A Milestone for Our Tamariki
We had the incredible privilege of hosting our very first Cross Club Jiu Jitsu Tournament in Whitianga, featuring 38 young practitioners from Coromandel BJJ (based in Tairua) and Toa Martial Arts (Whitianga). The event marked a huge milestone for our local Jiu Jitsu community, with over 40 matches taking place throughout the day. The air was thick with excitement and anticipation as our students stepped onto the mats to compete.
This memorable event took place on Saturday, November 30th, 2024 and one of the most special aspects of this tournament was the opportunity it provided for our students to compete close to home. With Jiu Jitsu tournaments often held in larger cities like Auckland, Rotorua and Wellington, travel costs, time and logistics can be a challenge for many whānau.
Jiu Jitsu is a unique martial art. Unlike other sports, it’s rooted in self-defense and submission techniques, with the primary goal being to control and submit your opponent. For our younger competitors, the focus was on gaining points by takedowns or advancing to dominant positions – such as achieving the mount or back control.
For many of our students, this was their first experience competing in a tournament. It was inspiring to see how the tamariki approached the challenge. There’s a special kind of confidence that this martial art instills in its practitioners, and that confidence was on full display.
Building Confidence Through Jiu Jitsu
What I love most about Jiu Jitsu is the confidence it gives our students – not just in the dojo, but in their everyday lives. Jiu Jitsu teaches that true strength comes from being able to control the situation, both physically and mentally. Whether it’s through grappling techniques or learning how to stay calm under pressure, these young practitioners are building skills that will serve them in many aspects of life. They’re not just learning how to defend themselves physically – they’re learning how to overcome challenges, think critically, and stay composed when faced with adversity.
As we reflect on the success of our cross-club tournament, we’re already thinking ahead to the next, giving the opportunity back to Coromandel BJJ to host this time, potentially around Matariki 2025.
Jiu Jitsu is a unique martial art. Unlike other sports, it’s rooted in self-defense and submission techniques, with the primary goal being to control and submit your opponent.
We are so proud of every competitor who stepped on the mats and want to congratulate them all – for in our eyes, they are all winners!
A big shout out to all our volunteer helpers on the day, for without you all, this day would not have been possible: Dylan Curtain and Gareth Beatson for doing a great job officiating the matches, Shena Christian and Te Paea Puha for scoring matches and keeping our day running on time, Joel Barton and Mark Cosgrove for ushering our students to the mats and calming those mat side nerves, Brian Holmes, Chris Autufuga and Claudia Rose for manning our BBQ, and Patrick Ruggle for being photographer for the day. We truly have the best helpers supporting our club and our tamariki.
Words by Billie and Buddy Hunter
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