Rose El Sharouni is a BJJ black belt under Leonardo Vieira. She represents CheckMat Jiu Jitsu in international competitions. Sharouni is the founder of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy Amsterdam in the Netherlands. She is one of the top BJJ fighters in the light featherweight division and became the AJP Tour’s Best European Player in 2022.
2.1. Rose El Sharouni’s Early Life
Sharouni was born in Heerlen, Netherlands on September 28, 1991. Later, she moved to Utrecht, Netherlands.
2.2. Started Judo at a Young Age
Sharouni started judo when she was six years old.
2.3. Introduction to Japanese Jiu-Jitsu
When Sharouni turned 12 years old, she gladly quit judo to start practicing Japanese jiu-jitsu.
2.4. Trained Under Mathieu Peters
After falling in love with BJJ, Sharouni initially decided to practice it as a hobby rather than pursue a professional career. She started training under Mathieu Peters.
2.5. Studied at Medical School
Sharouni enrolled at a medical school around the time she became a blue belt. While doing an internship at a hospital, Sharouni continued to train and compete in BJJ. She managed to balance practicing BJJ with the tough hours spent working at the hospital. Even when working at the hospital residency, Sharouni managed to win the IBJJF European Open Championship.
2.6. Role of Kiren Newadj and Remo Corstjens
Kiren Newadj and Remo Corstjens are BJJ black belts who helped Sharouni found Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy Amsterdam in the Netherlands. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy Amsterdam became partnered with CheckMat Jiu-Jitsu. Newadj and Corstjens have been teaching BJJ since before they became black belts and still actively competes in BJJ tournaments. Newadj is currently studying to earn a Master of Science in Engineering degree.
2.7. Founded Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy Amsterdam
In 2015, Sharouni founded Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy as a blue belt alongside Newadj and Corstjens. Thanks to Sharouni’s reputation, many adults and children joined Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy Amsterdam after opening.
2.8. Ladies Only BJJ/Queenz Jiu-Jitsu
Ladies Only BJJ was founded by Johanna Tavares and Sharouni after they met at the 2014 IBJJF British Open Championship in London. This association’s goal is to help train and empower women interested in learning BJJ. Tavares and Sharouni have conducted training camps worldwide over the years. In 2017, Tavares and Sharouni held their first training camp. Ladies Only BJJ later had its named changed to Queenz Jiu-Jitsu.Queenz Jiu-Jitsu’s motto is
“empowering you to succeed on the mat.”
2.9. Discontinued Medical Practice
In 2022, Sharouni finally decided to pursue BJJ professionally. Inspired by her time spent at the BJJ training camps, Sharouni decided to take a break from her medical career.
3. Rose El Sharouni's BJJ Career
3.1. Attended a BJJ Seminar
When Sharouni turned 16, she attended a BJJ seminar. After watching practitioners sparring and training in BJJ, Sharouni transitioned to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. It was basically a BJJ workshop that was conducted at Sharouni’s gym. She participated in the first workshop and greatly loved the sport.
3.2. IBJJF European Open Championship
At the 2015 IBJJF European Open Championship, Sharouni won first place as a blue belt.
3.3. IBJJF World Championship
At the 2018 IBJJF World Championship, Sharouni won third place as a brown belt.
3.4. Promoted to Black Belt
On July 14, 2019, Sharouni was promoted to a BJJ black belt by Leonardo Vieira.
3.5. IBJJF Pan Championship
At the 2023 IBJJF Pan Championship, Sharouni won second place as a black belt.
3.6. AJP Abu Dhabi World Pro
At the 2021 Abu Dhabi World Pro, Sharouni won second place.
3.7. #1 AJP European Player
In 2022, Sharouni was ranked as the #1 AJP European Player after her performance at the 2022 Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu Jitsu Championship.
“It wasn't my goal to get ranked #1 in Europe, and I wasn't at the top right before the end of this season. I knew that I could still make it as the best player if I did well in the ADWPJJC, but I didn't want to have that as a goal in itself and take away my focus. So I kept the dress in my suitcase, aimed at giving my best in each match and was ready to accept whatever result that would bring. This is definitely a very happy and special moment for me. I see it as a result of all the hard work I've been doing this season, and it really feels like a golden lining around the silver medal.”
(Rose El Sharouni)
4. Rose El Sharouni's Historic Fights
4.1. Rose El Sharouni Vs. Serena Gabrielli
Serena Gabrielli is an Italian BJJ black belt under Andre Verdemare and an instructor at the Flo Jiu-Jitsu Academy. At the 2019 IBJJF Rome Fall Open Championship, Sharouni competed against Gabrielli in the finals. From the ground, Sharouni took the dominant position and tightened her grip on Gabrielli. However, while Sharouni had the dominant position, Gabrielli had wrapped her leg around Sharouni’s arm to keep the latter from finishing the submission. In the last minute of the match, Sharouni submitted Gabrielli via an Ezekiel choke.
Year
Event
Opponent
W/L/D
Method
Stage
Weight Class
Location
2019
IBJJF Rome Fall Open Championship
Serena Gabrielli
Win
Submission By Ezekiel Choke
Finals
Featherweight
Rome, Italy
4.2. Rose El Sharouni Vs. Chelsea Leah
Chelsea Leah is a multiple-time IBJJF World Champion. At the 2022 Enyo Grappling, Sharouni started the fight by executing a double guard that took Leah to the ground. Sharouni had a tight grip on the sleeves of Leah’s gi that restricted her movement and the techniques she could execute. During the match, neither Sharouni d nor Leah could score a point. In the end, Sharouni won the fight via decision. This became the only fight Sharouni would ever win via decision.
