Diné mixed martial artist Aayden Redshirt wins Pan Kids IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu IBJJF Championship
Courtesy | Eshawn Sean
Diné mixed martial artist Aayden Redshirt displays the Navajo Nation flag. Redshirt recently finished first at the 2026 Pan Kids IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship, becoming the first Native American teen to win this prestigious tournament.
WINDOW ROCK
At the largest kids’ jiu-jitsu competition, Diné mixed martial artist Aayden Redshirt showed that hard work does pay off.
Redshirt finished first in the 116-pound male teen grey bracket at the 2026 Pan Kids IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship in Kissimmee, Florida, which was held Friday, July 24 at the Silver Spur Arena.
“It felt good to finish first,” Redshirt said. “I just did my best and I had my family there with me.”
Redshirt’s parents are Kirk and Norlena Tsosie and they currently reside in the Phoenix metro area. His parents are originally from the Coalmine Canyon and Cedar Ridge, Arizona area.
According to his dad, Redshirt became the first Native American male to win this prestigious tournament.
To read the full article, please see the Aug. 13, 2026, edition of the Navajo Times.
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Highway 264,
I-40, WB @ Winslow