COLE BAY--SXM BJJ will host a unique Chess Jiu Jitsu Competition on Friday, May 8, at 5:00pm at its academy located at 15 Wellington Road in Cole Bay. The event will feature both children and adult matches, combining the strategic elements of chess with the physical demands of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
Chess Jiu Jitsu is an emerging international sport format in which competitors alternate between timed chess rounds and live grappling rounds. Matches can be won by checkmate, submission, or points, testing athletes’ mental focus, endurance, and composure under pressure.
The event was organized by avid chess competitor and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu practitioner David Balszak, who helped bring the growing hybrid competition format to St. Maarten.
Head instructor Melissa Bardfield said the event reflects the academy’s emphasis on both discipline and critical thinking.
“Chess and Jiu Jitsu are both about patience, strategy, and staying calm under pressure,” Bardfield said. “This event gives our students and the community a chance to experience how mental and physical skills can work together in a really exciting way.”
Spectators can expect a fast-paced evening of competitive matches and community entertainment as athletes battle both on the chessboard and on the mats.
The event is sponsored by Caribbean Gems and is open to the public. Organizers encourage the community to attend and support local athletes while experiencing this innovative competition format firsthand.
