Jiu jitsu tournament draws many competitors
Grappling martial art’s popularity grows in eastern Canada: Nova Scotia Open
Jaret MacIntosh, owner of the Pictou County Titans Jiu Jitsu Academy, is pleased to see the meteoric growth of Brazilian jiu jitsu in the Maritimes.
The latest indication of this growth took place last weekend, at the Nova Scotia Open Jiu Jitsu Championship 2018.
MacIntosh described the Nova Scotia Open as the biggest tournament in the Maritimes.
Hosted by Nova Scotia Submission Series Promotions, the event took place at New Glasgow Academy on Saturday and Sunday, bringing out 388 competitors and a large audience, all from across Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, P.E.I., Quebec and Newfoundland.
“The sport is growing rapidly, every year – especially in the last five years,” said MacIntosh, taking a moment during the busy tournament to speak with The News on Sunday. “A few years ago, the tournaments would only have about 50 to 100 people in them, maybe. Now look at it. There are kids enrolling in the programs, parents too.”
The tournament featured a series of matches, in which participants played a game of physical and mental chess, strategically working to achieve the dominant position so they can either implement a chokehold or a submission hold.
MacIntosh said Sunday’s tournament featured many closely contested matches, with participants achieving holds and takedowns that made him very proud of his own students’ achievements.
“It’s really good. A lot of the kids in my club have gotten medals. They’re winning lots of bronze, silver and gold. Everyone is doing great,” said MacIntosh.
“I couldn’t ask for a better tournament. We trained a lot for this – about three, four and five days a week.”