Island Top Team athletes brought home seven medals from the Grappling Industries Vancouver Brazilian jiu-jitsu tournament on July 5. (Rob Biernacki)

By Dan Marshall

Golden Performance

Four gold medals for Nanaimo athletes at Brazilian jiu-jitsu event

Jul 9, 2025 | 9:48 AM

NANAIMO — Island Top Team had a gold medal winning weekend at the Grappling Industries Brazilian jiu-jitsu tournament at BCIT in Burnaby.

The Nanaimo based martial arts school had four first place finishers at the Saturday, July 5 event.

Assistant instructor Cory Burton earned gold in the masters brown belt gi absolute division, with head instructor Rob Biernacki saying the feat was even more impressive with Burton dealing with a bout of food poisoning.

“Any time coaches compete, it shows a level of leadership I believe is important. But more so after the last few weeks Cory has had, with sickness and hospital visits in his family, he showed up anyway. Showing up would have been enough to make me proud, but showing up and winning takes it to another level.”

In the adult purple belt gi 185 pound division, Anthony McPhail took the gold with two submission wins.

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He also won silver in the adult no gi absolute category.

In the masters beginner no gi 200 pound class, Dave Gilmour had a first place finish while Stefan Gerwin finished third in his adult intermediate no gi 170 pound division.

Only one Island Top Team athlete competed in the kids division, with Ronin Hawley winning gold in his gi and no gi events.

Biernacki was extremely pleased with the team’s overall performance.

“Of note is that all but three of our wins came via submission including three wins via woj lock, a newly developed type of ankle lock I’ve introduced to our team’s repertoire this year.”

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