In this biography
Quick facts
- Born
- 8 October 2001
- Birthplace
- Texas, United States
- Country
- Cambodia
- Nationality
- Cambodian
- Known for
- Winning Asian Games gold for Cambodia and a black-belt IBJJF world title
- Asian Games
- Gold, 49 kg ne-waza, 2018
- BJJ rank
- Black belt
- World title
- IBJJF black-belt champion, 2023
- Representation
- Cambodia
Why this life matters
Jessa Khan linked diaspora identity with elite combat sport, delivering one of Cambodia’s first Asian Games titles and then succeeding at the highest level of Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
Timeline
Key moments
Began jiu-jitsu
Started training at age twelve after her military family moved to Hawaii.
Won Asian Games gold
Captured the women’s 49 kg ne-waza title for Cambodia in Jakarta.
Received her black belt
Advanced to the sport’s senior rank under Rafael and Guilherme Mendes.
Became an IBJJF world champion
Won the light-featherweight black-belt world title before competing in ONE Championship.
From a mobile childhood to elite grappling
Born in Texas to a Cambodian-American family, Jessa Khan moved frequently because of her father’s naval service. She tried several sports before settling into Brazilian jiu-jitsu in Hawaii, later training at the Art of Jiu-Jitsu academy in California.
Khan won major titles through the youth and coloured-belt ranks. Her technical speed and submission-focused style established her as an elite prospect before she was old enough to receive an adult black belt.
Winning for Cambodia and at black belt
Representing her mother’s country, Khan won the women’s 49 kg ne-waza event at the 2018 Asian Games. The Olympic Council of Asia records it among Cambodia’s first three Asian Games gold medals and the second ever won by a Cambodian athlete.
She received her Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt in 2020 and won the IBJJF world championship in 2023. Her career connects Cambodia’s small international medal record with the global professional grappling circuit.
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions about Jessa Khan
- Who is Jessa Khan?
- Jessa Khan is a cambodian-American Brazilian jiu-jitsu athlete. Jessa Khan linked diaspora identity with elite combat sport, delivering one of Cambodia’s first Asian Games titles and then succeeding at the highest level of Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
- What is Jessa Khan best known for?
- Jessa Khan is best known for winning Asian Games gold for Cambodia and a black-belt IBJJF world title.
- When and where was Jessa Khan born?
- Jessa Khan was born on 8 October 2001 in Texas, United States.
Sources and further reading
How this biography was checked
Core dates and offices are checked against the sources below. This profile was last reviewed on 9 September 2026.
