The date…April 8^th

The venue…West Yorkshire

The event…the North’s premier submission grappling championships

Around 120 competitors made the journey to attend the latest San Gokui Submission Grappling Championships, men, women and children from a variety of arts and styles ready to put themselves to the test. From humble beginnings this tournament has progressed steadily in numbers and rapidly in standard over the last few years making it the place to test your submission skills.

As always the children got the event going. Some of the kids displayed awesome techniques and spirit that belies their years. The San Gokui competitions are always done on a one-fight basis for the kids unless they specify themselves that they want more. Almost all the juniors asked for more than one fight, with some opting for 3 or 4. There were no tears, disputes or tantrums, which is a credit to themselves and their coaches for instilling the true spirit of competition. There were some very impressive kids on display and to single any of them out would not be fair because each and every one of them gave their all and ought to be very proud of themselves.

Running alongside the junior competition were the senior men. The lightweights, at - 73kg, started off the men and what a weight group it turned out to be. Starting with 28 competitors in this weight group alone, this was going to be a difficult group to win. Add to this that our first round matches are always for the full 3 minutes and can only be won on points. The idea behind this is to give you the chance to get some experience, if you make a mistake and get tapped within the first 10 seconds you get the chance for immediate redemption.

Keysi Academy’s Mark Chen won the first match of the senior tournament setting the standard for everyone else to follow. Tai Jutsu Kai’s Andy Proctor also put on a good show to move into the second round with some excellent take downs but after some fast and furious matches with some excellent submissions, a pattern started to emerge that replicated last years’ competition. Karl Tanswell’s Defence Unlimited were dominating the lightweight division yet again with all four of the semi-finalists being from his Manchester Academy, Danny Rogerson beat 16 year old Neil Cooper, who fought very well all day. Reigning champion David Smith beat team-mate Anthony Knibb leaving a Rogerson-Smith final. These two competitors displaying absolute class by not fighting each other in the final but sharing first place.

Then came the -80kg competitors. One of the matches, if not the match, of the day was between British Judo champ Tony Devine from the Kickers Academy and reigning grappling champion Ian Bromley. The match started very fast with excellent takedown attempts and counters. When the match was taken to the mat Tony established a good top position leaving Ian underneath attempting to escape. The match was very close with Tony Devine getting the decision. Tony then won his next two matches to put him into the final.

Mark ‘Spenna’ Spencer was gradually working from the other end of the bracket pulling off a couple of submissions to put him in the final too. The final was Judo v BJJ, Tony wanting to keep it standing with Spenna trying to take it down on his terms. From out of nowhere Tony threw Spenna with seionage, that was one of the best techniques of the day, in the groundwork that followed Spenna, working from his back, inserted his foot into Tony’s belt, pushing him away with an unorthodox escape. Whilst not being entirely legal, he drew huge applause from the crowd. Back to standing, Tony shot in and threw Spenna again with kata guruma as time finally ran out making Tony Devine the champion on points.

Super Spenna in flight

The -87kg division was also action packed. Gareth Roberts from Skirmish progressed to the finals with 3 straight wins. Equally impressive was Andy Pyle from Andy Norman's Keysi Academy who won all his matches to meet Gareth in the finals. After regulation time and overtime Andy Pyle took the judges decision to win his weight group in his first ever competition.

In the -95 kgs weight group Skirmish were successful again. Nick Jones pulled off a superb rolling knee bar that I thought was the best submission of the day and progressed through to the final. In the finals he met Martin Kleinhout who put on a great performance but Nick came through and took the title. A mention for Paul Johnson from Shin Sen Jutsu, although being on the border of the -87kg weight group he decided to fight the bigger guys in the -95kg group instead and took 3rd= place. Respect, mate.

In the 95+ kgs weight group another success for Andy Norman's Keysi Academy. Graham Cook submitted his way to the finals to take on Mike Martin from Darlington Jiu JItsu. Both guts went for it but Graham eventually caught Mike with a straight arm lock from his guard, which won him the title.

In the ladies' group Cheryl Williams arm locked Sarah Slater to get through to the final whilst Rosa Sexton beat Rachael Broughton in the other semi-final. In the final Rosa arm locked Cheryl in a hard fought match to take the ladies title.

There was still the little matter of the San Gokui Vale Tudo title fights which were sponsored by ALLSPORTS International Limited. Ryan Hunter from Pontefract was left disappointed by the fact that his opponent did not turn up after he had trained so hard for this match.

