DEBUT MEDAL: Masterton Judo and Ju Jitsu Academy fighter Vinnie Morris took a bronze medal at the NZJJF Sports Ju Jitsu Tournament in Palmerston North on Saturday. PHOTO/NATHAN CROMBIE
DEBUT MEDAL: Masterton Judo and Ju Jitsu Academy fighter Vinnie Morris took a bronze medal at the NZJJF Sports Ju Jitsu Tournament in Palmerston North on Saturday. PHOTO/NATHAN CROMBIE
A Masterton ju jitsu fighter captured a bronze medal after his debut competitive outing at a regional tournament in Palmerston North.
Simon Ogden, NZJJF Sports Ju Jitsu Tournament director and Masterton Judo & Ju Jitsu Academy founder and head instructor, said a pair of academy students had completed bouts atthe tournament including light blue belt Vinnie Morris and white belt Tiran O'Hagen.
Close to 100 fighters from disciplines that also included Mixed Martial Arts and Brazilian Ju Jitsu had taken part in the tournament, Mr Ogden said, which had been held at the Highbury Whanau Centre.
Morris fought in the under 80kg free fighting division that comprised a pool of 14 fighters and came away after three scored bouts with a bronze medal.
He said Morris, a foundation student at the Masterton academy, had been training in ju jitsu for more than three years and latterly had been also studying judo.
O'Hagen had unsuccessfully battled two seasoned opponents, including MMA fighter and BJJ brown belt instructor Dan Digby, head coach of Orphans MMA in Hastings, and past Oceania games fighter and purple belt BJJ instructor Vaughan Antonio, a Palmerston North coach.
