 2010 No-Gi Pan Ams
3rd Place- adult blue belt- 2010 No-Gi Worlds
1st Place- adult purple belt- 2011 NY Open
2nd Place- adult purple belt- 2011 Mundials
1st Place- adult purple absolute-2011 Mundials

What year did you begin training BJJ?
I think around 2004.

What is your rank?
I am a purple belt

What is your competition weight?
Middle weight

When were you promoted and by whom?
I was promoted at around december of 2010 and by Marcelo Garcia.

Who is your favorite female competitor? And why?
I would have to say that a female competitor that I really admire is Hannette Staack. Although her game is unlike mine, her technique is phenomenal and she is a treat to watch.

Where do you train now and who is your main coach?
My main coach is Marcelo Garcia. I train with him in his academy in New York City.

What do you consider your greatest accomplishment to date so far? And why?
I would consider winning 1st place in the absolute purple belt division at the Mundials my greatest accomplishment. It was the very first time I competed in absolute and I was very nervous. My dad told me to take it easy and to pretend it was just like a regular training day. After I relaxed, I knew that I could win it all.

Is it hard to be a high school student and find time to train and compete at the top level?
Oh yeah, very much so. It’s difficult because of the high workload my classes require. Between training, doing homework and studying I rarely have time to do anything else. At times, I would have to go to sleep at 3 am.

What is your favorite thing about Jiu-Jitsu?
My favorite thing about jiu-jitsu is the sport itself and the people associated with it. I love training and getting the chance to utilize a new move in class and I am very grateful to the people who help me to train, and to better my techniques. I am especially grateful to my parents, my coaches and my teammates.

Tell us something different or interesting about you that we all probably don’t already know.
Hm, something different. I bet nobody really knows that I have a passion for art. I love to draw mandalas, and one of my drawings won 2nd place in an art show in NJ.

Do you have any advice or words of wisdom for new girls in the sport or afraid to try it?

My advice would be to never give up. As cheesy as the saying may be, jiu jitsu takes a lot of blood sweat and tears. I’m not trying to scare any girls wanting to try the sport, I just want to say that you should never give up when the going gets tough. A lot of work is put into this sport, but it all pays off in the long run.