North West BJJ Open - Tower Ballroom, Blackpool

I have competed at many gi and no gi events around the world; but none of the events can compare to the grandeur and luxuriousness of competing at the Tower Ballroom in Blackpool at the weekend.  Most people will be familiar with the ballroom as seen on the television, with Bruce Forsyth at the helm.

Sadly, Bruce wasn't available to compere at the event, would have been awesome if he had, that would be one in the cap for BJJ; organiser Gus Oliveira and his team of helpers and volunteers from Checkmat Blackpool, worked non stop to ensure a well organised competition took place.

With my students and fellow CB members from Voodoo Gym

I took half a dozen students to the event, a bit smaller in number than usual, but as ever, medals were on hand at the end of the day, with two silver and three bronze for my guys and a number of medals for fellow Combat Base guys and gals that had us in 5th place on the medals board, so congrats all round.

Highlight of the day for my good self as a coach, was sitting on a comfy chair, coaching Lee James in his finals fight, with a cold Guiness in my hand, can't complain!

Gold medals came from Combat Base members Aggie Semtex Drozdzik, James Nardone, Tim Verity, Leroy Holcroft and The Yorkshire Gripper Lloyd Cooper walked away with silver.

www.grabandpull.co.uk