“TSUNAMI” MAYA IS MAKING HER MARK IN THE WORLD OF MMA
At the ripe age of 12, Maya Sandberg has been undertaking Jiu Jitsu for four years now, and more recently has added wrestling, judo and kickboxing to her mixed martial arts repertoire.
A proud member of Vermelho Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Club (Nambour), Maya is grateful to be involved in a sport that continually challenges her both physically and mentally, “It’s heaps of fun! It’s like playing physical chess - there’s always something new to learn” she said, “Grappling sports are also amazing for fitness and strength.”
While Jiu Jitsu is often recognised as a predominately individual sport, Maya says the team aspect is what keeps her hooked, “I train and compete with lots of friends and family- Learning to deal with both wins and losses together really helps us all grow, not just as athletes but as humans.”
Maya loves being a part of the Sunshine Coast mixed martial arts community, which provides the opportunity for kids like her to not only get involved in the sport but chase their competitive dreams too, “one of the difficulties with Jiu Jitsu is that no one has the official “NSO” National Sporting Organisation accreditation you need to apply for council and state grants… Therefore, it’s so important that we help each other with fundraising and sponsorship” she explains.
With nine training sessions a week, comprising of a variety of martial arts, as well as cardio, strength and gymnastics, Maya is proud to be balancing a demanding regime with a full school attendance, and music lessons “A lot of high-level athletes home-school so they can fit in all their training, but I’m still managing to do both.”
Earlier this year Maya put this training and commitment to the test at NSW and QLD state Championships, where she took out double gold in the two variations of Jui Jitsu (Gi and No Gi). With relentless drive, the rising star is now aiming to mimic this success at the AFBJJ Nationals in Melbourne later this year, “I want to bring back gold for my sponsors and for everyone who has supported us” she says.
A confident young athlete, Maya has her sights set on climbing the grappling ranks to achieve black belt status and will continue her hard work to achieve her goals in and out of competition, “I’m aiming for the Olympics in 2032 as there are rumours grappling will become an Olympic sport… and in ten years, I hope to be running my own gym alongside my three black belt brothers, teaching the next generation.”
With drive and maturity beyond her years, we cannot wait to continue to watch this Sunny Coast fighter’s story continue to unfold. Keep up to date with “Tsunami” Mayas journey by following @the3_matriarch and @sunshinecoastsports .
Maya would like to extend her gratitude to her loving family and sponsors for supporting her to chase her dreams; Campell Can Roofing, Nambour Heights Butchery, Veterans MMA and Align Chiropractic Centre.
