ICSO deputies place at World Police and Fire Games
Three Imperial County Sheriff’s Office employees are among several local public safety personnel who recently competed in the 2017 World Police & Fire Games (WPFG) in Los Angeles.
Although Deputy Giovanni Castellon said that he and his colleagues were hoping for better results in the Brazilian jiu-jitsu events they had entered, he said he is also hopeful that more local public safety personnel will join in upcoming competitions.
“I know there’s a lot of talent out here in Imperial County,” Castellon said. “I’m sure there are a lot of people who can compete and win.”
For his part, Castellon was able to bring home a silver medal in submission grappling in his weight class, while Senior Deputy Marco Contreras earned a bronze in his respective weight class.
This year marked the first time that any of the three had entered into the biennial competition, yet they are already making plans to compete in the United States Police & Fire Championships in San Diego next year.
“The three of us said we’re going to go and take gold next time,” Castellon said.
Some confusion during the WPFG registration process also resulted in Castellon, Contreras and ICSO Correctional Officer Christopher Nuñez competing at an advanced level, presenting an even greater challenge for the first-time competitors.
“We didn’t know if we were going up against a black belt or a brown belt,” said Castellon, who himself is ranked as a purple belt, while his two colleagues are currently ranked as blue belts.
Following their respective matches, the three gathered to critique one another’s performance and strategies, helping point out mistakes that may have cost them a win and should be avoided in the future.
This year’s WPFG reportedly attracted more than 8,000 athletes, all active or retired law enforcement officers or firefighters from over 70 countries to compete in over 65 different sports and disciplines, according to the California Police Athletic Federation, which sponsors the event.
Personnel from the El Centro Fire and Police departments had also competed in this year’s games, held from Aug. 7 to Aug. 16 in Los Angeles, and which included archery, motocross, judo, rowing, ultimate firefighter and table tennis, to name just a few.
Castellon said his interest in Brazilian jiu-jitsu dates back about eight years, when he took note of a former co-worker of his at a now-closed Brawley auto shop carrying a kimono.
Not knowing what the uniform was for, Castellon asked about it, and was told it was for jiu-jitsu training, which Castellon also readily admitted not knowing anything about, to his former co-worker’s dismay.
That encounter resulted in Castellon accompanying his former co-worker to the Morales Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy in El Centro, where Castellon got his “butt whooped” and sent home with aches in his neck, back and legs.
The so-called butt whooping also compelled the former Brawley High football player to immediately sign up for additional training.
“I loved it and wanted to keep doing it,” said Castellon. “I have no idea why, but I just stuck with it.”
Brazilian jiu-jitsu is characterized as a defensive martial art that promotes taking a fight to the ground, where the practitioner can then use a series of chokeholds and joint-locks to subdue their opponent.
It also allows a smaller person to defend against and defeat a larger person, something that Castellon said he has had the opportunity to experience himself.
“I think I’ve tapped out more that I’ve made people tap,” Castellon said. “It’s just part of learning.”
Castellon’s jiu-jitsu training also allows him to remain physically fit, something which he said he considers essential for his line of work. Aside from the hour or so of weight lifting or calisthenics that precedes his work days, Castellon also puts in about two hours at the jiu-jitsu dojo after finishing his shift.
In light of the long work days that are common among public safety personnel, Castellon said that the caliber of talent on display during various events at the WPFG was all the more impressive. He also said that he and his colleagues were proud to represent ICSO as well as the Imperial County Deputy Sheriff’s Association.
The Bakersfield native has been living in the Valley since his eighth-grade school year, and has come to think of it more as his home. This affinity for the Valley also prompted Castellon to choose a law enforcement career with a local agency.
“I wanted to do something positive and this was one of the positive things I could do,” Castellon said.
Now in his sixth year with the agency, Castellon has worked for the past two years as a school resource officer in Salton City, where he also acts an advisor for the ICSO’s Explorer program.
“Some people don’t really want to see a cop at school, and some people are really happy to see me,” he said.