Year
Event
Opponent
W/L/D
Method
Stage
Weight Class
Location
2022
Enyo Grappling
Chelsea Leah
Win
Decision
N/A
Light Featherweight
Southampton, England
4.3. Rose El Sharouni Vs. Georgina Contel Gallego
At the 2019 IBJJF London Fall Open Championship, Sharouni competed against Georgina Contel Gallego. At the start, Contel went right for Sharouni and caught her in a guard position. Sharouni tried to apply an armbar, but Contel manged to escape and tightened her grip. Clearly aware of Sharouni’s fighting style, Contel constantly shifted and maintained her grip, turning Sharouni’s technique against her. However, Sharouni managed to lift Contel off the ground and slam her onto the mat. Eventually, Sharouni submitted Contel via an Ezekiel choke in 9 minutes and 26 seconds.
Year
Event
Opponent
W/L/D
Method
Stage
Weight Class
Location
2019
IBJJF London Fall Open Championship
Georgina Contel Gallego
Win
Submission By Ezekiel Choke
Finals
Featherweight
London, England
5. Rose El Sharouni's Fighting Style
5.1. Grip Control
Sharouni is adept at grip control, having exceptional grip strength when holding onto her opponents’ sleeves and collars. Her grip strength also has helped her escape from submissions.
6. Rose El Sharouni's Championships (Medals)
6.1. IBJJF World Championship
Year
Weight Division
Medal
2021
53.5 kg
Bronze
2022
53.5 kg
Bronze
2023
53.5 kg
Bronze
6.2. IBJJF Pan American Championship
Year
Weight Division
Medal
2023
53.5 kg
Silver
6.3. IBJJF European Championship
Year
Weight Division
Medal
2020
53.5 kg
Bronze
2022
53.5 kg
Silver
2023
53.5 kg
Bronze
6.4. Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Jiu-Jitsu - Abu Dhabi
Year
Weight Division
Medal
2023
Under 55 kg
Bronze
6.5. Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Jiu-Jitsu - London
Year
Weight Division
Medal
2023
Under 55 kg
Bronze
6.6. AJP Tour Amsterdam International Jiu-Jitsu Championship
Year
Weight Division
Medal
2023
55 kg
Gold
6.7. Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship
Year
Weight Division
Medal
2022
55 kg
Silver
6.8. AJP Tour Brussels International Pro
Year
Weight Division
Medal
2022
62 kg
Gold
6.9. AJP Tour Netherlands National
Year
Weight Division
Medal
2022
55 kg
Gold
6.10. AJP Tour Cascais International Pro
Year
Weight Division
Medal
2022
55 kg
Gold
6.11. AJP Tour Porto International Pro
Year
Weight Division
Medal
2022
55 kg
Gold
6.12. Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Jiu-Jitsu - London
Year
Weight Division
Medal
2022
Under 55 kg
Bronze
6.13. AJP Tour Amsterdam International
Year
Weight Division
Medal
2022
62 kg
Gold
2022
-62 kg
Gold
6.14. Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship
Year
Weight Division
Medal
2021
55 kg
Silver
6.15. AJP Tour France National Pro
Year
Weight Division
Medal
2021
55 kg
Silver
6.16. AJP Tour Europe Continental Pro
Year
Weight Division
Medal
2021
55 kg
Bronze
6.17. Abu Dhabi National Pro Jiu-Jitsu Championship
Year
Weight Division
Medal
2021
55 kg
Silver
2022
55 kg
Silver
6.18. Abu Dhabi National Pro Jiu-Jitsu Championship - Netherlands
Year
Weight Division
Medal
2020
55 kg
Gold
6.19. Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Jiu-Jitsu - London
Year
Weight Division
Medal
2019
55 kg
Silver
6.20. Europe Continental Pro Jiu-Jitsu Championship
Year
Weight Division
Medal
2019
55 kg
Silver
6.21. Germany National Pro Jiu-Jitsu Championship
Year
Weight Division
Medal
2018
55 kg
Gold
6.22. Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Jiu-Jitsu - London
Year
Weight Division
Medal
2018
55 kg
Silver
6.23. Netherlands National Pro Jiu-Jitsu Championship
Year
Weight Division
Medal
2018
62 kg
Silver
6.24. Rose El Sharouni's Record
Three-Time IBJJF World Medalist
IBJJF European Open Medallist
IBJJF Pans Championship Medalist
Two-Time World Pro Silver Medalist
2022 AJP Best European Player
7. Rose El Sharouni's Colored Belt Achievements
Year
Event
Belt
Position
2015
IBJJF European Open Championship
Blue
1st
2018
IBJJF World Championship
Brown
3rd
2019
IBJJF European Open Championship
Brown
1st
8. Rose El Sharouni's Main Achievements
Year
Event
Weight Class
Position
2022
Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu Jitsu Championship
Light Featherweight
1st
2023
IBJJF Pan Championship
Light Featherweight
2nd
2022
IBJJF European Open Championship
Light Featherweight
2nd
2021
AJP Abu Dhabi World Pro
Light Featherweight
2nd
2021
IBJJF World Championship
Light Featherweight
3rd
2022
IBJJF World Championship
Light Featherweight
3rd
2020
IBJJF European Open Championship
Light Featherweight
3rd
2023
IBJJF European Open Championship
Light Featherweight
3rd
9. Rose El Sharouni's BJJ Professional Record Breakdown
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