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Denise Krahn

European black-belt champion Denise Krahn combines her own competition career with coaching Hilti’s young grapplers.

Biography

Denise Krahn teaches children taking their first grappling classes and athletes preparing for competition at Hilti BJJ Berlin. She shares competition coaching with Frank Burczynski. Hilti describes their work as preparation that includes studying matches, planning, traveling together and reviewing what happened afterward. Krahn was born in Bonn, with a German father and Guatemalan mother. She grew up mainly in Germany and also spent time in Guatemala. She moved to Berlin for her studies in 2010. Law was her earlier field of study. University sport introduced her to grappling, and she went on to train in a club. She joined Hilti in October 2015 and learned under Burczynski. Her first competition produced her first medal in any sport. By December 2019, she had progressed from joining national-team training as a reserve to becoming a full member. She was still combining sport with study and work, but told Deutschlandfunk Nova that sports funding was expected to make training her full-time occupation the following year. A January 2022 Weddinger Allgemeine Zeitung portrait recalled how shoulder trouble had interrupted her preparation for the 2019 Worlds: she had resumed training only a week before the tournament. The same portrait described the workload she later built, with roughly three hours of training most days at several clubs. In a separate recollection published by Grapple Stuff in March 2024, Krahn described shoulder surgery as a blue belt. During rehabilitation, she could not lift 250 grams. The experience made returning to jiu-jitsu an urgent personal goal. The 2022 newspaper portrait dates the start of her military sports support to 2020. That year also brought a different interruption. In Beuth Hochschule’s magazine, Krahn described filling the shutdown with running, kettlebells and solo drills. Permission to work with her coach restored contact training; fixed groups of four later made some regular partner practice possible. The magazine identified her as a printing and media technology student. The university still listed her in that bachelor’s program in August 2021, when it reported her European under-70-kilogram gold in Maintal. Krahn’s national-team career was in the JJIF/JJEU jiu-jitsu circuit. In her July 2023 introduction to the European Athletes Commission, she named Burczynski and Pedro Duarte as her teachers and described winning world and European titles in both 2021 and 2022. Military support, she said, enabled full-time training. This ground-focused jiu-jitsu is contested in the gi, the traditional training uniform; JJIF also runs a separate no-gi format. The January 2023 Weddinger Allgemeine Zeitung portrait gave a closer view of her 2022 world-title defense in Abu Dhabi. Krahn credited Burczynski’s preparation and said the draw had made the likely semifinal and final opponents clear to her. She beat France’s Stephanie Faure, then Ukraine’s Bogdana Golub. Her recollections included the hospitality around the event: a Maserati took her from the arena back to the hotel. Her next stated target was the World Combat Games. At the 2023 Games in Riyadh, she won women’s under-70-kilogram Ne-Waza, beating Mongolia’s Khulan Batbaatar 2–0 in the final. Her IBJJF results developed alongside that national-team career. At the 2022 Worlds, she earned adult purple-belt bronze in both medium-heavyweight and the open division. In 2023 she won women’s brown-belt medium-heavyweight in the World Master Championship’s Master 1 age division. Burczynski and Duarte awarded her black belt together on July 9, 2024. The kneebar, a submission that extends the knee, became a recognizable part of her game. She recalled answering an opponent’s leg attack with one in a submission-only final as a blue belt. She felt the attack suited the way she inverted, turning upside down to work underneath an opponent. In that 2024 interview, she named Burczynski her main sparring partner, emphasizing his pressure and the team behind her preparation. A written summary of her March 2025 Fritz:cast appearance described a routine of strength work, technique and sparring. It also explained a practical constraint: women of a similar size who trained at her level and volume were scarce, so she often worked with similarly sized men. The account connected her interest in jiu-jitsu to its immediate feedback—whether a technique works becomes apparent in the exchange. At Hilti, she leads a women’s class for both newcomers and experienced practitioners. The school presents it as an additional route into training, alongside regular classes where women are also welcome. Her black-belt results in 2025 included medium-heavyweight bronze in the IBJJF World Master Championship’s Master 1 division. At that year’s IBJJF No-Gi Worlds she won Master 1 heavyweight. In the separate JJIF Worlds in Bangkok, she took under-70-kilogram bronze and no-gi gold for Germany, as reported by Schwarzwälder Bote and the Württemberg federation. The bronze came in the gi-based jiu-jitsu format. In January 2026, Krahn won the IBJJF European Championship’s adult black-belt medium-heavyweight title for Hilti. IBJJF’s account traces the win through her choices from guard, where she used her legs to control and attack while underneath her opponents. Seeded fourth among seven, she finished Luana Soares with a kneebar and Maria Vicentini with an armbar from high guard. Against Ingridd Alves, she moved among De La Riva, half guard and high guard, continuing to threaten the arms. The final went the full distance, and Krahn won by referee decision. Her teaching work at Hilti spans children, teenagers and competition preparation. Before the first Doso Kids Cup, she emphasized respectful competition. The announced double-elimination or round-robin format was designed to give every child at least two bouts. The event took place on February 4, 2023. Registrations had risen from 90 to 150, forcing the organizers to find a larger hall. Krahn explained the €25 entry fee through the families she wanted the event to include: children should not have to miss competition because their parents could not afford a high charge. She was a co-organizer of the Hilti event. That December, she accompanied 15 Hilti youngsters to Dublin with Burczynski and Toni Thomä. The January 2024 newspaper report described how fundraising and Sportjugend Berlin support made the trip possible. For many of the children it was their first flight and their first journey without their parents. By the February 2025 interview reported in her BJJ Heroes biography, Hilti’s youth program had reached more than 130 children and teenagers. Her July 2026 children’s guide describes what happens before and around competition: learning to fall and roll, hold positions, escape and solve tasks with a partner. Hilti divides the work by age, uses games with younger children and teaches attention to a partner’s stop signals. Competition remains optional. In her beginner guide that month, she encourages students to ask when something is unclear, tap promptly and experiment with unfamiliar techniques. She asks them to assess their own progress and use practice rounds to learn, giving exploration a place alongside the demands of competition. Krahn also took on representation beyond her own club, joining the European Athletes Commission in 2023. At club level, IMAG Berlin lists her on its board alongside Burczynski and Björn Rudolph. JJIF’s European directory lists her as the European union’s athletes representative. At the September 2025 JJIF board meeting, she argued for wider publicity for the commission so athletes across continents would hear about it. She also proposed limiting athletes to one medal event per day, while permitting entries in different age divisions on separate days. The board postponed the participation decision.

