Janni Larsson is the 2014 IBJJF world black belt champion and is also a 27 year old med-student living in Copenhagen, Denmark. She is Swedish, but moved to Denmark about five years ago after getting accepted at University.
Janni trains under Shimon Mochizuki at the CheckMat academy Arte Suave in Copenhagen. In 2012 she started competing internationally and won a few major titles at the lower belts. She got her black belt about 18 months ago and since then has won Worlds and Europeans in the middle class division. She has also won Abu Dhabi pro in -72kg and gotten silver in the open weight at Abu Dhabi pro.
Following a tough loss at this year’s World Pro, Janni decided to end her competitive career in BJJ to focus on her medical studies. This is a similar case like ex world champion Hillary Williams who is now a doctor. Janni has won everything there is to win in BJJ and we wish her a great life as a BJJ player and future doctor.
Here is what Janni said on her Facebook:
Dear friends. My heart wasn’t in it today when I went on the mat, and I lost. A lot. Instead of sadness or disappointment I feel relief.
Last year I achieved everything I ever could have dreamt of in jiujitsu, and there is no hunger for winning left in me.
It is with mixed feelings I am writing this because I have great love for jiujitsu, but the stress from training, competing and studying to become a doctor has taken a toll on me.
I will always train jiujitsu, but I am done competing at the top level. Now it is time to focus on other aspects of my life.
You might see me rock up at masters when I am 35, but it will only be for fun.
Thank you to my family and my boyfriend Simon for supporting me in this decision. I love you.
I want say thank you to team CHECKMAT, to my trainer Shimon mochizuki and my old trainer Paul Persson for all the help and advice I have been given through out the years. Thank you to my academy Arte Suave and to all my amazing training partners that have been so supportive during stressful times. Also, thank you to my old academy JJK samurai for the years of training before I moved to Denmark.
Thank you to svenska BJJ federationen, svenska ju-jutsu federationen, Riksidrottsförbundet and svenska spel, for the support. Without you and the economical support you’ve given my competition career never would have happened.
