Nanaimo’s jiu-jitsu team is best in the west.
Island Top Team won the no gi team title at the Canadian Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation’s Western Canadian championships in Penticton on Saturday. Top Team took five gold medals in gi competition and five golds and two silvers in no gi.
“This is our second consecutive no gi team title and with the excellent showing in the gi, I believe we have made a strong statement as one of the best BJJ academies in Western Canada,” said Robert Biernacki, Top Team instructor, in a press release.
Shane Malone led Top Team, winning his weight class and the absolute competition in both gi brown belt and no gi advanced.
“He finished all but two of his opponents and defeated the athletes who survived their matches with him by a combined score of 42-2,” Biernacki said.
Simarjit Kaur won gold in her gi white belt and no gi beginner divisions, winning two matches via triangle choke. Jamie Gow won his super heavyweight gi white belt and no gi beginner divisions. Umesh Thillaivasan took gold in gi purple belt featherweight after two submission victories via gi choke. He added silver in no gi advanced. Chace Rosychuk won the featherweight no gi intermediate division, taking the final utilizing a “vicious” kimura shoulder lock, his coach said.