Sources for this profile

  • BJJ Heroes, Krahn biography.(opens in a new tab)

    • BJJ Heroes gives Bonn as Krahn’s birthplace and describes her parents as German and Guatemalan.

      Where in the source: Biography, opening paragraph.

      Accessed:

    • Her biography identifies Krahn as German and a dual national, raised mainly in Germany with some childhood in Guatemala.

      Where in the source: Biography and introductory identification.

      Accessed:

    • She joined Hilti in October 2015 and trained under Frank Burczynski. Her first competition brought her first sporting medal. Burczynski and Pedro Duarte awarded her black belt on 9 July 2024.

      Where in the source: Biography, training and promotion.

      Accessed:

    • The February 2025 interview describes her Hilti youth program as having reached over 130 children and teenagers.

      Where in the source: Biography, youth-program paragraph.

      Accessed:

  • Dlf Nova, interview report, 29 December 2019.(opens in a new tab)

    • By December 2019, university sport had led Krahn to a club and from national-team training reserve to full member. While studying and working, she expected sports funding to permit full-time training in 2020.

      Where in the source: Closing paragraphs of written interview report.

      Accessed:

  • Grapple Stuff, Krahn interview, 18 March 2024.(opens in a new tab)

    • In her 2024 interview, Krahn recalled blue-belt shoulder surgery, being unable to lift 250 grams during rehabilitation, and determination to return. Her kneebars developed from countering a leg attack in a submission-only final and suited her inverted game. She named Burczynski her main sparring partner, praising his pressure and her team’s support.

      Where in the source: Denise interview: discovery, technique and soundtrack.

      Accessed:

  • Fritz Reincke, episode article, 5 March 2025.(opens in a new tab)

    • A March 2025 episode summary describes Krahn moving from law studies to full-time jiu-jitsu and valuing its immediate technical feedback. Her schedule combined strength, technique and sparring; comparable female partners were scarce, so she often trained with similarly sized men.

      Where in the source: Written episode summary, career and training sections.

