ST. BARTHS --The St. Maarten Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (SXM BJJ) took first place at the Saint Barths BJJ Open Tournament Saturday. Team SXM BJJ dominated earning 210 points with 60 wins, 38 losses. St. Barths BJJwas second with 84 points from 27 wins, 45 losses. Impact Jiu Jitsu of Arizona, USA was third with 19 points from 5 wins and 5 losses.
The tournament featured Gi (wearing a traditional kimono) matches for children and adults and no-gi (submission grappling) matches for teens and adults.
A total of 45 athletes from St. Maarten’s SXM BJJ/Team Renzo Gracie traveled to St Barths on the Great Bay Express ferry along with family members.
The matches were refereed by 4th degree Brazilian Blackbelt Celso Farpado and organizer Christian Graugart.
“I was proud of the team. Many students competed for the first time and some students fought much heavier opponents due to their high skill level,” explained SXM BJJ’s Head Instructor Melissa Bardfield.
Undefeated youth standouts include Max Rosa, Selah Romney, Sernik Porcasi, Keenan Benjamin, Rylan Benjamin, Eldrick Phebe, Darina Smirnova, Shayr Philips and Tristan Lista.
Adult blue belt Louis Grea overcame a large weight discrepancy to earn the title of no-gi blue belt over 76kilos. Head Muay Thai instructor Sensei Akeem Lewis was also undefeated with double gold in both gi and no gi. Brown belt Arweindh Punwasi took double gold in both gi and no gi in the below 75kilo division.
Gold and Bronze medalist and first-time Jiu Jitsu competitor Nelly Blaise summed up his experience: “The level of competition was high, but what made the experience even better was the camaraderie and support between the participants and organizers. It's inspiring to see people come together and share their passion for this sport… Jiu Jitsu is more than just a sport for me, it's a way of life. I am looking forward to continuing to build myself up and grow as an athlete in this beautiful art.”
Complete Results:
BOYS GI / -22 KG / 9-10 YEARS
1 DAWSON LAKE, SXM BJJ
2 MADISON LIBURD, SXM BJJ
Mixed GI / -25 KG / 6-7 YEARS
1 TRISTAN LISTA, SXM BJJ
2 MILIANI RONDEI, SXM BJJ
3 KEANI OFFRINGA RAVESTEIJN, SXM BJJ
BOYS GI / -31 KG / 8-9 YEARS
1 SHAHYR PHILIPS, SXM BJJ
2 KAI BECKERS, St Barths BJJ
3 WILLIAM OKEEFE, SXM BJJ
BOYS GI / -35 KG / 9-10 YEARS
1 MAX ROSA, SXM BJJ
2 OTTONE FAUROIS, SXM BJJ
3 DILLAN CLAIR, St Barths BJJ
BOYS GI / -51 KG
1 SERNIK PORCASI, SXM BJJ
2 CAMILLE BERRY, St Barths BJJ
3 DENZEL CHARLES, SXM BJJ
BOYS GI / -56KG
1 KEENAN BENJAMIN, SXM BJJ
2 JEAN HAROLD AUDEBERT, SXM BJJ
3 NOA DESPLATS, St Barths BJJ
KIDS MIXED GI / -35 KG / 11-12 YEARS
1RYLAN BENJAMIN, SXM BJJ
2 TOPPER DABOUL, SXM BJJ
3 VICTOR LAURENT, St Barths BJJ
TEENS GI / -65KG
1 ELDRICK PHEBE, SXM BJJ
2 AIDAN WILKIE, SXM BJJ
3 SEBASTIAN HOEKSTRA, SXM BJJ
GIRLS GI / -27 KG
1 GOORIAH YESHNA, St Barths BJJ
2 NILA BENJAMIN, SXM BJJ
3 AYLA BUS, SXM BJJ
GIRLS GI / -33 KG
1 SELAH ROMNEY, SXM BJJ
2 LOUISE BEAL, St Barths BJJ
3 MEGAN LOCKHORN, SXM BJJ
GIRLS GI / -42 KG
1 DARINA SMIRNOVA, SXM BJJ
2 AYANA ROMNEY, SXM BJJ
3 NOÉMIE GREAUX, St Barths BJJ
GIRLS GI / -56 KG
1 NAHJAE PRINCE, SXM BJJ
2 AMANI VANDERCAMP, SXM BJJ
FEMALE GI / OPEN / LIGHT WEIGHT
1 SAMANTHA CURRIER, UNITED STATES
2 LAURA GRATTEPANCHE, St. Barth BJJ
3 LORENA FREIRES, St. Barth BJJ
MALE GI / BLUE / UNDER 76 KG
1 DIECHENGCO JOHN, DJ BJJ
2 MIKE VELO, SXM BJJ
3 MILES CHEASLEY, SXM BJJ
MALE GI / BLUE / OVER 76 KG
1 EDOUARD LAMBERT, St. Barth BJJ
2 RUI ARAÚJO, St. Barth BJJ
3 HAROLD BEAUGENDRE, The Brothers BJJ Guadeloupe
MALE GI / PURPLE & BROWN / OVER 76 KG
1 AKEEM LEWIS, SXM BJJ
2 CHRISTOPHER MUYSHONDT, AUC BJJ/ SXM BJJ
3 NICOLAS HARMANGE, St. Barth BJJ
MALE GI / PURPLE & BROWN / UNDER 76 KG
1 ARWIENDH PUNWASI, SXM BJJ
2 JAMI ELOI, SXM BJJ
3 RONY BEAL, St. Barth BJJ
MALE GI / WHITE / OPEN
1 PABLO BAEZ, St. Barth BJJ
2 YURI HAUSER, SXM BJJ
3 JEAN ONELI (NELLY) BLAISE, SXM BJJ
MALE NO-GI / BLUE / UNDER 76 KG
1 ETHAN LAZARE, Tristar/AUC BJJ/SXM BJJ
2 MIKE VELO, SXM BJJ
3 JON EDWARDS, USA
MALE NO-GI / BLUE / OVER 76 KG
1, LOUIS GREA, SXM BJJ
2 EDOUARD LAMBERT, St. Barth BJJ
3 HAROLD BEAUGENDRE, The Brothers BJJ Guadeloupe
MALE NO-GI / PURPLE & BROWN / OVER 76 KG
1 AKEEM LEWIS, SXM BJJ
2 CHRISTOPHER MUYSHONDT, AUC BJJ/SXM BJJ
3 NICOLAS HARMANGE, St. Barth BJJ
MALE NO-GI / PURPLE & BROWN / UNDER 76 KG
1 ARWIENDH PUNWASI, SXM BJJ
2 JAMI ELOI, SXM BJJ
3 RONY BEAL, St. Barth BJJ
MALE NO-GI / WHITE / OPEN
1 JEAN ONELI (NELLY) BLAISE, SXM BJJ
2 YURI HAUSER, SXM BJJ
3 LUCAS SEEMAN, SXM BJJ
FEMALE NO-GI / OPEN / LIGHT WEIGHT
1 SAMANTHA CURRIER, USA
2 LORENA FREIRES, St. Barth BJJ
3 LAURA GRATTEPANCHE, St. Barth BJJ
