19 Questions:
(1) How long have you been training BJJ?
"I took my first BJJ class in August of 2012, and didn't stick to it, but ultimately ended up beginning to grapple in November of the same year, at the age of 13."
(2) What was your draw to BJJ or your reason to join the art?
"I tried Jiu Jitsu at first because it was also offered where I had signed up for my trial class of Muay Thai kickboxing.
I didn't like grappling at first, and initially had no plans to continue, but after to taking to Muay Thai, I was given less of a suggestion and more a direction to attend all of the grappling classes, as well, because bjj was seen as the future of martial arts, and it would be complimentary to my Muay Thai."
(3) Belt Lineage:
"Green belt- 2014, professor Clinton Hollett
Blue belt- 2016, professor Juliano Macario
Purple belt- 2018, master Carlson Gracie Junior
Brown belt- 2022, master Carlson Gracie Junior "
(4) Do you or did you compete in any other sports?
"Z-E-R-O. I am living proof that you don't need an athletic background to start training, although it is surely a great help.
I believe myself to be a naturally uncoordinated, clumsy person, but learned early on that through dedicated practice, anybody can overcome their background, in my case, not knowing my shin from my chin— literally."
(5) Where do you train regularly?
"I train at Força Centre in Dartmouth, which is also where I began over a decade ago. I've also had the pleasure of training abroad for multiple month-long stints at Carlson Gracie Temecula, Carlson Gracie HQ, and Fight Sports."
(6) How long have you been competing? Weight Class?
"I did my first tournament in March of 2013, at the classic Abhaya tournament held at Kings Edgehill in Windsor, Nova Scotia.
I won a silver medal, and have been competing whenever I get the chance to since.
I currently compete in the Medium Heavyweight class for IBJJF, -194.5 in the Gi, and -188.6 no gi."
(7) Do you participate in regular tournaments outside of Atlantic Region? Do you have a favourite?
"I have competed in numerous cities and multiple countries, always gunning to win IBJJF titles as they hold the most prestige and commonly the toughest competitors. My favourite event is the IBJJF Pan Ams, held in Orlando, Florida."
(8) Some key highlights/accomplishments abroad or outside of Atlantic Canada:
"Purple belt:
2021
2nd place: AJP Canadian nationals (gi)
3rd place: IBJJF pan ams (gi)
2022
1st place: AJP Canadian nationals (gi)
3rd place: IBJJF pan ams (gi)
Brown belt:
2022
1st place: San Diego Open (no gi)
1st place: Houston Open (gi)
1st place: Houston Open (no gi)
2023
1st place: Ontario Open (Gi)
1st place: Ontario Open (Gi) open weight "
(9) How frequent do you train when preparing for these competitions?
"I do an average of 12 sessions per week, all year. A session consists of 45-90 minutes of jiu jitsu."
(10) When prepping for tournament/comp, what other supportive/supplemental training do you do to compliment BJJ?
"Weekly:
Muay Thai 3-5x
Weights/calisthenics 3-5x
Running 1-2x
Swimming 1x
Skipping 1-2x
Judo and Wrestling, each 1x"
(11) Do you have a coach or tourn camp/team (i.e BJJ, strength coach, nutritionist, etc..)
"For strength and conditioning, at this point I know what my body needs, and it's only supplemental to technique and reaction time, which I believe are best developed in deep practice sessions on the mats.
For bjj advice I like to seek out the council of professor Thomas Cronin, who owns the Carlson Gracie Temecula academy (California), and of course everyone at Força, as they see my techniques every day, we work as a team to share insights and always improve the room."
(12) Preference for GI or NO Gi comp?
"I love them both for separate reasons, I think that Gi is harder because there is more possible moves that you have to be aware of, and the leverage/control multiplier of the kimono often punishes you greatly for mistakes. I try to always do both if offered at a competition."
(13) Future Goals/ultimate tournament goal?
"I want to compete in Jiu Jitsu at the highest level that I can, for as long as I feel authentic doing so, I don't have an ultimate goal, because I feel that it would be self-limiting. I will be content with the life that I'm living regardless of tournament results, I enjoy partaking in and spreading the martial art. With that said, it would be a great moment to make the IBJJF worlds podium."
(14) Future Tournaments coming up?
"IBJJF No-gi worlds, Dec 7-9,
IBJJF Europeans Gi, January 21-27."
(15) If applicable, how do you balance work/home life and training?
"I have a very supportive woman by my side that has unlimited patience for me to put in work related to my BJJ career. If I need to put in more time at the gym or for my relationship, it is my hobbies/downtime that I cut out (video games, watching movies, etc)."
(16) What are some of the biggest challenges/hurdles with competing outside of province? In particular, internationally? (How do you overcome?)
"For myself, it has always been confidence, and understanding the rules. In the Maritimes, I never had a true international style tournament to acclimatize to rules regarding weigh ins, coaching, advantages and more.
What has helped me a lot is taking matches one at a time, and truly believing I can beat anybody if I perform my best.
Notably, it's very expensive to compete if residing in the Maritimes. Any USA IBJJF tournament flight is going to cost you upwards of $400, $200 cad for registration, hotels...
It is an investment in the future."
(17) Advice to anybody that wants to chase their dreams or just take a chance and compete internationally/abroad/outside our region?
"Start locally, regardless of your results here, focus on becoming more comfortable with the entire process of competing, and LIVE AT your competition weight.
Aim to do tournaments with the biggest divisions, you will grow the most from it."
(18) As a BJJ community, what can we do to help motivate or assist athletes to go to large tournaments outside of our region?
"We can take a note from other amateur sports when it comes to fundraising. Also, a win for a local athlete is a win for the local grappling scene.
It helps to do your part in always supporting fundraisers etc of local athletes regardless of their team or affiliation.
Share Instagram and Facebook posts. Avoid jealousy. Get more people exposed to martial arts."
(19) Is there anything you would like to see with the tournament scene within Atlantic Canada?
"Strict adherence and qualified staff for an international ruleset like IBJJF or ADCC.
Submission Arts Atlantic is doing full IBJJF for kids and adults gi matches this February, and I look forward to it readying everybody for bigger tournaments across the country.
We have a good amount of tournaments locally, averaging 1 per month within a few hours of Halifax/Moncton. I believe we now primarily need to constantly improve these events."
