Page 191 - AGC-Journal-2016

AGC JOURNAL 2016

The Army Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Team. Mark Badham is second from right With Romulo Barrel the world’s best fighter at Gracie Barra Northridge

World Masters Toe to Toe I could see that he had beaten me by

Championships Las Vegas points, and after a delay the referee raised
Once the table staff check our identity, the Brazilian’s hand and he was victorious.
the referee looks at us both, bows, we bow My opponent then went on to become the
On Saturday 27 August 2016, I competed back, then run onto the mat. The referee World Champion submitting (Tapping out)
in arguably the biggest Brazilian Jiu drops his hands and we are standing toe to every opponent all the way to the final.
Jitsu event in the World, with over 4,000 toe in the biggest event in the World. So to lose to the World Champion and not
competitors in different weight classes. being submitted wasn’t so bad and I left
We are both trying to find the first grips not too disheartened but eager to come
The Army Team flew out to Los Angeles and I manage to get his left sleeve, but he back and win next time. My Team mate
and after a settled night in the team drops down into the guard position so I became the World Champion in his class,
house, it was time to start fine tuning our follow him but he is faster at getting up. so the Army left with one World Champion
Jiu Jitsu at the Gracie Barra Academy in The time is ticking by and he is just up on out of a team of ten.
Northridge with the early morning class. points, so I need to gain a sweep or pass.
The next day was the competition training The timer goes and it’s all over.
class and it was time to spar with some of
the best athletes in the United States and The Army Team watching and coaching our team mates
test ourselves before moving to Las Vegas.

Las Vegas

The first day saw the higher grades
compete, with all the Army Team doing
extremely well, but falling short in the
quarter finals. The second day saw the
lower belts compete and again we could
not get through to the semi finals. Onto
my fight day and an hour before my fight,
I start to warm up, and work out my game
plan for when we start. I am competing
in the Master 2 Medium Heavy class, so
had 35 competitors in my category. After
a long wait I’m called into the weighing-
in area and that long walk to the matted
area.

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