The weekend that began Friday, February 23, 2018, will go down as epic as far as Colorado Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Stapleton athletes are concerned. Over the course of Friday and Saturday, February 23rd and February 24th, BJJ Stapleton athletes showcased their Jiu Jitsu on multiple stages, big and small, national, local and international; and the result: Undeniable success!
FIGHT TO WIN PRO64 – DENVER, COLORADO:
Leading off by competing on the national Fight To Win Pro64 Jiu Jitsu SuperFight stage on Friday, February 23, 2018, at the National Western Complex, located in Denver, Colorado, were “Doomsday” Don Westman, “King” Lewi Gault and “The Bunny” Vance Barksdale.
Doomsday, Colorado Brazilian Jiu Jitsu’s most senior Brown Belt, resident leglock expert and talented BJJ instructor, took to the Fight To Win Pro64 Jiu Jitsu SuperFight stage to face off against Way Of Jiu Jitsu Black Belt, Nick Brown. The result was a victory for Doomsday via Estima Lock in under a minute that earned Submission Of The Night honors. Way to go Doomsday! Fighting up a division against a Black Belt was impressive; finishing the fight with a Submission Of The Night victory: Priceless!!
Pictures: “Doomsday” Don Westman v Nick Brown
Full Fight Video: “Doomsday” Don Westman v Nick Brown
Not to be outdone was BJJ Stapleton’s “King” Lewi Gault. It was King Lewi’s second time on the Fight To Win Pro stage, but his first outing in a Purple Belt No-Gi match. Even though King Lewi was coming off a tough submission loss in his only prior Fight To Win Pro appearance, that loss did nothing but encourage King Lewi to aggressively pursue the submission from the opening bell until his opponent tapped to the armbar with less than thirty seconds left in the match. The performance was brilliant and the result a well earned submission victory against a game and challenging opponent, Purple Belt Scott Carroll fighting out of Castle Rock Martial Arts.
Pictures: “King” Lewi Gualt v Scott Carroll
Full Fight Video: “King” Lewi Gault v Scott Carroll
“The Bunny” Vance Barksdale, did not get the win at F2W Pro64. After two Submission Of The Night Victories in a row (at F2W Pro34 and F2WPro45) in the F2W Pro Purple Belt Division, The Bunny attacked the Brown Belt Division, but lost a very competitive and hard fought match. The Bunny will be back! You did Colorado Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Proud Bunny!!
Pictures: “The Bunny” Vance Barksdale v Eric Coe
IBJJF 2018 MEXICO CITY WINTER INTERNATIONAL OPEN JIU JITSU CHAMPIONSHIPS – MEXIOCO CITY, MEXICO:
On the international stage, a BJJ Stapleton Traveling Combat Crew composed of three athletes competed at the IBJJF 2018 Mexico City Winter International Open Jiu Jitsu Championships held in Mexico City, Mexico, on Saturday, February 24, 2018. When the matches were tallied and the medals issued, the BJJ Stapleton Traveling Combat Crew of 3 returned with 8 medals: 6 Gold, 1 Silver, and 1 Bronze. Leading the way was BJJ Stapleton athlete Heather “4G” Westman! Not only has Heather been a member of every BJJ Stapleton Traveling Combat Crew expedition to date, but she consistently returns with the most Gold medals! This time 4G earned her namesake 4 Gold Medals at the IBJJF 2018 Mexico City Winter International Open Jiu Jitsu Championships wining all but one of her Blue Belt division and absolute Gi and No-Gi matches by submission: Her performance was beyond impressive. Stephanie “Honey Badger” Burke followed up with a Gold medal and a Silver medal performance in her Blue Belt and absolute No-Gi divisions, and had the most dynamic BJJ Stapleton submission of the trip: a monkey on the back rear naked choke for the win (video below)! Professor Sean Stewart brought up the rear with a Gold medal and a Bronze medal performance, wining his Black Belt Masters No-Gi bracket but ultimately losing in his Black Belt Masters Gi bracket to the Gold medal winner by as single advantage, thus having to settle for Bronze. The Mexico City Traveling Combat Crew would not have had such success if it had not been for its intrepid Traveling Combat Crew Manager and resident Spanish interpreter, Allison Walters! Thank you for getting us around Mexico City and finding all of the best places to eat and visit – you are awesome!
Full Fight Video: Stephanie “Honey Badger” Burke – Monkey On The Back Rear Naked Choke Submission
Pictures IBJJF 2018 Mexico City Winter International Open Jiu Jitsu Championships:
Leaving Denver –
Arriving Mexico City, Mexico –
Fueling Up The Night Before Competition –
Competition Results –
Post Competition Shenanigans –
Ali Visits the Pyramids –
See ya Mexico –
FIGHT TO WIN 2018 TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS 21 – DENVER, COLORADO:
Not to be outdone by the Mexico City Traveling Combat Crew, the BJJ Stapleton athletes that stayed here in Denver put in an amazing showing at the Fight To Win 2018 Tournament Of Champions 21, held on Saturday, February 24, 2018, at the National Western Complex. Again, Doomsday Don Westman lead the way with a submission win over his nemesis, Bruce Bugbee:
Walker Madden was equal to the task, securing a brilliant submission win in the No-Gi Absolute Division for the Gold Medal over the Fight To Win Promotions owner and multiple time F2WPro Black Belt Victor Seth Daniels:
Each and every one of our BJJ Stapleton adult competitors displayed determination and athleticism. There were many brilliant tournament performances turned in by our BJJ Stapleton Combat Crew. While some earned medals, and others did not, each and every BJJ Stapleton athlete, win or lose, competed with courage and displayed true skill. We are proud that each of you are part of the Colorado Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Stapleton family! Congratulations to Dr. Matt Gnirke who took Gold (No-Gi) and Bronze (Gi), Stephanie Taylor who took Silver (No-Gi) and Bronze (Gi), Alex Thompson who took Silver (No-Gi) and Bronze (Gi), Don Westman who took Gold (No-Gi), Gold (Gi) and Bronze (Gi-Absolute), Walker Madden who took double Gold (No-Gi Absolute and Gi), Jordan Shargo who took Silver (No-Gi), Phil Elder who took Silver (Gi), Hank Aquino who took Bronze (Gi), and Shannon Shomo, Jordan Price, Greg Wall, and Ivan Solotov, each of whom fought several great matches throughout the day! There were also many amazing tournament performances from our Kids and Teens Competition team. Congratulations to Leo and Sam, each who managed to earn Bronze Medals, and congratulations to each and every BJJ Stapleton Kids Competitor who had the courage to step on the mat and compete, including Terra, Catalina, Darcy, Alexie, Jay, Cici, Taylor and Andrew.
Pictures: Fight To Win 2018 Tournament Of Champions 21
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