Jennifer Cooper, a long-time resident of Vancouver and mother of six, showcased her exceptional jiu-jitsu techniques on the world stage for the second year, representing her home gym, Emerge Jiu Jitsu

Jessica Wilkinson 
for Clark County Today

With impressive skill, determination, and preparation, Jennifer Cooper of Vancouver won a gold medal at the prestigious International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) World Championship on Aug. 31, 2024. 

The annual multi-day competition for men, women, and children took place at the Las Vegas Convention Center from Aug. 28-31 and drew some of the most elite jiu-jitsu practitioners from around the globe. An estimated 12,000 athletes and fans participated in this year’s events, eager to experience the pinnacle of BJJ competition. 

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is a mostly ground-based martial art that aims to achieve nonviolent submissions of opponents. Rather than focusing on strikes or kicks like other martial arts, BJJ relies on close-contact “grappling” techniques that require well-timed pressure, leverage and an understanding of human anatomy. It is sometimes called “human chess.”

Cooper, a long-time resident of Vancouver and mother of six, showcased her exceptional jiu-jitsu techniques on the world stage for the second year, representing her home gym, Emerge Jiu Jitsu, which she co-owns and manages with her husband. 

Though Cooper did not place in last year’s competition, after months of round-the-clock training and effort, she entered this year’s tournament and resolved to leave with a different outcome and better overall experience. 

“Whether I won or lost, I wanted to be at my best physically, emotionally, and spiritually,” Cooper shared. “I wanted to have a positive attitude regardless of the results.”

Since registering for the world competition this spring, alongside six other teammates from Emerge Jiu Jitsu, Cooper dedicated herself to extensive training — weightlifting, a careful diet, studying video, and competitive rolling. The five adults and two children who made up the Emerge team received significant support in their training efforts from other local gyms, like Battle Ground Martial Arts and BJJ black-belt Professor Jeremiah Rodeman. 

Throughout the World Championship, Cooper displayed her strategic growth and exemplary conditioning, competing in two weight classes above her own to win a silver medal in her age bracket and purple-belt division. That medal qualified her to enter the open weight class competition, where she navigated difficult matches and ultimately won the gold.

Commenting on the experience that led to her victory, Cooper said, “It’s a testament to the hard work and dedication that I, along with my coaches and teammates, put in.” 

“She knew what to do, and she did it,” remarked her coach, Don Cooper, who happens to be her husband, a BJJ black belt, professor, and co-owner of Emerge Jiu Jitsu. 

“I didn’t have to say much. Those who compete know that most of the effort for success comes in the months, if not years, before a successful performance. Jennifer’s preparation for the 2024 tournament began more than a year ago, before the 2023 tournament. Her consistency, discipline, never giving up, and daily training, whether in drilling, live rolling, or strength training, were always there. She was there on the days she was sore, tired, and extremely busy. As one of her coaches, I could not be more proud of her. As her husband, I am unsurprised because she has been an amazing wife for 35-plus years and never ceases to amaze me with what she can do. Being a world champion and now a BJJ brown belt is an amazing accomplishment.” 

Jennifer Cooper’s road to a gold medal at the IBJJF World Championship is impressive in more ways than one. As someone who didn’t grow up playing competitive sports and doesn’t consider herself competitive by nature, she only intended to run the business side of the gym when the Coopers opened Emerge Jiu Jitsu in June 2017. Their first class consisted of their children, a friend, her kids, and another new student. 

“But I got bit by the jiu-jitsu bug, hard,” Cooper recalled smiling. Now, seven years later, she is grateful for the change of heart. “I appreciate that I can do jiu-jitsu at age 57. I would not enjoy the physicality I have today if it were not for jiu-jitsu.”

Her experience and enthusiasm must be contagious, reflecting an increasing worldwide interest in BJJ. The Vancouver gym eventually outgrew its original location, resulting in a February 2023 expansion off Fourth Plain Boulevard. Today, Emerge boasts over 300 memberships, 30 weekly classes, and approximately 20 coaches. As a family-run business, three of the instructors are Coopers. 

Lovingly called the “gym mom,” Jennifer Cooper uses the skills she has gained to instruct women and children at Emerge. She offers private lessons and a women’s self-defense class, often helping survivors of sexual abuse regain their confidence and strength to navigate an increasingly hostile world. 

 “A big part of self-defense is situational awareness. Though I don’t put myself in bad situations, I want to be more confident and harder to kill if I find myself in a bad situation. Using jiu-jitsu techniques to offer confidence and self-defense options to other women is my favorite part of training and coaching.” 

When asked if she would consider returning to the World Championship again next year, she said, “I think I will. I appreciate the motivation that competing gives me, and I still want to practice having a good attitude, win or lose.”

Jessica Hofer Wilkinson is a freelance writer, home educator and mother of four and nursing home chaplain. She resides in Clark County.