India Risby: Mosman's Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World Champion

Meet India Risby, the 19-year-old Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu world champion from Mosman, whose dedication has taken her from Sydney's North Shore to the world stage.

For Mosman’s India Risby, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) has become much more than a sport, it has shaped her life, taken her around the world and transformed a childhood ambition into an extraordinary record of international success.

Growing up, India was surrounded by sport from an early age, with both her parents being boxing coaches and personal trainers. When she was around six or seven, her parents would bring her to the gym where they worked and she’d go upstairs and watch the Jiu-Jitsu classes. She became intrigued and wanted to sign up. 

“Once I started, I remember the very first day, while I was watching the technique,

I turned around to my mum and put double thumbs up showing her I loved it straight

away,” India tells Neighbourhood Media. 

India began training three or four times a week and started competing at a young age. As her skills developed, so did her ambitions and it wasn’t long before she was entertaining the thought of pursuing a professional career in BJJ. 

“As I got older and able to travel around to training by myself, I started training morning, midday and night, around six plus hours a day…But it was 2022, after I came 3rd in my first world championships that I wanted to take it serious,” says India. “I remember my eyes really opened because I saw that there is a whole other level to the sport and I wanted to get to that level. I remember saying to myself that I will train so hard to win and no one is going to stop me no matter

how long it takes.”

The following years brought both progress and disappointment. In 2023, India returned to the World Championships and finished 2nd. In 2024, she was eliminated in her fourth fight.

Instead of giving up, she came back stronger.

Her breakthrough arrived in 2025. After an intense three-month training camp at Atos headquarters (a world-renowned Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu academy) in San Diego, California, India returned to competition and won her first World title at purple belt.

It remains the achievement that means the most to her. A close second is her Purple belt grand slam. 

“[I won] all the major tournaments possible: gold at the world championships in 2025, double gold in the IBJJF European Championships 2026, double gold in the Pan American championships 2026, and double gold in the Brazilian National Championships 2026.”

The Brazilian Nationals brought another significant milestone. Following her double-gold performance, India was promoted to brown belt on the podium. Just one month later, she competed at the World Championships in her first competition as a brown belt and won another World Championship title.

India has achieved her ambition to become a professional BJJ competitor and it has certainly changed her life. She now spends a good part of each year overseas ensuring she is in peak condition and able to compete against the very best in the world.

“For the past 2 years I have travelled overseas to train at Atos HQ three to four months at a time, and having likeminded competitors in the training room who all want to be world champions just pushes you to get better and your rate of improvement sky rockets,” says India. 

A typical training day at Atos could involve three and a half hours of Jiu-Jitsu in the morning, followed by a gym session around the middle of the day, home for lunch, than back in the evening for another Jiu-Jitsu session.

“This was done for three months straight and this ultimately made my mindset and physical ability super strong where I was very confident going into the World Championships.”

India has lived in Mosman her entire life, attending both primary and high school in the area, and even doing Nippers in Manly.  

“I grew up here and started BJJ when I was 8, so it’s been a huge part of my journey and though BJJ has taken me all over the world, the North Shore is where it all started,” she says proudly. 

For anyone considering taking up the sport, particularly those who might be shy or nervous about it, India’s advice is simple: 

“One step at a time and give 100% always. It doesn’t matter how many times you fall, if

you keep going and never give up you will make your dreams come true.

Falling, losing and making mistakes are all part of the journey. What matters is continuing to turn up, keep learning and refuse to give up.”

For India, Jiu-Jitsu has also been about friendship and community. Through the sport, she has been given the opportunity to meet people from around the world and develop special bonds with like-minded athletes. Her passion and determination have taken her to the highest level of competition where she has had remarkable success. 

But, at only 19 years of age, she’s not finished yet.  

“I’m still a Brown belt and we have the 2027 season starting soon, where I am also

looking to do another grand slam in the Brown belt division and get double gold at each of

these events.”

“After this, of course, will be to get my Black belt and win Black belt world titles.”

You can follow India's journey online: www.indiarisby.com