JIU JITSU

Jiu Jitsu

Grappling for success

Text by Joe Gibbons

The Telegram

This past weekend there was plenty of flipping and throwing at the Memorial University physical education building combat room as the local Republic Jiu Jitsu club played host to one of the world's top Jiu Jitsu champions.

Twenty-eight-year-old Leo Santos of Brazil, a third-degree black belt, is currently touring North America and as part of his tour, he was in the capital city conducting a two-day submission grappling and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (Gracie Jiu Jitsu) seminar to about 30 students of the Jiu Jitsu and other forms of martial arts.

A veteran of Shooto Japan and Shooto Brazil, Santos is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu world champion and a mixed martial arts fighter, he said he has been practising his forms since he was "eight-years-old".

Among his accomplishments thus far, Santos is a three-time Brazilian Jiu Jitsu champion, nine times Rio de Janeiro state champion, five time Brazilian champion, two-time Pan-American champion and fought to a third-place finish at the Abu Dahbi Combat Club in 2001.

A very active mixed martial artist fighter, Santos sports a record of 6-1.

Saturday's session saw the athletes practise in their "street clothes" for their training, but Sunday, they were dressed in their full Jiu Jitsu uniform attire — their Gi's — as they're called — supported by their respective coloured belts.

Here are some of the grappling sights from the Jiu Jitsu seminar conducted by the champ himself and with assistance from local Paul Woodruff, the top ranked Jiu Jitsu athlete in theh province, a student of Santos, and who is also a member of the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary.

Photos by Joe Gibbons and Keith Gosse/The Telegram