A small army of Okanagan/Shuswap Gracie Barra Brazilian Jiu Jitsu club members invaded Earl Marriot Seconday School in Surrey for the Canadian Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation’s inaugural B.C. Open.
Under the guidance of head instructor Mario Deveault, Leanne Jaillet collected gold in the female featherweight class, while Christine Ahola took top honours in the women’s heavyweight division.
In other white belt action, Michah Spates and Ryan Gardner finished one-two in the ultra heavyweight division, and Wesley Liefke took bronze in the juvenile middleweight group.
In blue belt competition, Dave Hill secured silver in the men’s ultra heavyweight pool, Sergey Raspopov earned silver in men’s medium heavyweight and Kent Reiswig collected bronze in middleweight.
In purple belt action, Ryan Allen struck silver in the men’s super heavyweight class, Jim poppy earned bronze in men’s middleweight and Dan St-Amand pocketed bronze in lightweight.
Other local Gracie Barra Okanagan/Shuswap members competing last weekend include: Devon Gosh, Donavin Scott, Grayson Wells, Paul Moore, Patrick Evanishen and Grant Hundseth.
An estimated 160 athletes competed in the event.
Allen will be taking on Jesse Rice-Jones tonight in Battle Field Fight League 12, a mixed martial arts promotion tonight at the Vogue Theatre in Vancouver. It will be aired live across Canada on the Fight Network (149shaw/255 bell) at 7:30 p.m.
Meanwhile, in light of the recent murder of Armstrong teen Taylor Van Diest, the Gracie Barra Vernon club will be hosting a free six-week women’s self defence course at their locations in Vernon and Grindrod, starting at the end of November (times TBD).
For more information about the course, or to register, e-mail Deveault at shuswapbjj@gmail.com, or call him at 250-804-9262. Class sizes will likely be capped.
