Masterton BJJ fighters take medals

Brazilian jiu-jitsu fighters from Masterton have again captured medals at a central regional tournament.

Masterton fighters Dan Lovett and Thomas Cunningham took gold and silver medals respectively at the The Combat Sports Central NoGi tournament at the International Pacific College in Palmerston North on Saturday.

Fighters were divided by weight and experience at the tournament run under Fila wrestling rules.

It is the second tournament placing for Cunningham in the 70kg division this year after he took bronze at The Beginning 2 tournament in the city in July.

Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) is a martial art, combat sport, and self-defence system that focuses on grappling, and especially ground fighting. The discipline was derived from the Japanese martial art of kodokan judo in the early 20th century, which was itself derived from jiu-jitsu.

Both Lovett and Cunningham train out of the Masterton BJJ club under blue belt instructor Jamie Yarrall at the Masterton Judo & Jiu Jitsu Academy in Queen St.

Yarrall, who fights in the 90-110kg division and took silver at The Beginning 2 and bronze at an earlier competition, was injured and attended as a coach at the weekend.

Lovett, 25, fought in the under 75kg division and under three years grappling experience.

He joined the club at its formation in March. His success on Saturday comes after he failed to place at his competitive debut earlier this year.

The property developer went up against four opponents at the weekend tournament in single round bouts of five-minute duration.

He lost his first fight on points against a UCOL Manawatu opponent, but won his second and fourth bouts by submission and his third on points.

Lovett said his debut earlier this year had won him vital competitive experience, while strength training at the Wai Weight gym in Masterton under owner Bevan McKenzie had also given him an edge on the day.

Lovett said he intended to eventually gain belt grading in BJJ but was for now focusing on training and no gi (sans uniform) competitions.

Tournament circuits in the central and Wellington regions kick off again next year.

For more information on the Masterton BJJ Club , which runs Monday nights from 7pm, call Jamie Yarrall at (06) 372-5980.