Most kids her age are figuring out how to spend their weekends; she’s figuring out how to shave milliseconds off a lap time or control a match on the mat. Caeawen Adriano is only eight, but her days already revolve around two demanding worlds—motorsports and jiu-jitsu—and 2025 marked a year when both began to align into something bigger.
Homeschooled and in Grade 2, Caeawen has quietly built a routine that many adults would struggle to maintain. By the end of the year, she finished third overall in the FAT Karting League California Hub, placed seventh at the World Finals against international competitors, and climbed to a number one ranking in her IBJJF jiu-jitsu division. None of it happened by accident.
Where speed and discipline first met
Jiu-jitsu came first, and it came early. “I started jiu-jitsu first because my dad is a brown belt. As soon as I was potty trained, I had to train — no excuses!” she said in a recent interview with TGFM. What began as a family influence quickly became a foundation. Discipline, patience, and resilience were built long before medals entered the picture.
Karting arrived later, unexpectedly, at a birthday party. “The first time I drove a kart, I felt fast and free, and I knew right away that I loved it,” she recalled. That instant connection turned curiosity into commitment. Racing, like jiu-jitsu, offered something addictive: the chance to keep improving, lap by lap, move by move.
A year that raised the bar
Choosing a single highlight from 2025 isn’t easy for her. In jiu-jitsu, winning the Pan Kids Championship in Florida stands out. “It was a huge competition, and I was really proud of myself for all the hard work I put in,” she said, matter-of-factly.
Karting brought a different kind of lesson. At the FAT Karting League World Finals, she raced against some of the fastest young drivers from Europe and beyond, finishing seventh overall. “I didn’t win pole position, but it made me excited to train harder and come back faster next time,” she said. The result didn’t slow her down—it sharpened her focus.
Life on a carefully balanced schedule
Behind the scenes is a family effort that keeps everything moving. “I couldn’t do it without my family,” Caeawen said. Her parents, Fernando and Jemelynn Adriano, juggle demanding careers while managing training schedules, travel, and logistics. Her grandma and brother step in, too, making the grind possible.
Her weekdays are tightly structured: three to five hours of jiu-jitsu training, karting sessions several times a week, and schoolwork fitted in before or after training. Weekends are often competition days. When there’s a rare break, she does what eight-year-olds do—watches movies, goes to the beach, and spends time with family.
Big dreams, grounded feet
What keeps her motivated is simple joy. In karting, she loves “challenging myself on new tracks and trying to go faster every lap.” In jiu-jitsu, it’s the friendships, the laughter, and, she admits, “getting ice cream after podiums.”
Her dreams, though, stretch far ahead. She wants to earn her black belt, win jiu-jitsu’s Grand Slam titles, and help other girls feel strong on the mat. In racing, her goal is even bolder: to become the fastest woman in motorsports and one day reach Formula 1, representing both the Philippines and the United States.
For now, she’s focused on the next training session, the next race, the next lesson—moving fast, staying grounded, and proving that age is no barrier when passion leads the way.
