Updates From GRA

Thanksgiving Schedule Update

The academy will be closed for all regular classes Wednesday 11/26 through Friday 11/28. We will, however, be open on Saturday 11/29 at 11am for open mat, so come get some mat time after the break!

Tournament Recap

A few of our teammates competed at Jiu Jitsu World League yesterday at the The Adventist Health Arena in Stockton, CA. There were some wins, some losses, some unforgettable experiences, and many growth opportunities.

Audrey Tiumalu was first to compete in her gi division. As an experienced competitor with outstanding work ethic (she trains jiu jitsu and wrestling almost every day!), she cleaned out her bracket with impressive skill and focus. She went on to do the same thing in her no-gi division, earning double gold! Congratulations Audrey and keep up the great work! We will be rooting for you in your upcoming competitions in San Diego and Long Beach.

Blake Bennett stepped up in a serious way. The absence of fellow 10 year olds in his gi and no-gi brackets forced him to compete against boys up to 3 years older and 20 lbs heavier! Despite this, Blake was able to execute several fundamental techniques (guard breaks and mount escapes) under pressure against larger and more physically mature opponents. His attitude throughout was exemplary, demonstrating an emotional maturity well beyond his age. We are very proud of his performance and grit, and look forward to watching him continue to grow.

Alex Serebryakov also faced a daunting bracket for his first full-scale BJJ tournament. Undersized in a bracket of 9 (very aggressive) white belts, Alex impressively executed his game in several aspects. In his first round, he used his buggy choke to nearly take out the eventual gold-medal winner. He made quick work of his second opponent with an armbar finish from kesa gatame, and fell short in his final match to get on the podium. He showed fantastic courage and ability to execute his skills under pressure. It was surely an unforgettable experience!

We’re very proud of our jiu jitsu competitors!