One of the worst storms the Island has seen this year was not enough to stop the dedicated students of The Academy who travelled to Victoria to compete in the Be First Tournament on Oct. 25.
The largest group yet, consisting of eight students and their coach, made the trip and performed well in each of their divisions. All competed in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) coming home with nine medals after a tough tournament.
The Be First Tournament draws martial artists from all over Vancouver Island and has begun to host schools from the mainland as well. It was a fast-paced day with the team’s coach and head instructor Bill Fraser sometimes having to split his attention between the two competition surfaces, which is no easy feat.
The men’s divisions included Dave Webb who finished second in No Gi and third in Gi. Mike Pighin earned a second in his Gi division, Scott Boyd who took home second in the heavyweight No Gi. Russ McCumber garnered second in No Gi.
Mark Fabris and Brendan Abreu both fought valiantly in tough but separate divisions, with Brendan going against much higher belts in his open bracket. Both finished just outside of the medals.
All of the men’s brackets were loaded with talented and fierce competitors. All performed well, showcasing their dedication to training.
Two of The Academy’s female grapplers, Ali Cranmer and Alma Ballington, found themselves going head-to-head at one point in small women’s division in both Gi and No Gi, with them taking home first and third respectively in both divisions.
Both Ali and Alma are on a mission to draw more women to the sport of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, both for its self-defence training and also for the love of the sport. Just having the courage to step onto the mats to face an opponent one on one is an accomplishment.
The students of The Academy as always are grateful to their coach and head instructor Bill Fraser for his incredible dedication to their martial arts training and development, and want to thank him for his support, and for sharing his knowledge of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
Whether you’re looking to elevate your ground skills for mixed martial arts, compete recreationally in tournaments or simply want the confidence that comes along with the knowledge that you can defend yourself against bigger and stronger individuals, Brazilian Jiu-jitsu is perfect for you.
Anyone interested in learning BJJ, Muay Thai or MMA is welcome to come and take part in a class. Contact us through Bill Fraser Martial Arts Facebook page, look for us online at www.comoxvalleymartialarts.com, or call Bill Fraser directly at 250-465 9073.
– The Academy