Libby Genge
Born on January 12, 2004, in Manchester, UK, Libby represents the new wave of British athletes emerging on the international Jiu-Jitsu stage. A brown belt in the featherweight division, she brings a unique combination of early dedication, family influence, and relentless work ethic—balancing elite competition with a full-time career outside the mats.
Libby’s Jiu-Jitsu journey began at age seven, but the seed was planted a year earlier. While watching her dad compete in his first BJJ tournament, she noticed a girl in a pink gi. That moment left an impression. When the academy her father trained at launched kids’ classes, he asked if she wanted to try it. There was just one issue: the classes clashed with her Latin dance lessons. Her dad made a deal—if she picked Jiu-Jitsu, he’d buy her a pink gi. The choice was obvious.
Before Jiu-Jitsu, Libby wasn’t particularly interested in sports beyond her dancing. But once she committed to the mats, her athletic journey evolved rapidly. She spent five years training judo and later added wrestling to her arsenal—where she excelled. In 2023 and 2024, she represented Team GBR internationally in wrestling, becoming both British and English Champion in 2024.
The biggest highlight of her career came in 2023, when she won both the Gi and No-Gi divisions at the UWW Grappling World Championships. It was the first year the UK sent a team, and Libby became the first GBR athlete to medal. She submitted every opponent and secured takedowns in every match—drawing attention from UWW media, including a viral reel of her suplex that reached over 55,000 views. For Libby, it was the perfect fusion of her Jiu-Jitsu and wrestling skills.

Some of Libby's top accomplishments include:
- 1st – UWW Grappling World Championships 2024
- 1st – UWW Gi Grappling World Championships 2024
- 3rd – IBJJF Pans 2024 (Purple Belt)
- 3rd – IBJJF No-Gi Worlds 2024 (Brown Belt)
- 2nd – AJP London Grand Slam 2025 (Brown + Black Division)
- 3rd – IBJJF Europeans 2025 (Brown Belt)
- 3rd – IBJJF Pans 2025 (Brown Belt)
- 3rd – IBJJF Worlds 2025 (Brown Belt)
Libby's Favorites Products:
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Rashguard pour femme Terra - Édition verte$ 60$ 60
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Balistico 4.0 Gi Jiu Jitsu Femme - Blanc - Édition 2024$ 180$ 180
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Soutien-gorge de sport Kore pour femmes - Bleu fumée$ 45$ 45
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Sweat à capuche court Arte Suave pour femmes$ 50$ 50
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Did You Know?
Favorite Match: No-Gi Worlds Semi-Final 2024
Person of Inspiration: My dad
Hometown: Manchester, UK
Started Jiu-Jitsu in: March 2011
Current Team: Stealth BJJ Manchester
Training Routine: 1.5–3 hours of wrestling, 3 hours of No-Gi, 5 hours of Gi, and 4 hours of strength & conditioning per week.
Favorite Post-Competition Meal: It changes depending on the country, but anything salty.
Pre-Fight Ritual:I visualize the start of each match in the bullpen while listening to music, and I follow a specific breathing pattern mat-side before every match.
Greatest Victory So Far: Medaling at four major events in my first five months at brown belt—competing against full-time athletes while working full-time myself, after previously struggling with consistent performance and results.
Dream in Jiu-Jitsu: To run a successful academy with my parents and solidify myself as one of the top female athletes.
If I weren’t an athlete, I’d be...: Probably one of the best students at my university and very soon a legal expert.
Quote that represents me: “She moved through silence, through setbacks, through shadows—towards something only she could see.”
Favorite Kingz Gi: White Balistico
One piece of advice for beginners: Perfect the basics—they’re effective at every level.




Her style is built on fundamentals passed down from her first coach—her dad. She favors heavy pressure passing, like stacking and knee cuts, and plays a deep half guard when on bottom—classic techniques executed with modern sharpness.
Outside the mats, Libby’s life is still steeped in the sport. Both of her parents are black belts, and she works full time as Event Manager for British Wrestling—a role that helps her afford to compete at the highest level. In between, she’s also trying (and humorously struggling) to learn Spanish.
Libby defines a champion’s mindset through perseverance. “Someone like Roberto Jimenez,” she explains, “who didn’t let colored belt losses define him, but used them to grow. A champion is someone who keeps showing up, stays committed to the process, and never loses the love for the sport—no matter how hard things get.”
With medals at four major tournaments in just her first five months at brown belt—all while working full time—Libby is proving that greatness doesn’t require perfect conditions, only unstoppable effort.