New zealand BJJ competition Sunday 09 May 2004

[wardancer]

First New Zealand Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Competition.
Sunday 09 May 2004. 2.00 PM. Recreation Centre . Symond street. Auckland University
Free entry for spectactors. NZ$30 for competition participants.
See www.etk.co.nz for Club contact

[wardancer]

Out of personal interest:
How many Kiwis do read this forum?

[gracilva]

G'day mate.
Out of curiosity, which BJJ affiliation teaches in NZ?

[wardancer]

Well, I am not too sure.
There is several clubs.
Most of them are affiliated to the Australian John Will /Machado. I think he come over and teach seminars to those clubs (mostly blue belts/purple running those clubs, I think!) e.g wellington, Cristchurch, Whangarei, Napier. There is like a ninjustu instructor that also does vale tudo/BJJ in Akl. They have been doing good for themselves and they hosted a Royce Gracie seminar in Wellington in May 04.

My Club is in Auckland. We have two BBB (Brazilian Black Belts) instructors on full time basis. I think Instructor Douglas got his BB from Claudio Collares "Tonicao" Moreira and they are affiliated to the Brazilian top team.

I am looking foward to the competition on Sunday and see what the standards is like in NZ.

We hope to host a open competition every 3 months in Auckland. i think it gonna be good for fighters to compete against other Clubs more often than the usual annual rumble.

[gracilva]

Good blood lines there mate.
I've Trained under John Will personally, only a few lessons
but enough to know he is a great teacher and i believe
the highest ranked BJJ BB IN Australia (3rd Dan).
Been off for a while due to a work injury, wife having our
second child, time, financial reasons, but dying to get back asap.
John actually recommends cross training, he has a BB in shootfighting,
was world silat champion, teaches adrenaline control, GT's fence.
He was trained under Rigan and JJ Machado, has rolled with Rickson,
Eddie Bravo etc.
So basically, the best BJJ if not all MA instructor in the country.
Good luck with everything, Cheers.

[wardancer]

Thanks , mate.
Our club is not under John Will but we have 2 BBB instructors however.
They run their own classes with Jason Suttie Club. I can always to Thai Box in the same club.
It's good to hear such hightly regards for the other clubs (John will/Machado).
It's is going to be a good standard competion due to the quality of the clubs.
NZ is small and I am surprised to see good pedigree when it comes to BJJ.
We are lucky as most K1 clubs are open their doors to BJJ: Ray Sefo Kick Boxing Club also has a BJJ instructor and BJJ team and they gonna join the competition.
I will keep you updated on the results.

[Aristeia]

Hey, wardancer, check out the PM i just sent you.

[gracilva]

Thanks , mate.
Our club is not under John Will but we have 2 BBB instructors however.
They run their own classes with Jason Suttie Club. I can always to Thai Box in the same club.
It's good to hear such hightly regards for the other clubs (John will/Machado).
It's is going to be a good standard competion due to the quality of the clubs.
NZ is small and I am surprised to see good pedigree when it comes to BJJ.
We are lucky as most K1 clubs are open their doors to BJJ: Ray Sefo Kick Boxing Club also has a BJJ instructor and BJJ team and they gonna join the competition.
I will keep you updated on the results.

Looking forward to it.
Cheers.

[wardancer]

Well,
That was an interesting competition with some mixed results, really!
I did expect my club to outclass the other clubs but it was more like we got outweight (if there is such a term?).
We did well in the white belt competition, there were several weights categories due to the number of participants.
We won the lighter weight category for white belt. Two club members reach the final and decided to fight it out. It ended in a 'massive' arm bar submission (just like the one gracilva got on his signature post!).
Our 'big boys' (open weight: 90 kg +) could have done better. We had a few good participants: actually one member could have made it to the final but he let a 'lighter' club member reach the finale because he did not want to fight the finale against his own brother (that trains in another club, I think). No shame, It was very humbling to see that Family comes first even competitive MA. The winner of the lighter white belt was also fighting in the open weight at the same time but lost at the finale. No shame, he did not get submited, just lost due to a huge weihgt difference, he was pretty tired doing both weight division, and the Finale was i think only a 5 minutes round. Anyway, he is an upcoming fighter and will be the 'terror' next competition.
The blue belt was a open category, no weight category (not enough particpants yet to have weight categories)..Big guys...small guys..Well the surprise was there were a few Judo participants and one of them won..Yes the guy was good..especially on his feets..kept scoring points for sweep (Judokas are good at that)..and will not on the ground too long in case of a submission..he will get up as soonest possible..and set up another sweep..The guy was really good and I think he submittted his opponent int the finale..I found out that he was a BB Judo (fighting in the US Competition)...I can only admire him for his guts/skills to fight BJJ...Maybe he should go to the next BJJ colour belt next time but I don't think it is necessary..BJJ fighters are known to stay at lower level for several years and 'reaps' all the rewards at competitions..
The purple belt winner was a HUGE guy..seriously out-weight all the competitors..my friend got injured fighting him (bruised ribs..so bad.. he had to call it a day..did not look good at training the other day..)...He was good. I have heard he flew from Australia for the tournament. Definitely, an upcoming competiting star..maybe in NHB..who knows..
It was the first open competition BJJ in New Zealand: 40 participants..Really good.
Everybody is looking foward to the next one in 3 months time.
Then we are going to fly in Australia for the AUS BJJ tournament which should around the same time.
Maybe I will share a few Steinlagers with Gracila! You are always welcome to meet us, mate.

[wardancer]

Hey, wardancer, check out the PM i just sent you.

Yep, just PM you back.
See at the Club.

[gracilva]

Good to hear all went well, thanks for the update.

[wardancer]

Good to hear all went well, thanks for the update.

Sweet!
We got one more competition in BJJ rules in 3 months.
Then it's off to Australia, for the AUS competition.
To conclude the year, we will host the first NZ open submission Competition (NO Gi), around November/December.
It's gonna really good fun!

[Fishboy]

I am a Kiwi, I have only recently started BJJ and am loving it.

[Gumbi]

Yup me too. Under Travid Browne, hes only a blue belt. Brown belt in Nunjutsu.

But hey its in Hamilton, and I aint driving to Auckland everyweek.

[JaredExtreme]

I've heard some crazy (in a good way) stories about John Will! He sounds very badass.