The Foothill Submission Championships presented by Lohsen Martial Arts Academy had competitors young and old raving about how well the tournament went, but also how important it is to have these kinds of events.
Participants in the inaugural event held Saturday at the Valley Springs Elementary multi-purpose room ranged from amateurs to grapplers who train under a UFC fighter.
The championship featured all styles of submission wrestling, which features locks, chokes and holds that are used to make your opponent tap out. There were four different age divisions n kids under 12, kids 12-16, men over 16 and women over 16. Within each age division there were specific weight classes.
Travis Caires, 15, of Valley Springs is a relative newcomer to the sport, having only taken four sessions at the Lohsen Academy n run by teachers David and Melissa Lohsen in Burson. Caires did not have anybody in his age division, but won a match against fellow Lohsen student Zach Edwards.
“I was kind of nervous, because this was my first tournament, “Caires said. “Two weeks ago was the first time I’ve tried it and I don’t know too much, but I’m going to continue to learn.”
Caires said he was drawn to submission wrestling because of the aggressive nature.
“It’s fun and it’s something physical to do.”
Kylee Colborn, 10, of Linden and her family have been avid participants at the Lohsen Academy, which holds practices on Monday and Wednesday nights at the Old Burson Fire Station, and has competed in about 20 freestyle matches.
Colborn, who was the Champion of Champions of the 12 and under/0-60-pound division, said she enjoys working hard and being able to control a match. Her twin sister Kayla finished second in the 12 and under/0-60 pound Group A division behind her sister.
“It’s just fun to make someone tap, especially like my sister, “Kylee said.
After all the divisions were finished, there was an Absolute Tournament featuring 16 competitors of all weight classes and age groups.
The two finalists who battled for the top crown were both representatives of Cassio Werneck’s World Class Jiu Jitsu out of Carmichael, a suburb of Sacramento. Werneck, a 2003 world champion, trains participants in Brazilian jiu jitsu.
Brad Sandoval, 25, and Brian Arellano, 20, made it to the finals with some great action and some even better moves.
Sandoval said he heard about the event from fellow trainee Roger Jackson, who also competed in the championships.
Sandoval, who beat Arellano to be named the Absolute winner, said there was some very good competition at this event and it was a great venue to showcase his abilities against some of the area’s best.
Sensei Eric Shingu, who began training the Lohsens, brought his students in from Stockton, as did Ultimate Fighter Nick Diaz, who also trains fighters out of Stockton.
“There was some good competition and it’s a step above training, “Sandoval said.
Arellano, who won the men’s 181-200 pound division and was the Champion of Champions in the over 180-pound class, said that although he lost in the finals to his training buddy, it wasn’t exactly a bad thing.
“It’s just great for World Class Jiu Jitsu, “Arellano said.
Diaz, who is a Cesar Gracie jiu jitsu fighter along with Mountain Ranch native Jake Shields, said he was impressed with how things went on Saturday and is hoping to make a few training appearances at the Lohsen Academy in the near future and to help out at future tournaments.
Diaz said offering these tournaments for people locally is huge because that’s what continues to make the sport more popular. Diaz and David Lohsen trained together under Shingu in Stockton.
“People will come to these local tournaments, “Diaz said. “They’ll hear about it at their jiu jitsu schools and they’ll come.
“Eric (Shingu) brought some of his guys, Gus (Enriquez) from Sacramento brought some of his people and I brought five or six of my guys. It was good competition.”
Melissa Lohsen said the tournament drew about 40 participants, which more than exceeded the 20 or 30 grapplers she expected.
“We had a few schools that we didn’t expect were coming and after the match everyone said they’ll bring bigger groups next time, “Lohsen said. “That was awesome.”
Lohsen said because of the success of the first tournament that plans are in the works to hold another one in January or February.
David Lohsen said submission wrestling tournaments have been known to be a little crazy, but that wasn’t the case at this event. Competitors walked away injury free, except for some minor bruises and aches, which is exactly what the Lohsens were hoping for.
“Submission tournaments are notorious for being slightly chaotic, but this one ran extremely well, “David said.
He said what impressed him more than the actual numbers was the support he got from the participants from the various schools that offered their services for the next event.
“The support from all the schools exceeded what we expected, “he said. “Nick and Nathan Diaz said to let them know when the next one is and they’ll be there with more people and a truckload of mats.”
Contact Ryan Wallace at [email protected].
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