Elite Warrior Athlete Captures Second Jiu-Jitsu World Title
LtCol David Emison, Operations Officer with Wounded Warrior Regiment, added another world title to his record over Labor Day weekend with a championship performance at the World Master International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) Tournament in Las Vegas.
Held as part of Jiu-Jitsu Con, the event brought together more than 3,000 competitors. LtCol Emison competed as a Master 3 purple belt, entering a middleweight division of 54 athletes as the No. 25 seed.
Over six matches, he defeated both the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds and outscored his opponents 33–2 on his way to the championship.
The victory marks LtCol Emison’s second world title. He previously won the absolute division at the 2024 NoGi World Championship. His competitive record also includes a third-place World Master finish in 2024, a second-place finish in 2025, a 2024 NoGi Pan Championship and victories at the IBJJF Virginia Open in 2025 and 2026.
The accomplishment came after LtCol Emison tore the ACL in his right knee during a training session in February. He chose to compete once more before undergoing surgical repair in September.
LtCol Emison trains at KOA Martial Arts in Stafford, Va., under Kelly Grissom, a retired Marine officer.
The Elite Warrior Athlete Program supports qualified Marines pursuing excellence in individual sports outside the traditional All-Marine Sports program. Participants may receive support to compete at national and international levels while continuing their Marine Corps service.
Marines competing—or preparing to compete—at an elite level can apply throughout the year.
Download the Elite Warrior Athlete application at www.usmc-mccs.org/allmarinesports.
Submit the completed application or questions to AllMarineSports@usmc-mccs.org.