In 2022, Teshya Noelani Alo made her official entrance into competitive Jiu-Jitsu, not really knowing what to expect.  

Little did she know, Alo was going to face, in her first match, an opponent who would soon come to be recognized as the best pound-for-pound Jiu-Jitsu player in the world. 

Standing across from Alo in that first contest was a 14-year-old Helena Crevar.

Four years later, the two will meet again in Thailand in a much-anticipated rematch at ONE Championship on Friday, February 23.  Alo has come a long way skill-wise since the first bout, leaving fans intrigued by how the second meeting between the two could potentially play out differently.

I read that you started training Judo at seven years old under your dad.  What was it like training under a family member as opposed to another trainer?

Training with my dad was normal for me.  He kind of knew when I was slacking and when I would fake the hard work when I was young, so it was difficult, for sure.  

He really was not letting me slack off, but I’m so grateful for that because if I didn’t know what true hard work was when I was young and how it would pay off.  I wouldn’t be here today, accepting this match because (hard work) is what it takes to be a champion – pushing through when you really don’t want to –  like when you’re crying to get off the mat and you still push yourself to become the best person possible and to get better every day.  

Looking back, it was a lot of hard work, and he really did push me.  It was fun, too.  He made games out of it.  I didn’t really know that I missed a lot of the other fun things growing up because my dad made training fun for us. 

All I knew was practice, so growing up into high school, it got easier to say ‘no’ to the parties.  I knew if I went to a party, I probably wouldn’t be (winning on the mat) that weekend.  It was easier to say no to things that wouldn’t help me achieve my goal, and my dad really helped me see that.

You said your dad would make games out of training to keep things fun.  What advice would you give to parents working with their kids in similar fashion?

Anything you put your child in, they should enjoy.  My parents had a rule.  I got to choose (a sport), so I did basketball, gymnastics, tennis, golf – and I chose wrestling.  

I fell in love with that sport and, after I chose it, they said ‘Are you sure because when you stick with it, you’re not allowed to quit.’

We’re constantly supposed to be in something that moves our bodies in a healthy outlet.  I chose wrestling and judo at that time.

How did you find judo and wrestling to complement each other?

At the time, you were allowed to touch the (opponent’s) legs in judo.  Even for the black belt requirement, you need to do kata, which involves grabbing the legs, so it was takedown, throws and trips, and more set ups.  That helped me a lot with my wrestling.

After those two sports, I joined Jiu-Jitsu because Judo, when you get older, you need to learn how to choke and do armbars, so Judo helped me with Jiu-Jitsu.  I would learn the ground portion of Jiu-Jitsu, and wrestling was the standing part.  I really didn’t think I would purse Jiu-Jitsu like I am now.  

When you added Jiu-Jitsu to your training, what were your initial impressions of it as opposed to wrestling?

I thought of it more as an accessory. It wasn’t my main sport, but It definitely helped me figure out movements.  It creates reactions and learning how action/reaction works helped me. 

Wrestling is double leg versus single leg, and then, from an armbar to a triangle to a seoi nage to a backward throw.  It helped me figure out the different combos I could throw.

Just recently – I want to say at the beginning of the year - I finally learned how to bring all three sports together and use them for my benefit – how to time my trips and attacks. 

I don’t really use my wrestling takedowns because, with a lot of wrestling moves, you put yourself in vulnerable positions.  So, I learned the hard way when I first started Jiu-Jitsu, but finally learned where I’m safe and not safe.  That was a big thing for me.

What do you think clicked in your mind after all that time?

I stopped being so stubborn because, as a wrestler, I don’t want to be on my back.  I don’t even sleep on my back.  As a wrestler, I always had that mindset.  Now, I’m on my back and comfortable where I was most uncomfortable.  

I’ve worked a lot on my guard, and that helped me a lot.  Seeing where I’m weak in the guard helped me become a top player because I wanted to put (my opponent) in the position I was just in.  I still don’t like to go to my back.  I don’t know what it is.  But, if I go to my back, at least I know I’m safe.

You were out of Jiu-Jitsu training for a number of years.  What was it like when you started back up during the COVID-19 pandemic?

I re-started Jiu-Jitsu (training) because I was a heavy eater, and was around 150’ish (pounds).  I didn’t want to just stay at home and do nothing and could have run, but I hate running.  

My mom saw (training happening) at the beach where I used to live.  I joined (trainer Nick Alcaran’s class) once a week.  He then invited me to his main gym, and I entered the world championships for blue belt a couple of months after that.

Going back to your early days, I read that one of your first opponents was a boy.  What was it like competing against someone of the opposite sex?

That was normal for me.  My sister and I were the only girls in the wrestling room growing up.  In the (national tournament) bracket we entered, there were 60 boys.  We were the only girls.  I want to say, up until a certain age, I was like ‘I just can’t do this anymore because they’re just too strong’.

I heard you beat the same boy in a rematch.  What did you learn from the first match that helped you prevail in the rematch?

(The loss) was a big mental block I finally was successful with because, he not only beat me, he also threw me.  I was crying.  

I did not want to wrestle again, but we have a rule (in my family) that you can’t give up, so I went back and it slowly dawned on me that I could beat this boy.  (I said) ‘I have to train harder’.  My mom and dad tried to comfort me.  I trained my butt off and told myself I wasn’t ever going to cry during another match.

That was a big turning point because I came back and I beat him.  I didn’t only beat him.  I did all the technical moves and I really showed up.  I was really proud of myself.

After that win, I knew that I wanted to stick with the sport because I proved to myself that I could get better.  (I said) ‘Set small goals for yourself, and you’ll get there’.  Instead of (being taken) down six times today, let’s work on getting taken down only five times. 

Slowly, I started attacking more, and I found my style of wrestling, and the rest was history. 

What advice would you give to young girls who, like you, don’t have many or any female training partners and have to compete against boys?

I say that’s the best thing for you.  Keep going, never give up and don’t be negative in your head.  All positive thoughts.  Off the mats, your life doesn’t change, so just set small, realistic goals for yourself, and never give up.  Train with the boys.  You’ll thank them later.

You’ve won many titles.  Which do you hold the most sacred?

It would probably be the Senior U.S. Open Olympic Trials Qualifier because I was able to defeat a past Olympian in my finals match by a good amount of points. 

Almost 100 percent of my attacks were successful.  Also, maybe the sixth time I won FARGO (High school nationals) because I had no points scored on me.

Touching on your upcoming match, you’ve faced Helena Crevar in the past.  What was the outcome of the first match and what did you learn?I fought Helena in 2022.  I think I had just gotten my purple belt.  It was my first no gi match.  I had no idea what a heel hook was or how to defend it.  I didn’t know who she was either, so I wasn’t expecting anything specific. 

I treat every match the same so, when I was in the match, I was like ‘Wow.  I don’t know how to pass this girl’s guard. It’s weird.’  Everything felt unfamiliar to me. So, I got stuck in her guard and I got (penalized) for stalling, and the match ended.

What do you think your keys to success will be in the rematch?

I think if I just play my game - not her game - and show everything I’ve been working on, I will succeed.  I try not to be known as the wrestling girl, but instead more of a Jiu-Jitsu player.  

This time, you will be competing in a very historic arena.  How, if any way, does that change what is at stake for you?

It doesn’t really change anything for me.  To me, the only thing that will be different is that the match will be in a (ring).   I have had matches in cages and a boxing ring, but this (ring) will be different.  I don’t see the match turning out too differently.

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