      Accessed:

  • JJEU, commission introduction, 15 July 2023.(opens in a new tab)

    • Introducing herself in July 2023, Krahn named Hilti Berlin, coaches Frank Burczynski and Pedro Duarte, national-team membership since 2019, and military support for full-time training. She described world and European titles in 2021 and 2022 and joined the European Athletes Commission.

      Where in the source: Self-introduction under Miss Krahn.

      Accessed:

  • JJIF, board minutes, 7 September 2025.(opens in a new tab)

    • At the September 2025 JJIF board meeting, athlete representative Krahn sought broader commission publicity and proposed one medal event per day, with cross-age entry on separate days. The board deferred its participation decision.

      Where in the source: Pages 1 and 4–5, commission and participation.

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  • Hilti BJJ Berlin, Krahn trainer profile.(opens in a new tab)

    • Hilti’s current trainer page identifies Krahn as a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt.

      Where in the source: Named trainer profile, rank.

      Accessed:

    • Krahn trains and coaches at Hilti BJJ Berlin, whose site identifies IMAG Berlin e.V. as its operating club.

      Where in the source: Trainer profile and operating-club footer.

      Accessed:

    • Her teaching responsibilities include children and teenagers, competition preparation, CLA Class and Women’s Class, from newcomers through competitors.

      Where in the source: Trainer profile, class responsibilities.

      Accessed:

  • Hilti BJJ Berlin, club imprint.(opens in a new tab)

    • IMAG Berlin e.V. lists Krahn on its board alongside Frank Burczynski and Björn Rudolph.

      Where in the source: Board listing.

      Accessed:

  • Hilti BJJ Berlin, competition team.(opens in a new tab)

    • Hilti names Krahn and Burczynski as competition coaches and describes match analysis, game planning, mental preparation, shared travel and post-event review as team work.

      Where in the source: Competition-team page, preparation and coaches.

      Accessed:

  • Hilti BJJ Berlin, women’s classes.(opens in a new tab)

    • Krahn leads a women’s class welcoming beginners and experienced practitioners; Hilti presents it as an additional entry route alongside classes open to women across the timetable.

      Where in the source: Women’s Class, leadership and regular classes.

      Accessed:

  • Hilti BJJ Berlin, beginner guide, July 2026.(opens in a new tab)

    • In her July 2026 beginner guide, Krahn encourages asking questions, tapping promptly, trying unfamiliar techniques and judging personal progress rather than treating every practice round as a contest.

      Where in the source: Beginner guide, mistakes and trainer advice.

      Accessed:

  • Hilti BJJ Berlin, children’s guide, July 2026.(opens in a new tab)

    • Her July 2026 children’s guide describes falling and rolling, controlling positions, escapes and partner games, with age-specific groups, attention to stop signals and optional competition.

      Where in the source: Children’s guide, practice and age groups.

      Accessed:

  • Weddinger Allgemeine Zeitung, February 2023, page 7.(opens in a new tab)

    • Before the first Doso Kids Cup, co-organizer Krahn emphasized respectful competition; the announced format offered every child at least two bouts through double elimination or round robin.

      Where in the source: Printed page 7, Doso preview.

      Accessed:

  • Weddinger Allgemeine Zeitung, March 2023, page 6.(opens in a new tab)

    • Krahn co-organized Hilti’s first Doso Kids Cup on 4 February 2023. Registrations rose from 90 to 150, requiring a larger hall. She explained its €25 entry fee as a way to include children whose parents could not afford expensive competitions.

      Where in the source: Printed page 6, main Doso report.

      Accessed:

  • Weddinger Allgemeine Zeitung, January 2024, page 9.(opens in a new tab)

    • Krahn, Burczynski and Toni Thomä accompanied 15 Hilti youngsters to Dublin in December 2023. Fundraising and Sportjugend Berlin support enabled the trip, which was many children’s first flight and first journey without parents.

      Where in the source: Printed page 9, Dublin youth trip.

      Accessed:

  • IBJJF, 2022 Worlds results.(opens in a new tab)

    • At the 2022 IBJJF Worlds, Krahn took bronze in the women’s Adult Purple medium-heavy and open divisions for Hilti BJJ Berlin.

      Where in the source: Female / Adult / Purple: medium-heavy and open.

      Accessed:

  • IBJJF, 2023 World Master results.(opens in a new tab)

    • She won the women’s Master 1 Brown medium-heavy division at the 2023 IBJJF World Master Championship for Hilti BJJ Berlin.

