Ingridd Alves: from a backyard mat to The Crown
She started at 19 on a backyard mat in northeastern Brazil and wants to inspire people who started late
Ingridd Alves opens the women’s super heavyweight division at The Crown 2026 this Sunday, November 8, at the Pyramid in Long Beach, California, against World Champion Larissa Dias.
“The invitation is just the door to something bigger, which is the chance to make history with a performance that matches my effort and my desire to shine. Every match will feel like a final, and against Larissa Dias it will be no different,” Alves told VF Comunica.
“We’re not just competing for a title or a crown-shaped trophy. What’s also at stake is the chance to inspire people, especially those from the northeast of Brazil and those who started Jiu-Jitsu as adults like me. I started at 19 and went from white belt to black belt on a mat set up in a backyard. To me, that’s gold.”
The division also features three-time Crown champion Gabi Pessanha, according to the Crown 2026 brackets.
Did you start Jiu-Jitsu as an adult? Tell us.
VF Comunica’s coverage of The Crown is presented by Kingz.
More in Interviews
- 01
- 02
- 03
