News & Events

03/06/2010 - Us Grappling’s Ninth Submission
Only Tournament

Imagine someone forcing your body into a joint lock or a choke hold. Imagine the pressure against your muscles straight down into your bones. How long do you think you could resist and how long could your energy bolster you until submission? Three minutes, maybe thirty seconds? Let’s try three hours.

On March 6, 2010, over 300 grapplers gathered in Ashland, VA to test their skills at US Grappling’s ninth Submission Only tournament. It had only been a month since the academy was notified of the event and five confident fighters walked into Patrick Henry High School, ready to roll. Apart from their individual obligations and training schedules, the groupincluded tournament training into their regular routine. Sparring, conditioning, and drilling were enforced three times a week by Coaches Nestor Bayot and James Gamble. Each student also continued to persevere with the academy’s jiu-jitsu program throughout the month. Although the team typically trains six weeks six weeks out per tournament, the rigorous regimen earned LINXX a placement in each team competitor’s division.

Driven and dedicated, Caleb Lynch proudly placed 1st in his White Belt Gi division. Lynch was matched up against older opponents throughout the entire tournament and eagerly scaled to the top of the ranks while Christian Diaz reinforced Team LINXX’s presence in Ashland, VA. The LINXX contender successfully secured the top position in his weight class after three matches. Christian earned his blue belt in Jiu Jitsu in August 2007 and has been with LINXX Academy since April 2009. Diaz continues to improve his techniques off and on the mat.

Khristopher Gonzalez weighed in at 170 lbs and endured competition with 230 lb opponent, Firas Barzinji – de la Riva of Synergy MMA, for 65 minutes before placing 2nd in the Absolute purple belt Men’s Gi division. Submission only tournaments have been famed for fighters with the capability to endure such matches. The longest fight ever recorded in history is credited to Helio Gracie, the celebrated innovator of jiu-jitsu, for three hours and 45 minutes nonstop.

As the brackets closed down and each fight finalized, Coach James Gamble rallied his team for the drive back home. They pensively reviewed the past afternoon and satisfied with their performance, the day passed. It had been an accelerated month full of hard work and excitement but each man knew, no matter what the result, this was just another stepping stone to being the best they can be.