Island Top Team head instructor Rob Biernacki was one of two gold medalists for the Nanaimo based Brazilian jiu-jitsu academy at the 2023 World No Gi Championship. (Rob Biernacki)

By Dan Marshall

Golden Performance

Biernacki takes gold at 2023 World No Gi Brazilian jiu-jitsu championship

Dec 13, 2023 | 12:31 PM

NANAIMO — The head instructor from the Island Top Team Brazilian jiu-jitsu academy had his golden moment at the 2023 World No Gi Championship in Las Vegas.

Rob Biernacki won the black belt masters four middleweight division after competing in four matches in early December.

In his first match Biernacki’s opponent was the one time coach of MMA fighter Tito Ortiz. His winning points were scored via an ankle lock.

The quarterfinal matchup was against the defending champion in the division.

Biernacki used the lateral kneebar to force his opponent to tap out, which set up a semifinal matchup with the number one seed.

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After going down early in the match, Biernacki landed his signature ‘Keenan Sweep’ to earn the winning two points with 30 seconds left in the match.

In the final, Biernacki was the underdog heading into the final as the sixth seed taking on the number two seed.

He gave up only one advantage while scoring several points along the way including two sweeps to gain a definitive points victory.

The journey to the gold medal has been several years in the making for Biernacki.

He took home three bronze medals in four previous appearances at the World Championship.

It was also a gold medal performance for Top Team’s Jamus O’Brien at No Gi World Championship as well.

In the blue belt masters three lightweight division O’Brien won the gold medal.

Along the way he defeated the defending champion and ended up with no points scored against him in the tournament.

Island Top Team came back from the event with two gold medals, one silver and one bronze.

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