After driving past a jiu-jitsu studio on Quadra Street for over a year, Michael Simmons decided he wanted to stop in and try his hand at grappling.
Fast forward three years and Simmons, a 51-year-old portfolio manager with Odlum Brown Limited, won gold at the World Master International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation championships, a huge competition featuring over 3,000 athletes. He placed first in his division: Blue Belt, Master 5, ultra-heavy. In jiu-jitsu, belt levels run from white, blue, purple and brown to black.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 such a cool event, thereB次元官网网址檚 not a lot of animosity and youB次元官网网址檙e giving everyone hugs,B次元官网网址� he said of the event, which ran Aug. 22 to 25 in Las Vegas. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e been emailing the guy I beat in the finals, just chatting. ItB次元官网网址檚 such a neat sport because itB次元官网网址檚 so friendly.B次元官网网址�
World class jiu-jitsu athletes attended the event, which allowed him to meet stars like Bernardo Faria and Olympian Travis Stevens.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 crazy that itB次元官网网址檚 such a big thing; I was being a total fan-boy and going up to say hello,B次元官网网址� Simmons said.
Brazilian jiu-jitsu has risen in popularity since the Ultimate Fighting Championship took off, and in recent years has created mixed martial arts mega-stars like Connor McGregor and Ronda Rousey.
This has resulted in a rising number of young athletes in the competition.
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B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 an interesting scene, because there were only four people in my division. ItB次元官网网址檚 rare for somebody to start doing jiu-jitsu at 48,B次元官网网址� Simmons said, adding that in the purple belt category for men in their 30s, there were 54 competitors. B次元官网网址淪ix years down the line and there will be a million black belts!B次元官网网址�
Another thing he found interesting was the amount of talent coming out of Victoria and Vancouver Island.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a bit of a crisis of confidence when youB次元官网网址檙e combating on a world stage and youB次元官网网址檙e just a little gym, and you tend to not compare to people from Brazil or California. But all the schools here competed and have done quite well. It adds legitimacy to VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 jiu-jitsu scene.B次元官网网址�
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There are several prominent jiu-jitsu dojos and studios across Greater Victoria, but Simmons has practised at Fierce Studio, now located on Bay Street, from the start. He said that since day one heB次元官网网址檚 been hooked.
B次元官网网址淧eople my age are slowing down and doing things that are more soft, but you donB次元官网网址檛 have to. You can still hold your own against the young guys,B次元官网网址� he said, adding that heB次元官网网址檚 already preparing to compete in next yearB次元官网网址檚 international competition. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檒l go every year until they put me in a box.B次元官网网址�
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