On March 17, 2012 I competed in my 4th jiu-jitsu tournament, the NAGA Houston Grappling Championship. I competed as an orange belt in the 115 – 130 lbs kids intermediate class. My weigh in weight was 130 lbs. I won first place in the gi and nogi divisions. It was announced during the pre-fight instructions that there were over 600 kid competitors. Six kids from HJJC competed in the tournament. We won a lot of medals and had a lot of fun! Most of us stayed at Craig Comisky’s (Josh’s father) sister’s home – Patty and Victor. They are super nice people and we really appreciated them feeding us and letting us stay at their home in Houston. We ate some really good spaghetti there!
I want to thank Steve Van Looy for going to Houston and coaching all the kids at this tournament! I want to thank my jiu-jitsu brothers Gabriel Ambriz and Joe Vela and also China Star Restaurant and my dentist Dr. Mackie with Rio Vista Dentistry for sponsoring me! I thank my Jiu-Jitsu instructor Jake Montalvo and his assistant instructors Steve Van Looy and Patrick Chancey and all my Jiu-Jitsu training partners/friends for helping me. I also thank Robert Defranco for all I have learned from him in his seminars at HJJC.
Patty and Victor ( sister and brother-in-law of Craig). They fed us before and after the tournament and put us up at their home night before the tournament. They are really great people and we were fortunate to be able to stay at their home.
One of my nogi fights. I won this match on points.
This is my fight for nogi gold medal. Near the two minute mark of the fight I got my opponent in a triangle from my guard, he escaped, then I got him in another triangle from my guard, rolled him over to a mounted triangle and submitted him. The second triangle is not on the film because my dad’s view was blocked by the scorer’s table.
This is my fight for gi gold medal. I won this fight by submitting my opponent with a choke that Robert Defranco taught me at a seminar he conducted at Harlingen Jiu-Jitsu Club on March 3rd and 4th, 2012 – just two weeks before the tournament.
I first weighed in at 131 lbs. Then my dad talked me into making some clothing adjustments so I could make the 115 - 130 lb weight bracket.
A future world class Jiu-Jitsu player has to be willing to make sacrifices. I removed my warm-up pants and glasses and made the 115 - 130 lb weight bracket.