Jules Xavier

Shilo Stag

An enthusiastic audience was exposed to four Shilo Brazilian Jui Jitsu (BJJ) grapplers during Brandon Bouts.

The inaugural “submission only grappling” competition April 1 — “we’re not foolin'” — was held on the main stage of the Western Manitoba Centennial Auditorium. Usually home to musicals like Mama Mia or musicians like the Stampeders, the only music being played on this night was the intro songs of each competitor during 18 matches.

The four soldiers — 1RCHA CO LCol Joe O’Donnell and A Bty BSM MWO Matt Flynn, plus two from 2PPCLI A Coy rifleman Cpl Kevin Camara and Cbt Sp Coy crew commander MCpl Aidan St. Laurent — were up against some of Manitoba’s most-skilled Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Black belts from 14 different gyms.

LCol O’Donnell was up first in the nine bout under card, facing Steven Jones of WAMMA Brandon’s club. This heavyweight bout was allocated six minutes, with both grapplers spending the first four minutes counteracting each move to find leverage or an advantage. It was LCol O’Donnell who had the first significant submission attempt, as Jones moved to a seated guard position down to the mat. As time was winding down, victory was assured for the Shilo BJJ competitor.

“I locked my opponent in a shin pin and got the submission via Americana … an arm lock,” said LCol O’Donnell.

One of the most exciting matches on the night, with an attentive audience observing more than three hours of entertaining bouts, was a back-and-forth bout for eight minutes featuring WAMMA Brandon’s Nia Aitken versus Ashley Reimer of LEVEL MMA. In the dying seconds it was Reimer who won by submission. The audience let the two grapplers in the 170-pound weight category know they were impressed by the contest, with a loud, long round of applause. This was later voted fight of the night.

Following a quintet challenge featuring 10 grapplers, it was team Leading Edge MMA from Thunder Bay prevailing over WAMMA Brandon.

MWO Flynn was the first of the Shilo BJJ members to take part in the main card featuring nine bouts. He faced Aloysuis Coffey from Leading Edge MMA, with the two grapplers needing overtime after eight minutes of grappling to decide a winner. Unfortunately, Coffey came out on top during the two-minute session by escaping back control sooner than MWO Flynn.

MCpl St. Laurent had an eight-minute bout with Dave’s Gym opponent Allan McDonald, with this twosome also needing overtime to settle the score following eight tough minutes, where both grapplers had their chances. MCpl St. Laurent submitted his opponent at 30 seconds into OT, via a rear naked choke.

Cpl Camara spent the majority of his match in control facing a tough Alan Devries of DSI Jiu Jitsu, but ultimately succumbed to the more experienced Black belt via an “arm in guillotine” submission hold. It happened at 8:13 into their 10-minute bout. Watching from the orchestra pit, LCol O’Donnell acknowledged Cpl Camara had a solid BJJ game from the problems he was giving the very impressive three-stripe black belt.

Shilo BJJ, awaiting approval to be a new club on Base once CFB Shilo BComd LCol Chris Wood signs off on paperwork following an AGM last month at the GSH, is always looking for new members.

“There have been 42 who have come through the doors,” said LCol O’Donnell on club membership. “[We have] 23 active members.”

Until there’s a club designation, Shilo BJJ members have been currently training out of 2PPCLI and 1RCHA gyms. He would like to move to the GSH in the future, and is thinking about hosting a similar event as he took part in hosted by WAMMA Brandon. He’d like to hold it at L25 sometime in November.

Until then, he’s looking to build the club’s membership, including civilians and youth. Membership is not expensive, with annual rates of $15 for associate members, $10 for ordinary members and $5 for regular members.

Regular Members: A – Members of the Regular Force and their families; B – Veterans and their families; C – Members of the Reserve Force (Class A/B and C) and their families; and D – Members of Foreign Military currently serving/training with the CAF in Canada

Ordinary Members: E – current full-time and part-time employees if DND, DRDC, DCC, CSE, the staff of the Non Public Funds (NPF) and their families and the MFRCs; F – current RCMP and Canadian Coast Guard and their families; G – Honorary Colonels/ Captain (Navy) and Honorary Lieutenant-Colonels/Commanders and their families; and H – former members of (e), (f) in receipt of a pension.

Associate Members: I – All others that choose to join.

If you’d like more information on Shilo BJJ, e-mail LCol O’Donnell at shilobjj@gmail.com

CUTLINE: One of the most exciting matches on the night, with an attentive audience observing more than three hours of entertaining bouts, was a back-and-forth bout for eight minutes featuring WAMMA Brandon’s Nia Aitken versus Ashley Reimer of LEVEL MMA. Reimer eventually won in the 170-pound category. One of the more interesting submissions saw the grapplers upright, not on the mat. The winner actually was head down, defeating his standing opponent. In grappling sequence you are seeing Aidan, Joe, Kevin and Matt doing battle with their Brazilian Jui Jitsu skills during the April 1 event held in Brandon. Photos Jules Xavier/Shilo Stag