By day she is the schoolyard envoy, a peacemaker. Sabbath Kerr wanders St Thomas More Catholic School in Mount Maunganui defusing arguments and other trouble.

She is an appointed peer mediator.

Gold at last – winner Sabbath Kerr.

Then after-school the diplomat cuts loose. This 10-year-old will be at the gym grappling. And probably with grown-ups.

She's into Brazilian Jiu-jitsu – a martial art combat sport and self defence system that focuses on grappling and especially ground fighting.

'She's good at it and getting better,” says Mum Kelly Kerr. After a succession of silver medals at previous tournaments, Sabbath finally won gold at last week's No Gi tournament.

That's where competitors wear a rash shirt rather than the traditional kimono type ‘gi' robes. 'There's nothing to grab onto,” says Kelly. 'You have to use sheer weight, strength and skill.”

Sabbath shares her passion with her father Forrest, himself a gold medal winner. 'If they're not at the park training, then they're grappling in the lounge,” says Kelly. Add to that three formal gym sessions a week.

And this is all preparation because this is a young girl with determination and ambition.

'She wants to be the world champion in her age and weight range,” says her Mum. But she'll have to be in it for the long haul because she won't get a crack at a world title for another six years when she's hits 16.

And when Sabbath isn't grappling, she's out fishing and hunting with her dad. 'She's always off on adventures,” says her mother.

And despite her passion for Brazilian Jiu-jitsu Sabbath is apparently a very kind nature young girl. 'She would never use her hands in anger,” says her mum.