U.M.A. II English
Open Judo Back to Back Ne Waza/Groundfighting Championships Results
U.M.A.'s 2nd English Open Judo Back to Back Ne Waza Competition 24th
February 2008
The U.M.A., started the New Year off with the now very popular Judo Ne
Waza back to back event; the event last year was mainly dominated by the
Judo teams with a few BJJ clubs pitching in on the day. After a
successful year with a number of gi and no gi events in 2007 and with
widespread publicity throughout last year, the U.M.A.’s first event of
2008 saw more BJJ clubs attending the event and an increased number of
Judo clubs, ready to test their ground skills and put it all on the
line.
All the usual faces from 2007 were in attendance for the event; seasoned
competitor Paul Sawyer was an ever present threat in the under 70K and
Open weight division and the highly talented Richard Willis was ready to
defend his titles from last year’s event. The giant Leigh Hitchen
brought down a strong team of kids and seniors and Combat Base Bolton
were back ready to rock and roll.
In addition to the new faces were Judokas from Sawston JC, Hardy Spicer,
Staines JC, 3 K’s JC, Cheshire and Lakeside JC and BJJ clubs
representing Gracie Barra Doncaster and Milton Keynes and Brasa Wales.
All this talent under one roof, meant that the event was not going to be
no walk in the park, regardless of weight group, which made up for some
really exciting matches throughout the day.
At the end of the year in ’07, the word on the street was that due to
the success of all the events last year, a bigger venue was going to be
used in 2008 to accommodate the increasing number of participants.
Although a bigger venue would cater for the increase in numbers, many
people felt that the atmosphere at the new venue would in no way match
up to the community centre used in ’07 and as such the UMA decided to
keep to the original venue and they were not to be disappointed.
A large number of juniors entered the event and the walls rattled with
the screams of keen parents and team mates as the little warriors
battled it out for the medals and after a superb display of technical
skill and sportsmanship the juniors were all finished, leaving the
seniors to take to the mats.
Once again, the atmosphere was electric, every team mate supporting
their man out on the mats, Judo against Judo, BJJ against BJJ and then
style against style as each division threw out some surprise match ups.
Angelo Beales from GB Milton Keynes managed to stay in line with the
unique Judo rules and won a tough division in the under 80K and there
was upset in the under 70K division when hot favourite Paul Sawyer
missed the gold, losing to Michael Troke of Hybrid Martial Arts. Combat
Base Bolton Leroy Holcroft, not content with competing in the under 70K
division, stepped up and entered the under 75K bracket, dominated by BJJ
blue belts and walked away with the silver medal, losing to Brasa Wales’
Gareth Dummer.
Fellow Bolton team mate Chris Webster, in his first ever competition
took the bronze medal in the under 90K division and Leigh Hitchen took
the gold in the over 100K division and lost his Open weight crown in an
epic battle of Judo v Judo, losing to Jason Allen of Lakeside Judo Club.
Once again Richard Willis dominated his weight division and not
surprisingly took the gold in both the under 85K and the Open weight
division with an exciting fight with Stuart Austin of Hardy Spicer Judo
Club, making him the man to beat this year on the UMA circuit.
The first event of the year again ran like clockwork, with over 100
senior entrants fighting on the day through the weight divisions and the
Open weight and masters and veterans brackets were all hotly contested,
with some amazing displays of ground work and submissions.
Again, the Quality of the Refereeing was excellent, the Categories and
rounds ran smoothly and without incident, and this year the UMA's new
Affiliate Member Clubs that attended also provided the UMA Officials,
Time Keepers, Score Recorders and Referee's and Fully Qualified HSE
First Aiders, again, all Fully Registered, Certified, Qualified and
highly experienced for these Championships.
The next event for the U.M.A. is on May 18th and will be the Open
Groundfighting Championships, which will be a no gi affair; if it’s any
good as last year then do not miss this event. Get on the mats, train
your ass off and come down and represent, where you’ll be warmly
welcomed and tested to the limit.
The 19 Clubs in attendance were:
Amateur JuiJitsu Academy
Brasa BJJ Wales
Can Do Martial Arts
Combat Base Bolton
Erdington Judo Club
Fighting Fit Gym
Gracie Barra BJJ Milton Keynes
Gracie Barra BJJ Doncaster
Hardy Spicer Judo Club
Hybrid Martial Arts
3 K's Judo Club
Kita Ogawa Martial Arts
Lakeside Judo Club
Matsumachi Judo Club
MFF Fighters
Sandbach Judo Club
Sawston Judo Club
Shingitai JuiJitsu
Staines Judo Club
Until May folks!!
Carlos Fisher
UMA Press Officer
Pictures above Courtesy of UMA Press Officer Carlos Fisher
Pictures Courtesy of Adam Rogula of Can Do Martial Arts
