Ontario Open BJJ Tournament…
I snuck up to Canada again this past weekend for another BJJ tournament. With over 700 competitors registered, of which 30 where females, I knew this was definitely going to be a great weekend! Two of the guys from my team and I arrived ready to go and I was up first in Gi. First opponent was a girl, who I keep trading matches with (I’m planning on ending this streak soon). I had won the last match at a tournament in Montreal, but I was gunning for the win. After a back and forth standing game, I jumped guard (a new part of my game that I’m working on) and proceeded to work for stuff. She passed into my half guard, and as I was working for an underhook and trying to get my hips out, she secured a kimura. This is the move she always goes for, so I knew it was coming, but too late this time, she caught me and I tapped. 0-1.
Next opponent, I got in tight and secured a hip throw with me landing in side control. I racked up the points with knee on belly, mount, and a sweep, to finally getting the finish with an armbar. 1-1.
On to absolutes… First up, the girl I lost to in the gi division. Back and forth again on our feet, but I wasn’t letting her get anything. She jumped guard and after breaking open the guard and getting underhooks, I was working for the pass. I was almost able to consolidate it, but she rolled up into turtle position. She then managed to get control of my side when I was in turtle, but I pulled off my sneaky turtle roll. People know it’s coming, but it’s hard to stop. I rolled her through and transitioned into north south, with her on her back, getting myself an advantage point. She regained guard and we worked from there, with me almost getting a guard pass, but to no avail. Ending score, 0-0, but 1-0 me, in the advantage column, giving me the win. 2-1.
Next match was for 1st place in absolute. We went back and forth again while standing and she finally jumped guard. She had a close triangle submission attempt, but I popped my head out and proceeded to pass her guard. She was trying to turtle up to her knees, but I did knee on belly on her side, resulting in her turning back into me. I took advantage of this and worked my foot over and got myself into mount. I tried for a collar choke, but she blocked it well, so then I went for an Americana shoulder lock. As she was defending this, I snuck my arm under her head, flattened her out, and went for an ezequial choke using my sleeve. I snuck my choking hand in and flattened myself out over the choke to add more pressure, finally getting the tap and the win. 3-1.
Sunday was nogi, and first up was the girl I beat in the gi division with an armbar. While standing I secured a duckunder, and took her down with a back trip. I landed in mount and proceeded to rack up points, as I moved to take her back when she tried to roll out of it. I tried for the rear naked choke, but couldn’t get it. Then during a scramble she swept me and landed in mount. I bumped her hard and got to my side, catching a foot lift and regaining half guard and then finally full guard. I came close to an armbar with her in my guard, but I couldn’t get the leverage. I tried some other submission attempts, but time ran out, and with the final score 106, one more win to add to the record. 4-1.
Last match of the day was against my “nemesis” that I keep going back and forth with; again, I plan on ending this pattern. The match consisted of us standing and trying to catch the other and take them down. She shucked me down, but couldn’t get around, but she got 2 points for a takedown. Later I went to my knees to try and sit out, but ended up giving her 2 more points, what the heck? Dumb move. End result, her 4-0 on points for the win. Overall record for the weekend, 4-2.
I took a lot out of this tournament and I have a bunch of stuff to work on. However I need to finish up school and I will be into training hard this summer. I keep having a lot of almost or could of been moments. This summer I’m going hunting for submissions, good takedowns, and more work on having people in my guard.