Ian Leach from Tiro Luta Shootfighting Academy took on David Wooffindin from Premier Tae Kwon Do. The fight was more or less fought on the ground with Ian playing a technical game that resulted in him leg locking David to take the lightweight title.

In the heavyweight title bout Chris Collins from Tiro Luta Shootfighting Academy took on Brian Smart from Pontefract MMA. After a hard fought match Chris was awarded the title on judge's decision.

Special thanks to Chris who doubled up to fight Rory Duffield from Pontefract MMA when Rory's opponent had to withdraw through illness. Rory, giving away 6kg, took the fight to Chris who also fought well. Towards the end of the match Chris aggravated his knee and the match was stopped, the result being a draw.

That just left 3 final issues to be sorted out, fighters of the day and team champions. Junior fighter of the day was Jonathan Smith from Pontefract MMA. Although only being 11 years old he remained unbeaten all day and pulled off some excellent submissions. Senior fighter of the day went to Tony Devine from the Kickers Academy. He won his weight group, showed some excellent skill and out pointed last years champion so it was well deserved.

That just left the Team Champions to be decided. On a fights won to team members ratio the successful team were Karl Tanswell's Defence Unlimited for the second year running due to their dominance of the lightweight division. Well done guys.

Karl Tanswell wins again

At the end of the day everyone seemed to have enjoyed themselves, made new friends and supported mixed martial arts into the bargain.

The final placings were:

Male under 73kg

1st= David Smith - Defence Unlimited

1st= Danny Rogerson - Defence Unlimited

3rd= Neil Cooper - Defence Unlimited

3rd= Anthony Knibb - Defence Unlimited

Under 80kg

1st Tony Devine - Kickers Academy

2nd Mark Spencer - Kickers Academy

3rd= Ian Brownley - Mike Wray’s BBA

3rd= Patrick Gomery - Wrestling

Under 87kg

1st Andy Pyle - Keysi UK

2nd Gareth Roberts - Skirmish

3rd= Brian Smart - Pontefract MMA

3rd= Dave Ives - Merseyside Vale Tudo

Under 95kg

1st Nick Jones - Skirmish

2nd Martin Kleinhout - Hull Sport Ju Jitsu

3rd= Paul Johnson - Shin Sen Jutsu

3rd= Paul Gardner - Defence Unlimited, Withington

Over 95kg

1st Graham Cook - Keysi UK

2nd Mike Martin - Darlington Jiu JItsu

3rd= Benjamin Fearns - Phoenix Ju JItsu

3rd= Simon Small - Darlington Jiu JItsu

Ladies

1st Rosa Sexton - Defence Unlimited

2nd Cheryl Williams - Tang Soo Do Freestyle

3rd= Sarah Slater — Chuldow Martial Arts

3rd= Rachael Broughton - Darlington Jiu JItsu

Lightweight Vale Tudo Champion

Ian Leach - Tiro Luta Shootfighting Academy

Heavyweight Vale Tudo Champion

Chris Collins - Tiro Luta Shootfighting Academy

Fighter of the day - junior

Jonathan Smith - Pontefract MMA

Fighter of the day - senior

Tony Devine - Kickers Academy

Team Champions 2001

Defence Unlimited, Manchester

Academies taking part were:

Tournament co-organiser Darren Currie says, "we make sure that everyone who competes receives a medal. The guys that are eliminated in the first round probably feel that they don’t deserve one but anyone who steps out to compete does deserve it. I would like to thank everyone that was open minded enough to step outside their own discipline and overcome whatever came at them. What we are trying to do is unite mixed martial arts & cross training to make the scene more united making events like ours bigger and better".

I would like to give thanks to our sponsors ALLSPORTS International Limited of Doncaster for supporting us in all the things we do, to all the competitors and spectators who attended and supported us. To the St John's Ambulance Brigade who had a very quiet day and finally to everyone who helped behind the scenes to make this show a success especially Brian Lister and Helen Smith who refereed all day.

Next scheduled event will be September 2001, if you miss it it’s your loss!! For further information check www.spacegroove.com/combatsport (also more pics) or email sangokui@hotmail.com to be put on the mailing list.

If you weren’t there why weren’t you?

Thanks again to everyone.

Written by Darren Currie

 

 

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