Mann proud after claiming his second successive jiu-jitsu gold in Abu Dhabi
Ronald Mann needed just 23 seconds to win gold at the Abu Dhabi Jiu-Jitsu Festival 12 months ago.
Fast forward to yesterday and the American was taken the full five-minute distance by Wataru Horie of Japan but managed to claim his second gold in the para jiu-jitsu category 8 for amputees at the Mubadala Arena in Zayed Sports City yesterday.
“He’s a very strong fighter,” said Mann of his Japanese opponent.
“I thought I had his guard passed twice but he was able to manoeuvre. It was an amazing fight. Last year the fighters were hand-picked but now I see new faces. I think we now have people coming down on their own.
“I had three other Americans travelling with me and it shows how much this competition has expanded.”
Mann,46, lost his left leg in a motorcycle accident in 1995 and began practicing jiu-jitsu two years later.
“I was the only American invited last year for the Abu Dhabi Festival, and it was a good way to establish an American presence by winning the final in 23 seconds,” said the former US Army combat medic.
Mann takes part in competitions every month back in the United States and has been successful in the Masters blue belt division.
In January, he took a gold and bronze in Michigan.
Mann arrived in Abu Dhabi two weeks after claiming silver in an East Coast tournament.
“My goal is to expand jiu-jitsu for everybody,” Mann said. “To be fair, I want categories made for people like us.”
Mann is a member of the USA para jiu-jitsu team and represented the country in the Grand Slam Los Angeles.
“We had a four nations competition with 10 fighters each, and we won eight medals including with some of the able-bodied fighters,” he said.
In othe results, Rafael Rodrigues, paralysed below the waist after the roof of a building collapsed on him 21 years ago, celebrated his 39th birthday with a gold in the para jiu-jitsu 17 category.
The Brazilian got the better of Ramiro Cardoza 2-0 to replicate his win over the Argentinian 12 months ago.