Manny Diaz dominated the brown belt!
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The first day of the All Star #2 Jiu-Jitsu Tournament went by without hicups.
The event hosted by Caludio França with IBJJF’s Alvaro Mansor as referee director followed the schedule to the letter, allowing the 380 competitors to get the most out of it.
First the kids took over the mats and displayed the usual intensity and devotion to the gentle art.
Children and teens from 4 to 15 years old put on a great show for nail-biting parents and anxious professors.
After all the thrills, the final teams kids results were as follows:
1st – Coalition 95 – 113 pts
2nd – Rice Brothers – 50 pts
3rd – Guerrilla – 46 pts
4th – Bay JJ – 46 pts
5th – Amazonas BJJ – 31 pts
Then it was time for the adults, beginning with the blue belts.
A lot of stories unfolded on the four mats set at the Civic Auditorium of Santa Cruz.
For instance, do you remember the Baywatch carachter Hobie Buchannon? He is now a Marcus Vinicius’blue belt in Beverly Hills.
In Santa Cruz, actor Jeremy Jackson conquered the middle-heavyweight master division and also ventured in the absolute, losing to a much heavier Jason Gustus.
The day ended with the definition of two absolute champions.
Luke Pollard became the blue belt open class male champion. He also won the ultra-heavy division. In the absolute, Pollard fought four times and submitted three opponents. The final was against Casey Rubinoff, defeated him with an armbar. Luke has train in Jiu-Jitsu for three and a half years at Kaijin BJJ.
Manuel “Manny” Diaz was the brown belt absolute champion. In the final match he choked Keith Fukumai from the mount. Diaz, who trained with Caio Terra for a year and a half and has trained for four years, tapped out two out of his three opponents in the open class. In his division, the ultraheavy, he also tapped his two opponents.
The action continues Sunday, when the black belts enter the stage.
As usual, follow GRACIEMAG’s up to the minute coverage at Google+.
Here are some of the best pictures of the day of action in Santa Cruz
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