He’s got that fighting spirit

“Your success would be a much greater testament, given that you’ve done all this while in NS (National Service).”

Private (PTE) Jedd Tan, 19, is no stranger to balancing sports and NS training.

The Southeast Asian (SEA) Games gold medalist, who won in the Ju-jitsu Fighting System category, not only overcame physical and mental challenges to chase his sporting dreams, but has also found new fans among his Navy buddies.

Getting a headstart

PTE Tan’s interest in martial arts started when he picked up taekwondo as a kid.

Not long after, he began setting his sights on becoming a mixed martial artist. And in 2022, at the age of 15, he picked up Jiu-jitsu (Newaza), also more commonly known as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ).

“I realised I wasn’t as competent (a martial artist) as I thought… I needed a foundation like BJJ, wrestling, or boxing,” he said.

“The first sport I tried was BJJ, and since then I’ve stuck with it.”

Punching above his weight

PTE Tan’s BJJ coaches quickly saw his potential, even saying he could one day become a world champion.

“At that time, I really didn’t believe it!” he recalled. “When you’re just a white belt (and hearing such feedback), it’s quite unbelievable.”

His coaches didn’t have to wait long to be proven right.

At the 2023 International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) championship held in Long Beach, California in the United States (US), the then-16-year-old PTE Tan won third place despite having just one-and-a-half years of experience in the sport.

“The guy I lost to in the semi-finals had been doing jiu-jitsu for over 10 years and was a multiple-time world champion in junior divisions,” PTE Tan recounted.

“That I could even compete at that level and win third place was a notable achievement for me.”

Having tasted success, PTE Tan felt his calling was clear.

“I believe (with the) work I put in, I will have the potential to succeed.”

“You look like Mike Tyson”

PTE Tan’s reputation as a national athlete spread quickly among other Full-Time National Servicemen when he enlisted on 7 Jul 2025.

He recounted his Basic Military Training (BMT) days: “(My NS buddies) would start asking me things like, ‘Oh, what happened to your ear?’ (as my ears would be bruised from ju-jitsu training).”

“All of them said I looked like Mike Tyson or something!” he said with a laugh.

His choice of sport has also sparked curiosity among his fellow servicemen in the Republic of Singapore Navy’s (RSN’s) Changi Defence Squadron.

“They are quite amused that I do ju-jitsu and ask me to show them some moves, but I also feel their support and respect.”

As a Naval Warfare Systems Operator (Base Defence Security Surveillance), he coordinates the movements of ships travelling in and out of Changi Naval Base, and keeps a lookout for suspicious activities at sea.

This sometimes involves working shifts, which means that he may occasionally miss his ju-jitsu training sessions.

Recovery after sports training is also tough if he has a night shift, as that disrupts his rest cycle.

However, he’s been able to continue with ju-jitsu training while in NS, thanks to his commanders and peers.

Taking into account operational and training requirements, they show their support by helping to cover his duties when he has overseas competitions, and allowing him to end his day shifts earlier so that he can attend his night ju-jitsu training sessions.

“They have been very understanding and willing to cover for me,” said PTE Tan.

Never giving up

PTE Tan’s greatest test was the 2025 SEA Games held in Thailand. Faced with multiple mental and physical challenges, he questioned his commitment to the sport.

“The psychological warfare before and during the SEA Games was real, with many moments where I wanted to quit.”

Having to cut over 10kg in body weight (from 92kg to 77kg) in under a month to meet competition requirements was a “holy cow” moment – a process he called “more mentally draining than the training itself”.

But in the tough times, he found his silver lining.

In the lead-up to the Games, his Changi Defence Squadron buddies doubled down on their support by covering his duties so that he could focus on training for his competition, and giving him words of encouragement before his matches.

Fighting for his life

PTE Tan’s defining moment at the SEA Games came in his final match – he nearly suffered a knockout and thought that it was game over for him.

However, he managed to turn things around in the final moments of the round.

“When I started the match, I was losing on points. (But) I managed to secure a full ippon (apply a strike, throw and grappling technique) to finish the game with seconds to spare.

“When I got the gold, all I felt was gratefulness – to my family, coaches and teammates for giving me extra fire with their cheers!”

He also thanked his faith for sustaining him through the high and lows of his journey.

Next stop: the Olympics

Having been crowned one of Southeast Asia’s best ju-jitsu fighters, PTE Tan is aiming higher: “(Becoming) an Olympic champion if ju-jitsu gets included in the Olympics.”

Juggling NS and sports is not without its challenges, but he knows he has become a better athlete through the circle of support he has found.

Reflecting on the experience, he said: “An athlete’s journey can be lonely.

“(But) having a community, especially in NS where you have friends to talk to about your struggles, (helps to keep me) grounded and motivated.”