Moree Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) warriors stormed through the Gold Coast Championship on the weekend, and returned home with a haul of medals.
“Ten competitors went up and we came back with 11 medals,” Moree BJJ coach Glen Bailey said.
“As a coach, I am extremely proud of how the boys and girls competed: it shows that our club is learning and moving in the right direction.”
The small band of Jiu-Jitsu warriors headed north in late August to train with a Jiu-Jitsu professor in Brisbane.
After training they hit the mats to compete against as many as 200 competitors at the Gold Coast.
Bailey, Nicholas Hailey, Georgia O’Neill and Sam O’Neill earned a silver medal in their divisions.
Brett O’Neill, Mick Haley, Jack Maw and Sam O’Neill scored a gold medal.
Zachary Faulkner and Zander Jamieson earned bronze medals.
Bailey added that he was over the moon with the results.
“Georgia O’Neill was put up from the juvenile to adult division and she won a silver medal. That’s really impressive.
“Jack Maw finished his matches in victory by points and submissions. I was ecstatic. I was on the sidelines screaming. I was a lunatic.”
Jiu-Jitsu classes are hosted at the local PCYC facility every Monday and Wednesday. The classes are open to all age divisions and the classes tailored to each group.
“Kids take a bit of working, but I try to make the classes fun at the end with a few games,” Bailey said.
“It’s a reward. But they pick it [Jiu-Jitsu] up really well. They’ve got no bad habits. As soon as you show them the technique, they pick it up and learn it.”
Bailey said Jiu-Jitsu was more than just a form of martial arts as it teaches many transferable life skills.
“Because you get into tight positions and you have to work through those positions to get out of it, Jiu-Jistu is a bit like life. When things get tough, you need to keep working through it.”
