Competitors meet on the mats

Brazilian jiu-jitsu artists from across Maritimes practise their craft at third annual competition

TRURO, N.S. — It was a blur of white-knuckle grips, leg grabs and films of sweat for Scott Nauss.

The Truro native is a 10-year veteran of Brazilian jiu-jitsu, who hit the mat with his friend and longtime competitor Greg Fillmore at home, as part of the Rogue Grappling Three – Out Cold Tournament Saturday.

“My fight went well,” said Nauss, who wrestles for both Marmac Athletics and the Halifax Titans.“greg is a bigger, stronger, younger opponent, but I was able to use my technique and get a dominant position and I ended up winning on points.”

Nauss entered the Out Cold tournament having previously won his division, as well as placing third at the Canada National Pro Jiu-jitsu Championship in Montreal.

His opponent, Fillmore, who trains in Halifax, said he knew Nauss would be a tough opponent, having both practised with and fought with him for the past decade.

“I prefer to fight strangers,” said Fillmore. “It makes it hard to fight when you know they’re a good guy.”

Nauss credited his love of Brazilian jiu-jitsu to his old instructor Jake Mackenzie, who helped lead Marmac Athletics to victory in December 2009, capturing the overall team title at the Nova Scotia Open Brazilian Jiu-jitsu Championship.

“Truro’s got a rich jiu-jitsu history and I like to think that I’m carrying on the tradition, with Jake as my catalyst,” said Nauss.

Helping Nauss and Fillmore carry on the tradition at Out Cold this year is a crop of younger local athletes from Marmac Athletics, such as Jessica Woodworth, who won her match against opponent Jennifer Macmillan.

Off the mat, Woodworth is a corrections officer and previously took up kickboxing, then gave Brazilian jiu-jitsu a try starting about two years ago. She has practiced the sport on and off, since. Still a white belt, Woodworth’s confidence and skill are increasing, as seen in her fight against Macmillan.

“I feel better now – it used to be nerve-racking at first,” said Woodworth of her prowess. “I’d like to be more aggressive on my feet.”

For results go to: https://smoothcomp.com/en/event/1283/results

FRAM DINSHAW/ TRURO NEWS Marmac Athletics member Richard Somers (in black) grapples with opponent Maher Ellaz from the Halifax Brazilian Jiu-jitsu Society on Jan. 19 in Truro.

FRAM DINSHAW/ TRURO NEWS Jessica Woodworth, a white belt jiu-jitsu fighter with Marmac Athletics, won her fight against Jennifer Macmillan in Truro on Jan. 19.