Darla Sedlacek //// Black Belt
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Instructor
Hi! I’m Darla Sedlacek. I have a lot of energy and love to learn.
I’ve been studying martial arts for over 25 years and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu intensely since 2014. Earned a black belt in Tae Kwon Do after college, and currently hold the rank of black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Being a serious competitor, the tournament list is long with highlights of a 2-0 record in Fight to Win pro fights, four-time IBJJF World Master champ/Open class champ, and competition and training experience in Rio, Brazil.
I completed my doctoral dissertation on effective assault prevention and am still interested in empowering people to protect and defend themselves on and off the mats. For women in particular, using forceful resistance is effective but often there are mixed messages about it’s use. I want it to be clear that women are capable of defending themselves. I also want it to be clear that martial arts are great beyond something that is for self defense. Because of the many benefits of Jiu Jitsu training, I strongly advocate for getting more women comfortable with the idea of participating.
I teach kids', adult, and women's classes. Enthusiastically, I train and coach with a framework of creating optimal experiences in sport and life. I’ve spent much of my career coaching athletes of all levels across many sports to improve performance and enjoy training.
Outside of the time I spend coaching and training Jiu Jitsu, I'm in private practice as a Psychologist, working with general topics of concern but specializing in sport/performance psychology and movement therapy. I hold certifications in personal training and yoga, and have engaged in ultrarunning as another interest.
Competition experience includes:
2nd Place Black Master 4 Open Class: Chicago IBJJF Summer Open 2024
1st Place Black Master 4 Medium Heavy: Chicago IBJJF Summer Open 2024
1st Place Expert Featherweight: North American Grappling Association No Gi Cincinnati 2024
1st Place Black Master 4 Open Class: IBJJF Master International Europe Barcelona 2024
2nd Place Black Master 4 Middle: IBJJF Master International Europe Barcelona 2024
2nd Place Black Master 3 Light: Chicago IBJJF Spring Open 2024
2nd Place Black Master 3 Open Class: IBJJF Indianapolis Open 2024
1st Place Black Master 2 Middle: IBJJF Atlanta Winter Open 2024
2nd Place Black Master 4 Middle: IBJJF European Jiu Jitsu Championship 2024
3rd Place Black Master 4 Open Class: IBJJF No Gi World Championship 2023
1st Place Black Master 4 Middle: IBJJF No Gi World Championship 2023
2nd Place Black Master 4 Light: IBJJF Master International 2023
2nd Place Black Master 3 Light: IBJJF Houston International Open 2023
2nd place Black Master 1 Light: Chicago IBJJF Spring 2023
2nd Place Black Master 4 Light: Pan IBJJF Jiu Jitsu Championship 2023
1st Place Black Master Gi: Grappling Industries Arnold Classic 2023
1st Place Black Master No Gi: Grappling Industries Arnold Classic 2023
2nd Place Black Master 3 Light: Atlanta Winter International Open IBJJF Gi 2023
3rd Place Black Master 4 Light: World IBJJF No Gi Championship 2022
1st place Brown Master 4 Light: World Master IBJJF Championship 2022
2nd Place Brown Master 3 Light: IBJJF Orlando Summer International Open 2022
2nd Place Brown Master 3 Light: American National No Gi IBJJF Championship 2022
3rd Place Brown Master 3 Open Class: American National IBJJF Championship 2022
2nd Place Brown Master 3 Light: American National IBJJF Championship 2022
2nd place Brown Master 4 Open Class: Pan IBJJF Jiu Jitsu Championship 2022
1st place Brown Master 4 Light: Pan IBJJF Jiu Jitsu Championship 2022
1st place Brown Master 3 Light: Indianapolis IBJJF Championship 2022
1st place Brown Master 3 Middle: Austin IBJJF No Gi Championship 2022
1st place Brown Master 4 Light: World Master IBJJF Championship 2021
3rd Place Brown Master 4 Open Class: World Master IBJJF Championship 2021
2nd Place Brown Master 4 Light: Pan IBJJF Jiu Jitsu Championship 2021
2nd place Brown Master 3 Light: Chicago International Open IBJJF Championship 2021
1st place Master 1 Middle No Gi: Miami International Open Championship, May 2021
2nd place Adult Purple Gi, Grappling Industries, Pittsburgh, April 2021
3rd place Adult Expert No Gi, Grappling Industries, Pittsburgh, April 2021
3rd Place Purple Adult Light: IBJJF Charleston International Open, April 2021
1st Place Purple Master 4 Open Class: World Master IBJJF Jiu Jitsu Championship 2019
1st Place Purple Master 4 Light: World Master IBJJF Jiu Jitsu Championship 2019
Fight to Win Pro 110 Purple Belt Champion, April 2019
3rd place Purple Adult Light: Cincinnati IBJJF International Open 2018
1st place Purple Master 4 Light: World Master IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2018
Fight to Win Pro 72 Purple Belt Champion, April 2018
1st Place Blue Adult Light: IBJJF Chicago Spring Open 2018
1st Place Blue Master 4 Light: IBJJF Pan Jiu Jitsu Championship 2018
1st place Blue Adult Middleweight Gi: American Grappling Challenge, September 2017
3rd place Blue Adult Middleweight No Gi: IBJJF Chicago Summer Open 2017
3rd place Blue Adult Lightweight Gi: IBJJF Chicago Summer Open 2017
1st Place Blue Adult Intermediate No Gi: American Grappling Challenge PA 2017
1st Place Blue Adult Middle Gi: American Grappling Challenge PA 2017
2nd Place Blue Adult Intermediate No Gi: American Grappling Challenge OH 2017
1st Place Blue Adult Middle Gi: American Grappling Challenge OH 2017
3rd Place Blue Adult Light No Gi: Chicago Spring Open 2017
3rd Place Blue Adult Light Gi: Chicago Spring Open 2017
2nd Place Blue Adult Intermediate No Gi: American Grappling Challenge 2016
2nd Place Blue Adult Middle Gi: American Grappling Challenge 2016
3rd Place Blue Adult Light No Gi: IBJJF Atlanta Summer Open 2016
3rd Place Blue Adult Middle No Gi: IBJJF Chicago Summer Open 2016
2nd Place Blue Adult Middle No Gi: IBJJF Atlanta Summer Open 2015
3rd Place Blue Adult Middle Gi: NAGA Pittsburgh 2015
3rd Place Blue Adult Intermediate No Gi: NAGA Pittsburgh 2015
3rd Place Blue Adult Middle No Gi: IBJJF American Nationals 2015
2nd Place Blue Adult Middle Gi: IBJJF American Nationals 2015