Local Jiu Jitsu Fighters Win at the Sub-Only World Championship

Brittney O`Brien, Ed Tapia, Alyssa Marini and Amber Famish train Brazilian Jiu Jitsu at Londonderry’s Woo Kickboxing Academy. They competed at the Good Fight’s Sub-Only World Championship held at Elizabethtown College (Thompson Gym), 1 Alpha Dr. Elizabethtown, PA on December 15th.

Brittney O`Brien is a Brazilian Top Team purple belt. It has been 3 years since she last competed and found that her division was empty. There was no one in her weight class or experience level. There was a Brown/Black belt divisions in Gi and NoGi, plus there was a woman weighing in at 205 lbs. that did not have a match. Ms. O’Brien went up in experience level and she also accepted a super fight against the 205 lbs. opponent in one of most dangerous tournaments out there. Brittney came in 3rd in the Gi and 3rd also in the NoGi Brown/Black belt divisions. She was able to take down and choke the 205 pound woman in the NoGi, light heavy weight division. Many know the local Londonderry resident, Brittney O`Brien as a petite young lady standing at about 5 feet — well now you can also know that her heart and bravery go far beyond her stature.

This was Ed Tapia’s second year competing at the The Good Fight’s Sub-Only World Championship. Last year Tapia took home 3rd in the Gi and 1st in NoGi, Middle Weight Blue Belt Master’s division. This year he earned 2nd in the Gi and successfully defended his 1st place middle weight championship in his NoGi division. “The Good Fight holds the most challenging tournaments! Everyone is coming to kill or be killed, tap or be tapped!!! Much respect to all our brave opponents. Many people left without medals, some left injured and many did not continue for whatever reason. Our team held strong, shoulder to shoulder for the entire tournament. Win or lose we always continue.”-Ed Tapia

Alyssa Marini, an MMA cage fighter and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu practitioner, has had a very exciting 2018. Alyssa took 3rd in her Gi division and 1st in her NoGi division. Earlier this year Marini had her 2nd win as an MMA Cage Fighter by guillotine choke 1 minute 52 seconds in the first round on November 18th, and and also won a kickboxing match, September 21st, which was also in a cage.

Amber Famisan took 1st place in the Gi and 2nd in NoGi. She was able to deliver chokes and take downs that she practiced leading up to the competition. When congratulated, Amber responded, “Thanks guys, it took a lot of hard work to get here and I’m not planning on stopping! These guys are beasts and I love being part of the team with them!”

One thing Team Woo, the Londonderry Affiliate of Brazilian Top Team, did not expect was to be up with a team trophy. Justin High, a Brazilian Top Team member from another state met with Ed and let him know that his points would be added to theirs. Brazilian Top Team had 5 competitors going back and forth for 3rd place against a team of 15. At the end of the Gi portion of the event Brazilian Top Team and Team 3rd Generation BJJ were tied for 3rd place. Ultimately by the end of the event Brazilian Top Team had over taken 3rd Generation BJJ by 9 points. One of Brazilian Top Team’s last matches was Ed Tapia against Bradly Bruce, one of 3rd Generation BJJ’s team members. Mr. Bruce had defeated Ed Tapia in the Gi bumping him to 2nd place earlier in competition. Mr. Tapia took Mr. Bradly into overtime and defeated him with a triangle choke. Then Tapia went on to defeat his next opponent in the Nogi division giving them enough points to take 3rd as a team. “We were going back and forth with a team of 15 for 3rd place but in the end it took 5 BTT teammates to take the 3rd place team trophy. Brittney O'Brien, Alyssa Marini, Justin High, Amber Famisan and Ed Tapia. A big thank you to Big Justin High.”-Ed Tapia

Alyssa Marini summed it up by saying, “This weekend was amazing! Went to PA with these warriors to compete in The Good Fight World tournament. We killed it! Yeah we get to bring home some hardware, but let's be real it was the experience that was the best part. Seeing a teammate compete in higher divisions than intended and walking on that mat with nothing but a "let's do this" attitude. Seeing another go in with all the nerves in the world and owning her first 2 fights to take home gold and then hit a technique she's been working so hard to get. To seeing my other teammate dig deep to win his last 2 fights when realizing those wins would secure points and a team award. The family that I have found in this sport and in martial arts is something in my years of team sports I have never experienced. This is an individual sport but we are more of team than anyone could ever imagine! Osss!”