Jessa Khan: From Texas Prodigy to Cambodian Jiu-Jitsu Icon
Jessamine Jada “Jessa” Khan (born October 8, 2001) is an American-born Cambodian jiu-jitsu athlete. Khan began training in jiu-jitsu at the age of 12, and was awarded her black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu on October 6, 2020, by her coaches, the Mendes brothers.
Khan represented Cambodia at the 2018 Asian Games, where she won a gold medal in the women’s 49kg ne-waza event. This was the first gold medal for Cambodia in ju-jitsu at the Asian Games, and only the second gold medal in Cambodia’s Asian Games history. In 2023, she won silver in the gi ne-waza event and gold in the no gi ne-waza event at the Southeast Asian Games, donating her winnings to the Cambodian Red Cross. In May 2022, Khan signed with ONE Championship.
Khan’s other accomplishments include a bronze medal at the 2023 Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu European Championship in the women’s roosterweight division, and a gold medal at the 2023 IBJJF Santa Cruz International Open in the light-featherweight division. She is the 2023 IBJJF World Champion, having won gold in the light-featherweight division. At the IBJJF No-Gi World Championship 2023, she won a silver medal in the light-featherweight division.