After a six year absence, the North American Grappling Association (NAGA) returned to host a Jiu Jitsu and Submission Grappling Tournament here in Denver, Colorado, at the Foothills Fieldhouse, on Saturday, March 17, 2018, St. Patty’s day. The Colorado Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Stapleton Combat Crew showed up in force, and St. Patty’s day turned out to be a great day for grappling! The CBJJ Stapleton Combat Crew simply crushed it!
Kate Stewart kicked off the St. Patty’s day shenanigans by taking the Ladies Teen No-Gi Expert Division NAGA Championship Belt (and NAGA Championship Sword) with a technical, hard fought, and thrilling victory over her long time Jiu Jitsu nemesis; “Doomsday” Don Westman earned a No-Gi Expert Division NAGA Championship Belt; and Walker Madden took both a No-Gi Expert Division NAGA Championship Belt and a Gi Expert Division NAGA Championship Belt, as well as a Gold in a second No-Gi division (for a triple Gold performance); and the shenanigans continued with Jose Mendoza taking triple Gold by winning 3 divisions (2 No-Gi and 1 Gi); Dr. Matt Gnirke taking double Gold (Gi & No-Gi); Matt Carlson earning Gold (Gi) and Silver (No-Gi); Heather “4G” Westman taking Gold (No-Gi) and Silver (Gi); Josh Taylor taking double Bronze (Gi and No-Gi); Phil Elder taking Gold in the Gi; and “King” Lewi Gault earning Bronze in the Gi and Stephanie “Honey Badger” Burke leaving it all on the mat with hard fought matches. In addition the CBJJ Stapleton Elite Kids Crew performed equally well with Darcy Brothen, Jay and Cici Mosley each earning Championship NAGA Swords, finishing with Cici earning double Gold and 1 Silver in three separate No-Gi divisions; Jay earning Gold in his No-Gi division; Darcy earning Gold and Silver in 2 separate Gi Divisions; Terra Booe earning double Silver (1 in Gi and 1 in No-Gi); Liam Bezer earning double Silver (1 in Gi and 1 in No-Gi); and Taylor Barnett winning double Silver in 2 separate No-Gi divisions and Bronze in his Gi division. What a way to spend St. Patty’s Day! Brilliant!! Way to go BJJ Stapleton!
PICTURES FROM NAGA COLORADO 2018 – ST. PATTY’S DAY EDITION:
BJJ Stapleton – Excellent Instruction – Brazilian Jiu Jitsu – Martial Arts – MMA – Self Defense – Fitness – Community – Fun – Denver – Aurora – Colorado
