Skip to content
The BJJ Story
Search
Back to people
Two training partners meeting on the mat.Drawn in cream, forest green, and muted terracotta. People and objects are symbolic illustrations.
Portrait unavailable. General BJJ illustration; not a likeness of this person.Illustration: The BJJ Story

Grace Gundrum

“The Silent Assassin”

Source: flograppling.com

Chinese-American black belt Grace Gundrum grew from a five-year-old student into a 10th Planet champion known as “The Silent Assassin.”

Biography

Grace Gundrum was born in China and moved to the United States at a young age, growing up in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. She began karate at four. In a BJJ Heroes interview, Gundrum said that she entered Robert Villafane’s jiu-jitsu class at five by using lessons left on her older brother’s plan. What began with those spare classes became her central sport. After starting with Villafane, Gundrum developed primarily under JM Holland and Zach Maslany. She followed them when they established 10th Planet Bethlehem and later represented 10th Planet in competition. Her grappling education also crossed into wrestling. In 2018, she placed third at the Cadet and Junior National Championships in Fargo; Maslany credited that wrestling season with improving her head position and hand fighting. Gundrum’s results accelerated in 2019. At sixteen, she fought four-time adult black-belt world champion Rikako Yuasa to a draw as her team won the Quintet tournament. She then won the 105-pound Finishers Only event and received her brown belt from Holland and Maslany after the victory. In July 2020, shortly after she turned eighteen, Holland, Maslany and 10th Planet founder Eddie Bravo awarded her a black belt. Her black-belt debut followed in October at Fight to Win 155, where she submitted defending strawweight champion Pati Fontes with an armlock in under three minutes to take the title. At the 2021 Who’s Number One Championship, Gundrum advanced through the 115-pound bracket by beating Danielle Kelly by referee decision and submitting Jessa Khan with a twister. She lost the final to Mayssa Bastos by referee decision. That year also brought a role away from the professional circuit: Parkland School District listed her as an assistant coach for its new girls’ wrestling team. Gundrum competed under the nickname “The Silent Assassin,” which Maslany linked to her quiet demeanor. At Finishers 18 on 15 January 2023, she recorded three submission wins in the 125-pound round robin before losing the final to Alex Enriquez in EBI overtime.

Sources for this profile

  • BJJ Heroes, “18YO Sub-Only Star Grace Gundrum Promoted To Black Belt,” 20 July 2020(opens in a new tab)

    • Grace Gundrum is a Chinese-American grappler.

      Where in the source: Promotion report opening — Chinese-American identity

      Accessed:

    • In July 2020, coaches Zach Maslany and JM Holland and 10th Planet founder Eddie Bravo awarded Gundrum her black belt shortly after she turned eighteen.

      Where in the source: Promotion report opening and event account — coaches, month, age and rank

      Accessed:

  • BJJ Heroes, “Grace Gundrum”(opens in a new tab)

    • Gundrum was born in China on 22 May 2002 and moved to the United States at a young age, growing up in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

      Where in the source: Biography opening — birth date, China and Bethlehem upbringing

      Accessed:

    • After beginning with Robert Villafane, Gundrum developed primarily under JM Holland and Zach Maslany and followed them when they established 10th Planet Bethlehem.

      Where in the source: Biography — first instructor, Holland and Maslany, and transition to 10th Planet Bethlehem

      Accessed:

    • At the 2019 Quintet team tournament, sixteen-year-old Gundrum fought four-time adult black-belt world champion Rikako Yuasa to a draw as her team won the event.

      Where in the source: Biography and Main Achievements — Yuasa draw and 2019 Quintet team first place

      Accessed:

    • At the 2021 Who’s Number One Championship in the 52-kilogram division, Gundrum beat Danielle Kelly by referee decision in the quarterfinal, submitted Jessa Khan with a twister in the semifinal, and lost the final to Mayssa Bastos by referee decision.

      Where in the source: Fight History table - 2021 WNO, 52KG, quarterfinal, semifinal and final rows

      Accessed:

    • At Finishers 18 in 2023, Gundrum won three 57-kilogram round-robin matches by outside heel hook and two armbars before losing the final to Alex Enriquez in EBI overtime.

      Where in the source: Fight History table - 2023 Finishers 18, 57KG round-robin and final rows

      Accessed:

    • Gundrum represents 10th Planet and developed at its Bethlehem academy.

      Where in the source: Team/Association and Biography — current association and Bethlehem development

      Accessed:

  • BJJ Heroes, “Amazing Grace Gundrum, The Future Of Submission-Only,” 2020(opens in a new tab)

    • Gundrum began karate at four and entered Robert Villafane’s jiu-jitsu class at five by using lessons left on her older brother’s plan.

      Where in the source: Interview early-life section — karate at four and first jiu-jitsu class at five

      Accessed:

    • Gundrum won the 105-pound Finishers Only tournament in 2019 and received her brown belt from Holland and Maslany after the victory.

      Where in the source: Interview competition section — Finishers Only title and subsequent brown belt

      Accessed:

  • Corey Stockton, FloGrappling, “How Rising Star Grace Gundrum Lives Up To Her Nickname,” 27 October 2020(opens in a new tab)

    • Alongside jiu-jitsu, Gundrum competed in wrestling in 2018 and placed third at the Cadet and Junior National Championships in Fargo; coach Zach Maslany said the wrestling improved her head positioning and hand fighting.

      Where in the source: Competitive wrestling section — 2018 season, Fargo bronze and technical effect

      Accessed:

    • Gundrum has competed under the nickname “The Silent Assassin,” which coach Zach Maslany linked to her quiet demeanor.

      Where in the source: Article opening and nickname section — competition name and coach’s explanation

      Accessed:

  • Corey Stockton, FloGrappling, Grace Gundrum Lives Up To The Hype With Submission In Black Belt Debut, 24 October 2020(opens in a new tab)

    • In her black-belt debut at Fight to Win 155 in October 2020, Gundrum submitted reigning Fight to Win strawweight champion Pati Fontes by armbar in under three minutes and won the strawweight title.

      Where in the source: Event recap - black-belt debut, champion, armbar, duration and strawweight title

      Accessed:

  • Parkland School District, September 2021 newsletter(opens in a new tab)

    • In 2021, Parkland School District listed Gundrum as an assistant coach on the staff of its new girls’ wrestling team, led by head coach Jon Trenge.

      Where in the source: September 2021 newsletter — Parkland Girls Wrestling staff paragraph

      Accessed:

  • FloGrappling athlete profile, Grace Gundrum(opens in a new tab)

    • FloGrappling lists Gundrum’s three 2021 WNO Championship bouts at 115 pounds: a decision win over Danielle Kelly, a twister submission of Jessa Khan, and a decision loss to Mayssa Bastos.

      Where in the source: 2021 athlete results table - WNO Championship, 115lbs, opponents and methods

      Accessed:

  • Jits Magazine, Finishers 18 Full Results And Review, 16 January 2023(opens in a new tab)

    • On 15 January 2023 in the Finishers 18 125-pound Grand Prix, Gundrum submitted Cindy Ung by heel hook, Erin Brinew by armbar and Nicole Matthew by armbar before losing the final to Alex Enriquez by fastest escape time in EBI overtime.

      Where in the source: 125lbs Grand Prix introduction and full results - date, three A-bracket wins and final

      Accessed:

Lineage

No teaching connections are shown on this page.

Open lineage