Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu continues to grow
More than 140 fighters took to the mats for the Carlson Gracie Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu New Zealand club competition in Queenstown last week, which also served as a grading ceremony, with a rare black belt awarded.
The competitors ranged in age from five to 53, from white belts to brown belts, and came from Queenstown, Wānaka, Invercargill and Timaru.
3rd Degree Black Belt Jose Gomes began teaching the submission-based grappling martial art, which focuses on chokes and joint locks, when he came to Queenstown back in 2005.
In 2014, he opened the doors to his academy and the club grew from 15 people to more than 200 members in Queenstown, before opening the affiliate academies. Once a year, they all come together for a club comp.
"It was such a good atmosphere and turn out. It's just between our team, so we make it super friendly and didn't even register the results," Gomes says.
"But it was still a very competitive day. Everyone has a roll and gets the experience."
The bouts are scored on points, awarded for dominant positions and take downs, but can end when a person 'taps out' from the pressure of a choke or lock.
After the kids and adult comps, belt strips and belts were awarded. Adults begin with a white belt and progress through blue, purple, brown and black.
Jim McCaffery was awarded his black belt.
"Jimmy started with me years ago and has had some rough patches on his journey but he kept coming and is part of the family, he helps out with team and with the classes," Gomes says.
"It's very rewarding to be able to help someone all the way to black belt, it means a lot for me as well as for the person getting the belt."
It can take anywhere from six years to 15 years to get to black belt level.
"It depends how much you train, how talented you are, and how much effort you put in."
The Queenstown club has adult fundamentals classes running on Monday and Thursday evenings from 17 July, and the next big comp is in November at Queenstown Events Centre, when fighters from the various clubs across NZ will compete.
Kids classes for next term are filling up quickly.
"It's impressive how quickly they learn and it will be so interesting to see where they're going to be in a few years. The sport's going to grow so much."
