MILDURA’s jiu-jitsu clubs have come home with a haul of silverware from last weekend’s South Australian BJJ State Titles.
Mildura Brazilian Jiu Jitsu sent their biggest team of 18 competitors, including nine first-timers, and won eight gold, five silver and 10 bronze medals.
Their new state champions included Giselle Spencer, who won in Blue Belt Gi & No Gi, Tyler Carter in Teen Orange Belt Gi, Alex Kane in Teen Grey Belt Gi, Eli Southwell in Kids Grey Belt Gi and Connie Rudkin, who won the Kids White Belt Gi.
Kris Tonner also continued his impressive streak, winning his fifth state title, taking out gold in the White Belt Masters No Gi Weight & Absolute.
Overall the club’s junior team placed first.
Coach Luke Burnham said he was really pleased with how the team performed.
“It was great to win first place for the junior team, which I don’t think has been done before by a Mildura club,” he said. “For a club like ours without affiliates to win was huge.
“We took our biggest team ever, mostly of kids and teens, and it was a pretty surreal moment for myself and my son.
“We provide a really inclusive environment and we pride ourselves on being a family club and we always say to the kids ‘you don’t have to compete’ but those who want to, we can push them to the level they want to get to.”
Mildura Martial Arts took a smaller team of eight competitors but were no less impressive, placing third in adult male Gi and winning 18 medals.
Across the small team, they amassed five gold, five silver and eight bronze.
With no one in his weight class, Lewis Florez showed grit and skill to step up a weight to win gold in the Gi before competing in his natural under 85kg class in no Gi and winning a second gold.
Coach Mick Moloney praised Florez’s performance as well as his leadership.
“I was really impressed with the way Lewis handled the team, it was the first time he’s had to step up and lead the team and he did a great job as well as being on the podium, so congratulations to him.”
Meanwhile, in his first purple belt competition, Dan Englefield secured two gold, a silver and bronze. Aydan Russell came home with a silver and three bronzes in his first matches as a blue belt.
First-time competitors Chris Gibson and Travis Gojak also won bronze medals.
Moloney said it was great to see the team continually improving.
“I was happy with everybody medalling but I was even happier that since the last grading, there were people who have stepped up a belt,” he said.
“As a small team to get so many medals and come third in the state was a big deal.
“We are not a defensive team, we chase the takedown and hunt the win and that’s what my style of jiu-jitsu is about.”
