Fall Season Highlights

Carved by Michael Snook

It has been a busy couple of months for Impact Jiu Jitsu and our competitors. The following is a chronological recap of some of the highlights.

September 18: Cross Train

Newberg hosted a very successful cross train with more than 40 grapplers in attendance. In addition to Impact members from Newberg and Beaverton, roughly 10 people from Dog Pound MMA in Willamina attended. Coaches Matt Leech and John Goforth have been traveling to Willamina every week to help them grow their ground game. We are very appreciative that they came out to train.

September 25: Black Belt Training Camp

The following week we held our first Impact Jiu Jitsu Black Belt Training Camp to help prepare for upcoming tournaments. Over 45 grapplers from around the Northwest came to the Beaverton gym, where the camp took place. Coach Michael warmed the group up, followed by coaches Armand Debruge, Cameron Apple, and Keisuke Andrew. Each coach taught some very useful techniques, each linking their session to the next. There was plenty of time to drill and much feedback provided to participants on the techniques. This was the first in a series. Stay tuned for more information on future Black Belt Training Camps.

October 9: Oregon Open

The Oregon Open tournament was held at Liberty High School in Hillsboro, OR. This year marked the biggest Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and No-Gi Grappling tournament the Northwest has seen to date. In all, 590 competitors and 75 teams were on the mat. Impact Jiu Jitsu brought 85 athletes to the competition. It was a day of awesome grappling, and Impact once again took home the team trophy. Full details can be found at subleague.com . A big "Thank You!" goes out to all the volunteers, staff, and helpers of the Oregon Open-without them the tournament would not be possible.

October 15-17: US Open

The week following the Oregon Open, Impact had five competitors travel to Santa Cruz, CA, to compete in the US Open. All of our competitors came back with medals.

Kevin Turner, who has also been training with James Puopolo in Salem, received a bronze medal in the super heavy white belt division.

In his weighted division, coach Rich Maye had had a fantastic semi-final match against a game opponent. After an awesome display of technique, Rich won the match 13-0. Rich came home with a silver medal.

Coach Armand's semi-final match was against Luiz Carlos Chagas de Souza. Armand's opponent was unable to score any points. The match ended 0-0, with the referee deciding for de Souza. Armand came home with a silver medal. After the match, Armand's opponent sought out a translator; he was so impressed with Armand's game, he asked to be photographed together.

Coach Michael's semi-final match was against Brian Johnson, head coach of Northwest Jiu Jitsu Academy in Seattle. Both competitors went after it, displaying some of the most mobile grappling of the day. In the end, Michael won 3-0. Michael came home with a silver medal.

Coach Bryan Marugg won five matches to claim the gold medal in the adult light weight blue belt division. Bryan executed each match with the experience of a veteran. He left nothing to question, winning his final match with an X-choke from mount. This was his final competition as a blue belt (see Belt Promotions).

There were many other Northwest teams at the tournament who brought home medals, including Alive MMA, Mata-Leao, and Northwest Martial Arts. Congratulations to all the competitors.

There have been some big changes at the Impact Jiu Jitsu and Impact Performance Training (IPT) gym in Newberg. If you did not make it out to the gym exchange in September, you are definitely missing out.

New Space

There is no longer a need to walk outside and around the corner to get from one gym to the other. Both gyms are now once again combined into one very large space. The remodel is almost complete. Some of the major changes include new Jiu Jitsu mats from Swain, more gym space to use the full length of the astro turf, new custom made sleds by IPT member Lukas Shuler, more TRX Suspension Trainers, new weight vest and sand bells from Hyper Wear, an 8-foot mural painted by IPT member Lorie Wolff, and much more. Come check it out.

Kids Take To the Mat

Impact Jiu Jitsu in Newberg is now offering youth classes on Mondays and Thursdays. Newberg is following many of the concepts that have made the Beaverton gym's youth program so successful. Bryan Marugg is the head coach of the youth classes, with Don Chambers assisting him. If you or someone you know has children who are interested in starting Jiu Jitsu, bring them on in. The classes are quickly growing.

More Circuit Training

Impact Performance Training in Newberg has also added two additional metabolic circuit classes on Monday and Thursday to accommodate the growing numbers. Members can now come in at 5:30 p.m. or 6:30 p.m. on Monday or Thursday for the circuit classes. The new schedule is currently in place.

October 18th was a very special day for Impact Jiu Jitsu. We had four new belt promotions and many new stripe promotions in Newberg (see top photo). Chuck Wujcik, Anthony Renaldo, and Jeremy Boulanger were all promoted to blue belt. Coach Bryan Marugg was promoted to purple belt.

Chuck Wujcik and Jeremy Boulanger have been training in the Newberg gym for some time now. A few months ago they both separately asked the coaching staff what they needed to work on to step up their game. The coaching staff recommended a couple things for each of them to work on and they did just that. Their games have both increased greatly in the months since.

Anthony Renaldo has been training on and off for quite a few years with the Newberg crew and with coach Keisuke Andrew. He has recently been training a lot more, specifically in a gi. His game has definitely reflected the extra amount of time he has invested into it.

Coach Bryan Marugg has been tearing apart his competition lately, both locally and nationally. This year at Pan Ams he placed second in his division.

He made it to the quarter finals of the World's Championship, losing by a referee's decision. He recently won both the Oregon Open and the US Open in the adult lightweight blue belt division. Bryan is always willing to learn new things and to teach other students. His new belt promotion is definitely well earned.