From Homelessness to World Stage | Santa Fe News

An 11-year-old jiu-jitsu prodigy from Albuquerque, Jayla Perkins, is jetting off to France for the ICO World Combat Martial Arts Championships—despite starting out as a total beginner and surviving homelessness in her early years. Her grit, forged through hardship, shines on and off the mat, earning her a spot on a tackle football team and even a second-place finish in wrestling. Now, with UFC legend Jon Jones matching every dollar raised for her trip, Jayla’s journey from car-dwelling kid to global competitor is inspiring the world—and she calls it “crazy.” Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/805d90868af86a7d