      Where in the source: Female / Master 1 / Brown / Medium Heavy.

      Accessed:

  • IBJJF, 2025 World Master results.(opens in a new tab)

    • Krahn earned women’s Master 1 Black medium-heavy bronze at the 2025 IBJJF World Master Championship.

      Where in the source: Female / Master 1 / Black / Medium Heavy.

      Accessed:

  • IBJJF, 2025 No-Gi Worlds results.(opens in a new tab)

    • At the 2025 IBJJF No-Gi Worlds, she won women’s Master 1 Black heavyweight for Hilti BJJ Berlin.

      Where in the source: Female / Master 1 / Black / Heavy.

      Accessed:

  • IBJJF, 2026 European results.(opens in a new tab)

    • Krahn won women’s Adult Black medium-heavy at the 2026 IBJJF European Championship, representing Hilti BJJ Berlin.

      Where in the source: Female / Adult / Black / Medium Heavy.

      Accessed:

  • IBJJF, European champions feature, 29 January 2026.(opens in a new tab)

    • IBJJF’s January 2026 report describes Krahn as fourth seed among seven medium-heavyweights: a kneebar against Luana Soares, a high-guard armbar against Maria Vicentini, then victory over Ingridd Alves by referee decision. It highlights her high guard, De La Riva and half guard.

      Where in the source: Denise Krahn section.

      Accessed:

  • Schwarzwälder Bote, championship report, 10 November 2025.(opens in a new tab)

    • Schwarzwälder Bote reported Krahn’s -70 kg bronze and no-gi world gold among Germany’s individual results at the 2025 championships in Bangkok.

      Where in the source: Individual-results paragraph.

      Accessed:

  • JJVW, Bangkok championship report, 9 November 2025.(opens in a new tab)

    • The regional federation’s Bangkok report records Krahn’s individual -70 kg bronze and no-gi world gold for Germany in 2025.

      Where in the source: Individual-results bullet list.

      Accessed:

  • JJIF, competition disciplines.(opens in a new tab)

    • JJIF distinguishes ground-focused Jiu-Jitsu in the gi from No-Gi without the traditional uniform; Fighting is a separate format combining strikes, throws and groundwork.

      Where in the source: Sport descriptions, three disciplines.

      Accessed:

  • Weddinger Allgemeine Zeitung, January 2022, page 9.(opens in a new tab)

    • A January 2022 portrait dates Krahn’s move to Berlin for study to 2010 and military sports support to 2020. After shoulder trouble, she recalled resuming training only a week before the 2019 Worlds; her workload later reached roughly three hours most days across several clubs.

      Where in the source: Printed page 9, full Krahn portrait.

      Accessed:

  • Weddinger Allgemeine Zeitung, January 2023, page 8.(opens in a new tab)

    • Discussing her 2022 world-title defence, Krahn credited Burczynski’s preparation and said the draw let her anticipate the French semifinal and Ukrainian final: she beat Stephanie Faure and Bogdana Golub. Winning the 2023 Combat Games became her next goal. She also recalled a Maserati ride from arena to hotel.

      Where in the source: Printed page 8, title-defence portrait.

      Accessed:

  • Beuth Hochschule, Das Magazin 2/2020, page 53.(opens in a new tab)

    • Featured as a printing and media technology student, Krahn described replacing contact practice with running, kettlebells and solo drills during the 2020 shutdown. Permission to train with her coach, followed by fixed four-person groups, restored some partner work.

      Where in the source: Printed page 53, Krahn’s complete statement.

      Accessed:

  • BHT Berlin, athlete news, 11 August 2021.(opens in a new tab)

    • The university’s August 2021 athlete report lists Krahn in its printing and media technology bachelor’s program and records her European -70 kg gold in Maintal that July.

      Where in the source: Named student-athlete report.

      Accessed:

  • SportAccord, Combat Games report, 25 October 2023.(opens in a new tab)

    • Krahn won women’s -70 kg Ne-Waza at the 2023 World Combat Games in Riyadh, beating Mongolia’s Khulan Batbaatar 2–0 in the final, according to the organizer’s report.

      Where in the source: Women’s Ju-Jitsu section.

      Accessed:

  • JJIF, European organization directory.(opens in a new tab)

    • JJIF’s current European directory lists Krahn as the Ju-Jitsu European Union’s athletes representative.

      Where in the source: JJEU board and commission roster.

      Accessed:

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