Aurora Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu scores top marks at tournament

By: 
Steve Chapman

Aurora BJJ instructor Mike Gerlach, assistant instructor Samantha Lawrence and some of the younger students at Aurora BJJ. (Picture submitted.)
 

Teams up with other schools to win first-place team trophy
 
Members of a local martial arts school won first place at a recent tournament in Springfield. About 12 members of Aurora Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ), an affiliate school of Springfield Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, teamed up with the Springfield school and others to compete in the Fuji Open, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu tournament, which was held at the Baptist Bible College in Springfield on Saturday, April 17.
Professor Mike Gerlach, instructor at Aurora BJJ, said the majority of his students did well during the tournament, bringing home bronze and silver medals. As a result, they were able to win first place in team competition.
Gerlach explained that each competitor who medaled in an event won points for their teams.
“Each bracket of the event is worth (so many) points,” he said, “and if you get first place, you get five points, and if you get second place, you get three points, and third place, you get two points. As the experience level goes up, that bracket is worth more points.”
Jiu-jitsu is a grappling martial art that emphasizes using leverage against an opponent, as opposed to kicks and punches.
“It’s ground based,” he said. “It’s very much like wrestling, except instead of fighting to get your feet, you’re fighting off of your back, looking for points of leverage and control, in order to overpower a stronger, more aggressive opponent. It uses a lot of leverage and technique to control another person.”
With jiu-jitsu, Gerlach said, it is possible for a trained person to overpower a larger, stronger opponent.
“I’ve seen 130 pound black belts just roll up 230 pound pharmaceutical-grade giants,” he said “It’s pretty impressive to watch.”
The students at Aurora BJJ next compete at a tournament in Springfield on Saturday, July 31.

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Lawrence County Record

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