THE (SUB)MISSION

The Wrecking Ball Family demonstrated incredible athleticism and technical Machado Jiu Jitsu at the NAGA 2009 Midwest Championship on May 30th. We are proud to announce that 13 of our 14 fighters placed during the regional competition and the Wreck Squad truly attended the tournament with ONE MISSION: to wreck any and all competitors that set foot on the mat.

If you’ve never been to a NAGA tournament, let me tell you what it’s like.  The entire event really is organized chaos at it’s best.  You don’t quite know who your students will be competing against since competitors are still signing up at the door.  Once you get there, you’ll find a large mat divided into about 14 “rings” as they call them.  Competitors of all levels compete at these events, usually the children going first and the adults in the afternoon and into the early evening. For a coach, this event can drive you crazy.  With so many competitors going at the same time, you find yourself running back and forth across the mats to make sure you’re there coaching and supporting each of your students. You also have to listen carefully, they often will change the “ring” you’re supposed to be in so if you don’t pay attention…. you’re out! Not to mention battling the enormous crowd of people who have come to support their teams as they sit so close to the competitors they literally are on the mats, although careful not to get too close or you could get toppled by a take down. Just trying to get close enough for your students to hear you is challenging sometimes. All in all, this event is something to see. And I have to say something about the Wreck Squad… I’m proud of the incredible bunch of students we have that attend these events.  The support they show each other is overwhelming. We truly have a family at the gym and a family when we compete.

Now the highlight of the day came by way of our Jui Jitsu coach, Scott Goddard. Scott has taken a hiatus from competing and he had decided only weeks before NAGA that he would saddle up once more to see how his beloved sport has evolved over the past decade. Scott was informed that he would be fighting a Gracie black belt who has won numerous NAGA medals over the years. This would be a true test of skill against skill as the Gracie/ Machado rivalry rekindled once again

As the two faced off on the mats, the whistle’s screech would literally mark the end of the Gracie winning streak. Within 30 seconds, Scott had effortlessly reclaimed the thrown he left long ago. Scott outclassed his competition and submitted the Gracie black belt with a vice grip knee bar. The fight was over before it began and the referee raised Goddard’s arm before this witness had the chance to press “record” on the camcorder.

Congratulations Wreck Squad!

Brian Blackburn

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