Canada wins 4 Gold metals at Grappling World Championships in Belgrade, Serbia

Canada wins 4 Gold metals at Grappling World Championships in Belgrade, Serbia

The Canadian team came home all smiles with how they performed at the 2011 FILA Grappling World Championships September 28th - October 1st in Belgrade, Serbia. This is the 4th FILA World Championships with previous tournaments being held in Switzerland, United States and Poland.

The Canadian team earned the most Gold metals it has ever. There were 3 divisions the Canadian competitors entered in. No-Gi grappling, Gi grappling, and Combat Grappling.

The tournament lasted for 3 solid days as the team focused and enjoyed the experience of a World Championship like no other. 21 different countries brought out teams to represent their countries. It was a proud moment to have the Canadian anthem played 4 times for the 4 Gold metals won by our team this year. Outstanding performance.

The gold metal matches were intense and showed perserverance and heart from our competitors with many matches being won in over time or in the last few seconds of the match.

John Louro beat a Polish competitor in the final into over time with a take down. All John's matches were close matches but John fought smart with superior balance. At one point John avoided being scored on by doing a kartweel while spinning on his head with amazing balance and quick reflexes. This is John's 4th World Championship but his First to win the Gold metal. Big congratulations to him as he performs better each year and finally earned the Gold.

Matt Bagshaw won his gold metal in Combat Grappling by submitting his opponent. This was no easy task, Matt was hit with a solid right cross that busted up his nose but Matt kept defending himself and ended up on the bottom of guard where he spun to an x-guard position and finished his opponent with a knee bar.

Brad Cardinal won the Gold metal in Combat Grappling with two intense matches, winning the final in the last 6 seconds of the fight when he swept his opponent and mounted him to score points.

Clay Davison won the Gold metal in Combat Grappling by demolishing his opponents. One with a guillotine choke and the other by out scorring his opponent 14 - 0. The guy he was supposed to fight for Gold declined to fight Clay after seeing him destroy his other opponents.

Here is a list of the metal standings and who represented Canada.

60kg Division

John Louro - Gold metal - Gi Grappling
World Champion, Bronze metal in No-Gi Grappling (BDB Martial Arts, Calgary. AB)

65kg Division

Matt Bagshaw - Gold metal - Combat Grappling
World Champion - Bronze metal in No-Gi Grappling (BDB Martial Arts, Calgary, AB)

70kg Division

Brad Cardinal - Gold metal - Combat Grappling
World Champion (BDB Martial Arts, Calgary, AB)

75kg Division

Alex Sung- Bronze metal - No-Gi Grappling
(New Maryland, New Brunswick)

80kg Division

Benoit Sinave - 5th place Gi
(Nomad BJJ, Sherbrooke, QC)

90kg Division

Brice Willis - 5th place in No-Gi Absolute which had 26 competitors
5th place in No-Gi (BDB Martial Arts, Calgary, AB)

110kg Division

Clay Davison - Gold metal in Combat Grappling
World Champion (BDB Martial Arts, Calgary AB)

Head Coach

Brian Bird who has been the previous World Team Coach for the last 3 World Championships

Assistant Coach

Igor Vasiljevic

Canadian Referee

Lenis Thokle
This was his first World Championship for Grappling, Combat Grappling and Pankration

After an exhausting 3 days of fighting the guys spent an extra day of travelling around Belgrade, Serbia checking out the sites and enjoying a little bit of a holiday. Big thanks to Igor, the assistant coach, for all the extra help and really going out of his way to get the competitors anything they could need. It would have been a very different trip if he wasn't there to support and help the team.

Thanks to the whole team for doing so well and representing Canada. Even though not everyone can bring home metals, some came very close and will for sure do better at the next World Championships in Russia in 2012.