It was an epic weekend of competing and coaching for Team Third Law Brazilian Jiu- Jitsu , with a total of 31 competitors from the school going to NAGA in West Palm Beach and bringing home dozens of medals and samurai swords.
On Saturday, the Third Law squad sent 5 blue belts, 6 white belts and 4 teens… and then on Sunday, 16 kids and teens took to the mats representing Third Law’s Jiu Jitsu Kids.
Big congratulations to the adult and teen competitors who did their first competition: Rachel Ranschau, CJ McCray, Elijah Watts, Lourdes Serrano, Luciano Sotomayor, Tyson Beebe and Joey Gephart.
All of us who compete know what that first match feels like, and we’re proud of you for putting your jiu jitsu to the test!
It only gets more fun from here.
Medal count for teens and adults on Saturday was 6 Gold, 14 Silver, 2 Bronze.
Total medal count for the tournament, including the kids on Sunday, was 53.
Teens Results
Rachel Ranshau planned to only compete in the gi, but when the referee mixed up her cards and put her in two brackets for no gi as well she took it in stride. A novice, Rachel fought two beginners. She got silver in one division and gold in the second, taping one of her opponents with a kimura from the closed guard. In the gi, Rachel won silver in one division and gold in the second, hitting an ommaplata sweep in her second gi match.
Elijah Watts won his gi match 7-0 in the white belt novice division for gold, and in no gi he brought home two silvers.
CJ McCray’s first match in no gi novice went into double overtime and he ended with silver that division. In the gi, he won two matches for gold in the novice division, both on points, hitting an over-the-top sweep from guard in one of his matches.
Nick Adams got two silvers and a bronze.
Adults Results
For the blue belts, Coach Joe Formica won gold in his blue belt division, taping his first opponent by wrist lock, finishing his second by bow and arrow choke and winning his third match on points with some nice ommplata sweeps.
Coach Eric Morales won silver in his blue belt division, winning his first match 16-0 and his second match quickly, passing, mounting and taping his opponent by ezekiel choke. After hitting a sweep from closed guard he lost his finals match in the last 30 seconds by points, which will forever be known by Team Third Law as “pulling a Morales,” according to Master Roberto. Joey Ruggiero was bumped up to the purple belt division, where he lost a tough match.
Katy Torralbas won one match, taping her opponent by kimura from the closed guard, for gold in her blue belt division. Crystal Bradley got silver in her blue belt division.
First time competitors and partners in crime Joey G and Tyson fought hard, with Joey G taping an opponent by kimura from closed guard for bronze in his No Gi Novice division, as well as a silver in another division. Tyson took home two silvers in No Gi novice.
Luciano Sotomayor, doing his first tournament after just two months training, didn’t medal but got in good matches Gi and No Gi.
Lourdes Serrano hit a nice bump sweep to mount in her first-ever tournament match against a No Gi beginner competitor, but her opponent escaped and she ended with Silver in that division. Then she took on a blue belt in the Gi, coming up short, but ending with good experience and a silver medal.
Morning class stalwarts Joe Randall and Jeff Lucas fought both Gi and No Gi, but unfortunately this competition team reporter was fighting at the same time, and so does not have many details about their fights. Randall tapped one of his opponents with a triangle in one of his matches.