Are you ready to rumble? Or, in reality, grapple?
If you’re into BJJ, then Mar. 31 is already circled on your calendar, with Saigon Sports Club hosting an open tournament centred on this martial art. This martial art and combat sport system focuses on grappling and especially ground fighting.
Fans of mixed martial arts recognize that many of the stars in the UFC and other promotions such as American Rashad Evans, Canadian Georges St-Pierre and Brazil’s Anderson Silva shot to fame incorporating this discipline into their arsenal. Virtually every MMA promotion boasts prizefighters that submit opponents with BJJ techniques. That said, the upcoming tournament at the end of March is meant to reinforce that anyone can get into, and enjoy, the discipline.
“The sport is for all walks of life,” explained Anthony Luu, an instructor at Saigon Sports Club and one of the tournament organizers. “It’s from the fundamental nature of the sport; with an emphasis on body mechanics and leverage, the implication is with the correct techniques, one could overcome a much more physically strong opponent.
“There’s a decent following that has started in Vietnam, but it’s still in a stage of infancy and a great way to push the current boundaries of the sport is to provide competition for the Professors (the title of BJJ black belts) and their students to validate their countless hours of efforts trying to improve their martial art.”
The Saigon Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Open Il-GI will take place on Mar. 31 at Saigon Sports Club in District 7.
All belts and weights will be able to participate, with a weigh-in on the day of the event.
Doors open at 7am and the event starts at 8.30 am, with matches from 9am. The schedule will be posted at least three days before the event. No more registration is possible beyond March 24. For more information, visit the event page at tikkit.vn/ssc-brazilian-jiu-jitsu-open. After a number of years writing this column, this will be Harry Hodge’s last Sports Digest.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY SAIGON SPORTS CLUB
