Page 6 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • July 13, 2011 Upper Saddle River Teen becomes open class champion at Mundials tournament, also known as the Mundials, was held in Long Beach, California and drew approximately 2,300 competitors. Fifteen-year-old Obelenyte competed in the adult women’s purple belt middleweight division. Forty women in various weight categories competed in this division. Obelenyte had six fights, and won all of them. The most difficult fight occurred in the finals against Rachel Demara. Obelenyte also faced much larger competitors, including heavyweight Sarah Draht, middle heavy Sijara Eubanks, and middleweight Leanna Dittirich. Obelenyte was able to succeed, despite the fact that she was recovering from meniscus surgery which was performed three months prior due to a knee injury. She was able to surprise her competition, not only by her age, but also by her skill level and technique. She trains with world renowned Brazil- Dominyka Obelenyte Upper Saddle River teen Dominyka Obelenyte recently became the open class world champion at the International Brazilian Jiu Jitsu World Championship. The Dominyka Obelenyte competes against Leanna Dittirich. (Photos by J. Lamonica) ian jiu jitsu instructor Marcelo Garcia in New York. This spring, Obelenyte participated at the International New York Open Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Championship, where she won the gold medal in the purple belt adult female middle weight category and silver in the purple belt absolute weight category. Last year, the Northern Highlands High School student became Brazilian Jiu Jitsu World Champion in the adult female blue belt lightweight category. Obelenyte was the bronze medal winner at the 2010 World-Mundial No Gi (without kimono) Championship, and gold medal winner at the 2010 Pan American Gi and No Gi Championships in the blue belt light weight adult female divisions. She also earned a silver medal at the New York Open.