St. Maarten’s SXM BJJ (Brazilian Jiu Jitsu) team had a powerful showing at the Fourth Annual St. Barths BJJ Open tournament on Saturday, January 19. A total of 29 athletes from St. Maarten, age 6-40, travelled to St. Barths to compete for St. Maarten’s SXM BJJ/Team Renzo Gracie.
SXM BJJ’s youngest competitors included 6-year-old Selah Romney and Mason Bardfield, Justice Lawrence, Brandon Bertrand, Megan Whyte, Eldrick Phebe, Moises Martina, Lucas Bardfield, Leandro Zabala, Caiyden Marlin, Miles Cheasley, Keziah Hoeve, Seybian Ortega, Helen Valencia, Lukas Hassel, Ajae DayDay, Jayden Bertrand, Gabriel Sequaris, Jayden Brooks, Sacha Leal, Renard Brison and Shaquannie Vanterpool.
Notable kids’ matches included St Barth’s Standout 9-year-old Keziah Delanney. who remained undefeated with points victories over SXM BJJ’s Miles Cheasley and Keziah Hoeve.
New white belt Helen Valencia from SXM BJJ lost a close match on points to an experienced orange belt Manon Aubin and impressed her teammates with her tenacity.
A brave 15-year-old Shaquannie Vanterpool of SXM BJJ also stepped up to a match with 29-year-old blue belt Benjamin Di Francisco of St. Barths, suffering a defeat, but impressing the crowd with his courage and maturity.
This year, the St. Barths Jiu Jitsu school hosted a training session where the competitors from both schools trained and sparred together on the morning after the competition. A combined group of 14 of the St Maarten’s athletes and coaches stayed overnight in the Centre d’Hebergement de St. Jean and participated in the second day of training.
There are many large Jiu jitsu tournaments, particularly in the United States, Europe and Brazil, however it is not feasible for most athletes to participate, due to costs and time constraints. The Jiu Jitsu competitions held between the St. Maarten and St. Barths schools give the students of both islands access to strong competition without high costs of travel and hotels.
Local ferry provider The Great Bay Express Ferry partially sponsored the group of athletes, coaches and family members who joined the team to lend support. SXM BJJ Head Professor Melissa Bardfield is very thankful to The Great Bay Express Ferry and all the parents and guardians who assisted in making the successful trip for the fourth year in a row and to the adults and coaches who continue to lead by example. “There is no losing in Jiu Jitsu, you either win or you learn.”
