Nolan Thompson, 9, continues to make an impressive mark on the youth Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu circuit.
Competing over the weekend at a North American Grappling Association (NAGA) tournament in Greensboro, North Carolina, Nolan captured two gold medals in the Gi Division, winning first place in both the 8–9 and 10–11 age brackets.
The recent success builds on a strong performance in November 2025 in Greenville, where Nolan earned a gold medal in the No-Gi division and a silver medal in the Gi division.
Nolan trains at Spartan Academy, located on St. Andrews Road. The academy is owned and operated by Guybson Sa, a third-degree black belt and former world champion, who also competed at the Greensboro event and returned with four gold medals of his own.
A fourth-grade student at Nursery Road Elementary School, Nolan has been practicing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for approximately a year and a half.
Spartan Academy will next compete on November 8 in downtown Columbia at the Metropolitan Convention Center. The event is open to the public, with a $20 admission fee.
Spartan Academy is located at 6169 St. Andrews Road. For more information, visit spartanacademymma.com or call 803-750-0000.
