Talent runs deep in the Funegra family. Born in Lakewood, California, Natalee Funegra is following in her twin sisters’ footsteps and making her own name for herself as a force to be reckoned with in the juvenile divisions. 

`At the same time Mia and Ashlee started, Natalee – then only five – started training jiu-jitsu at a local gym, encouraged by their uncle to learn self-defense. Initially, the three sisters trained a variety of arts, including Krav Maga, boxing and Muay Thai, before dedicating themselves to the gentle art full-time. “I did them all pretty consistently, but in the end, I decided to stick with BJJ because it was the one I enjoyed the most and felt the most connected to.”

Their talent immediately set them apart from the rest, and after about a year they made the decision to move to the world-renowned AOJ Academy, where Gui and Rafael Mendes had developed one of the most successful competitive juvenile programs in the sport. Even among a mat full of young star athletes, the sisters shined, eventually switching from public school to homeschooling in order to train full-time.

Two years younger than her sisters, Natalee game has taken a different flavor. Where her sisters favor passing, Natalee has focused on her guard, employing the 2-on-1 grip to pull her opponents into closed guard or x-guard. Her crisp execution has allowed her to dominate in her division, where she has managed to accomplish double-gold wins in every major competition, including the IBJJF Worlds in 2024. 

According to Natalee, discipline is the key ingredient to the champion mindset: “It’s about not losing focus on your goals. It’s about knowing what you want to accomplish and not letting distractions get in the way. Even when you’re tired or don’t feel like training, you push through and keep going.”