My name is Arielle Murillo (@ariellembjj), and I was born in Arizona but currently live in Texas. I'm a JiuJitsu athlete and small business owner, currently holding a grey/black belt under Vagabond BJJ (@vagabond_bjj).

My JiuJitsu journey began nearly three years ago, thanks to my dad encouraging me to give it a try. At first, I was nervous about starting something new and worried I’d struggle to pick it up. But I didn’t want to live with regrets, so I pushed myself to give it a shot. To my surprise, I fell in love with the sport—and the amazing community that came with it. It’s like being part of a big family, all connected through our shared passion for JiuJitsu.

After just four months of training, I felt ready to put my skills to the test and entered my first tournament in Lubbock, Texas. I instantly loved the experience and haven’t stopped competing since! Right now, I train at Vagabond BJJ and have recently started incorporating JiuJitsu-specific workouts at Elite Pride Performance (@thepridecoach). This year alone, I’ve competed 12 times, with a few more competitions lined up before the year ends—something I’m really excited about! I feel incredibly blessed by my coaches and can’t express how grateful I am for their unwavering belief in me and support throughout my journey. My JiuJitsu experience wouldn’t be the same without them—they’re truly the best!

A little over a year ago, I came up with the idea to launch my own athletic/no-gi brand, Menace Athletix (@menaceathletix). The inspiration came when I was cleaning out my rash guard and shorts drawer and noticed how different the quality was across items. My favorite pieces were soft and high-quality, while others were thin and wore out quickly. I decided to take matters into my own hands and create rash guards and athletic shorts that met my standards for comfort and quality—all at a reasonable price. I’m proud to say that Menace Athletix has released four limited edition collections so far, and I have plenty of exciting ideas for future releases, including new apparel for the 2024 Fall/Winter season.

I’m looking forward to what the future holds, both as an athlete and a small business owner. Exciting things are ahead!