Taiwan’s First Female Asian Games Jiu-Jitsu Athlete Prepares for Nagoya Debut
By Eason Chen/Bryn Thomas
Shen Yu-chin is making history as the first female athlete to represent Chinese Taipei in jiu-jitsu at the upcoming 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan. At 36 years old, the Tainan native proves that dedication and technical skill matter more than age or raw power. Training at UFC Gym Taipei alongside national team head coach Will Tseng and primary coach Andy Chan, Shen is fine-tuning her guard and top game for the competition at the Aichi Budokan. Taiwan Ju-Jitsu Federation President Wu Yi-han highlights that Shen’s milestone reflects the rapid growth of female participation in combat sports across Taiwan. Rather than feeling the pressure, Shen views stepping onto the Asian Games stage as a lifelong dream and a chance to inspire the next generation of female grapplers.
Breaking Barriers in Nagoya
Taiwan sends first female jiujiteiro to Asian Games
REPORTER:
Shen Yu-Chin, also known as Bella, is treading a new path for women in Taiwan – one that's leading her onto the mats in Japan. After years of training and competition, she'll soon become the first Taiwanese woman to compete in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in the Asian Games.
Shen Yu-Chin:
As I kept training, I started competing in tournaments and I found myself getting drawn to the path of being a competitive athlete. So I gradually competed in many association tournaments, including JJIF events and other competitions. So I'm deeply honored to represent the country on this Asian Games team.
REPORTER:
Shen hails from Tainan in southern Taiwan and began her career training near her home, and soon fell in love with a sport where technique trumps brute strength.
Shen Yu-Chin:
Actually, I'm already 36 years old, so for a competitive athlete, I'm on the older side. But sometimes, even if it takes a long time to realize a dream, this is a rare opportunity that I really need to seize.
REPORTER:
Although competitors can win a Jiu Jitsu match by controlling dominant positions, the ultimate objective is forcing a submission through joint locks or strangulation. The intense physical friction—heavy body contact, sweat, and grueling training—can present a high barrier to entry. As with most combat sports, jiu jitsu remains heavily male-dominated, but female athletes like Shen are a growing presence in Taiwan’s quickly growing scene.
Shen Yu-Chin:
This shows not only that the number of women practicing jiu-jitsu in Taiwan has grown significantly but also that their technical skills have reached top-tier competitive standards in Asia. This actually echoes what was mentioned earlier that Jiu-jitsu is a sport refined through technique and skill so women are by no means at a disadvantage compared to men. By relying on their accumulated experience and wisdom they can also carve out a realm entirely their own.
REPORTER:
Ahead of the Asian Games, Shen and Taiwan's national team – which includes several up-and-coming women, are training at UFC Gym in Taipei, honing their skills before stepping onto the world stage.
Shen Yu-Chin:
The Asian Games are different from the standard jiu-jitsu tournaments we usually enter. [Training now] is no longer just about live sparring all the time. I have to focus on my weakest areas. like adjusting positions where I'm weaker, such as my top game or guard. Of course, I'm getting lots of feedback from different coaches and every piece of advice is valuable to me.
REPORTER:
Shen's primary coach, Andy Chan of KylinBJJ Taichung, and head national team coach Will Tseng, have been working together to prepare her for the games.
Will Tseng (HEAD NATIONAL TEAM COACH):
Starting from the Asian Championships in Jordan last year [Bella and I] have been training together here at UFC every Saturday and Sunday and we also study techniques together. I also maintain very close communication with her primary coach, Andy.
REPORTER:
Tseng, a student of legendary black belt Marcelo Garcia, draws from his master's lessons when addressing the mental hurdles Shen will face in Japan.
Will Tseng (HEAD NATIONAL TEAM COACH):
His philosophy is that you must embrace the nervousness because feeling nervous simply means your body is fully prepared. You need to channel that nervous energy to elevate your performance. When you're nervous, your adrenaline surges and your core body temperature rises priming your body to enter a combat state. So rather than fearing or resisting the tension, you have to lean into it and accept it.
REPORTER:
Shen Yu-chin appears composed in the run up to the games – lifting and rolling and alternating hard and soft days – ready to take on her opponents and carry the flag for Taiwanese women in the sport.
Shen Yu-Chin:
More and more women are diving into the sport and people are gradually learning what Ju-Jitsu is all about. Of course, compared to male athletes women's jiu-jitsu still has a bit less visibility. So if competing on the Asian Games stage can inspire more women to become involved in the sport then I think that would be incredibly meaningful.
REPORTER:
In late September, Shen will step onto the mats at the Aichi Budokan to take her shot. It’s a chance to represent her country, inspire Taiwan’s growing population of female martial artists, and live out her dream.
Shen Yu-Chin:
This isn't stressful. Because I think this is an opportunity. This is my dream.
