Dominyka Obelenyte

Dominyka Obelenyte was born on July 30, 1995, in Kaunas, Lithuania. At six years old, she moved to the United States, where her father enrolled her in ju-jutsu classes at age seven for self-defense. After relocating to New Jersey at nine, Dominyka transitioned to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, initially training under Louis Vintaloro. She later joined the renowned academy of Marcelo Garcia, marking the beginning of her competitive journey.

Dominyka Obelenyte became the first female black belt under legendary competitor and instructor Marcelo Garcia. Promoted to black belt on January 15, 2015, she emerged as part of Garcia's first generation of elite competitors, demonstrating exceptional talent, discipline, and dedication from an early age.

In her debut year as a black belt, Dominyka achieved a historic milestone at the 2015 IBJJF World Jiu-Jitsu Championship, capturing double gold by winning both her weight class and the absolute division. This remarkable accomplishment solidified her status as one of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu's most promising young athletes.

In June 2015, Dominyka launched a significant campaign advocating for equal pay between male and female competitors in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Her efforts prompted the IBJJF to reevaluate and adjust prize money distribution, marking a crucial step toward gender equality within the sport.

Balancing competitive success with academic ambitions, Dominyka graduated from Columbia University in 2020 with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Visual Arts. During her college years, she stepped back from major competition to focus on coaching, becoming the head instructor at Hinds Combat Sports in New York City. Notably, she was the first female head Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instructor in NYC, a position she held for four years.

In 2021, Dominyka relocated to Sacramento, California, joining Urijah Faber's Ultimate Fitness as the head Jiu-Jitsu instructor. This move aligned her with Team Alpha Male's developing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu program, allowing her to integrate her extensive gi-focused expertise into a predominantly no-gi and MMA-oriented environment.

Dominyka has openly discussed her personal struggles with depression during her teenage competitive years, despite achieving significant success. At one point, she considered leaving Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu entirely but was encouraged to continue by mentors such as her friend JT Torres. Today, she actively uses her platform to promote mental wellness, encouraging athletes to seek balance, resilience, and support when facing setbacks.

Combining analytical insight with creative thinking, Dominyka developed an instructional series titled "The Art of the Gameplan." This series guides students in crafting personalized Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu strategies and competition approaches. Through seminars and podcasts, she emphasizes intentional training, goal-oriented sparring, and the importance of developing one's unique style rather than imitating others.

Outside of competition, Dominyka is a practicing fine artist who has exhibited her paintings and drawings. She views art as a complementary form of expression and stress relief, noting parallels between artistic creativity and the technical development of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Her distinctive blend of visual and martial arts sets her apart within the grappling community, providing a well-rounded identity beyond her competitive achievements.