Rob Biernacki

By Dan Marshall

Top Team cuts down opponents

Nanaimo Jiu Jitsu club dominates at weekend tournament

May 29, 2019 | 12:52 PM

NORTH VANCOUVER — Nearly 50 Brazilian Jiu Jitsu clubs participated in the inaugural Pacific Northwest Open over the weekend in the lower mainland.

Nanaimo’s Island Top Team was one of the top clubs in the overall standings.

ITT won the NoGi team trophy, with some of the highlights being assistant instructor Cal McDonald winning four gold medals in both Gi Brown Belt and NoGi advanced.

Kevin Wong took three golds in Absolute for Gi Blue Belt and in NoGi intermediate.

powers out

Over 30,000 homes across Nanaimo, Gabriola & Oceanside without power as wind storm hits

9h ago

move that snow

Snow removal for priority walking routes in Parksville under consideration

11h ago

expect delays

Some Nanaimo ferries cancelled ahead of wind storms arrival

13h ago

He also captured a silver medal in the Absolute.

In the Gi blue belt and NoGi intermediate division Monica Bonczak earned two golds while Chris Merrill and Noah Barth won gold in their NoGi intermediate and advanced divisions respectively.

Head instructor Rob Biernacki competed as well, securing gold in the Masters Advanced NoGi with a victory over a black belt opponent from Vancouver.

The Island Top Team kids program had a strong outing as well with seven medals.

Both Sienna Miller and Shone Merrill earned double gold for Gi and NoGi.

dan@nanaimonewsnow.com

On twitter: @danmarshall77