A Convoy man has won gold at the British National I.B.J.J.F. (International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation) Championships, held at the Crystal Palace sports arena in London last weekend.
TJ McMenamin, an architect from Convoy, secured gold in the Masters blue belt category, at the Heavyweight division, and also secured a Bronze medal later in the evening, in the open weight category.
He also took part in the British National I.B.J.J.F. Championships No-Gi competition, but unfortunately went out in the semi-final stage of the competition.
In all, TJ took one gold, and two bronze medals home to Donegal, from the prestigious London event. McMenamin is also a reigning European double I.B.J.J.F. No-Gi gold medalist, which he won earlier in April this year in Rome.
TJ proudly showing his county colours in London
TJ’s young sons have also recently this year secured Irish National titles in B.J.J. (Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu). He trains at the Rilion Gracie B.J.J. Academy in Letterkenny, the county’s only full time Martial Arts gym. The gym is run by Brian “Barney” Coyle, whom himself is a Euro & Worlds Masters medalist. The academy’s fighters regularly take part in National, European, and World championships all over the world.
Other competitors from the gym did brilliantly too. Bryan Gorman from Donegal Town secured a silver medal in the Masters brown belt category, at medium heavy weight. Declan Bushell also from Donegal Town, and Carrigart native Paddy McBride secured two bronze medals in their categories.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is now one of the most effective and fastest growing martial arts systems in the world, with Irish U.F.C. stars Conor McGregor and Joseph Duffy both holding brown belts in this particular discipline, which teaches athletes the essential skill set for all successful top U.F.C. M.M.A. fighters.
