Team Woo competed at the Good Fight Sub-Only World Championship

Two Team Woo, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu fighters, competed at the Good Fight Sub-Only World Championship

Local Brazilian Jiu Jitsu fighters, Ben Simon and Ed Tapia, competed at the Good Fight Sub-Only World Championship on December 14, 2019 at Elizabethtown College's Thompson Gym, Alpha Dr., Elizabethtown, PA 17022.

Teams or individuals that take 1st place at a qualifying tournaments are invited to compete at the Good Fight's Sub-Only World Championship for free. Ben Simon and Ed Tapia qualified for the Good Fight's World Championship at the 2019 Boston on June 22, 2019 at Danvers, MA.

Ben Simon qualified as a blue belt but was recently promoted to purple belt at Brazilian Top Team's New England Headquarters (BTT Boston) this past December 7th. The Good Fight's Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Tournaments are more intense than the average grappling tournament. There are less restrictions on submission techniques, there are no points and each match has unlimited overtime, when it comes to the duration of a match. Someone has to give up to determine a winner. Mr. Simone was competing against seasoned purple belts and still came home with a bronze medal. Ben earned his 3rd place title with a triangle choke using his legs. Ben Simon left the match with his white gi covered in his opponents blood. It looked like a cross choke attempt from Ben may have cut his opponent's face, plus his opponent's fingers were bleeding from aggressively gripping Ben's gi. Ben Simon, 40, took home 3rd place in the Purple Belt, Gi, (30+yrs), Welterweight (170 lbs) division.

Ed Tapia competed in the Blue Belt, Gi and No Gi, (40+ yrs), Light Heavyweight (205 lbs) divisions. In his first gi match Mr. Tapia's opponent, John Marks, took him down with a single leg takedown. Ed was able to get an overhook and sweep Mr. Marks when they his the mat. Ed Then went to mount and submitted John with an Ezekiel choke from mount. Ed Tapia's 2nd gi match was against Ian Jano. Ed Tapia ended up spraining his ankle on the takedown and ended up losing by armbar in the overtime. Luckily for Ed, his next opponent was injured and could not continue due to a groin pull, resulting in Ed Tapia taking 3rd place. Ian Jano would go on to be defeated by Chris Buchinski.

Mr. Tapia limped out to his car, taped up his foot and ankle. Ed would again meet Jon Marks in the semi-finals. Mr. Marks came out quick with a take down, once again Ed recovered quickly, ended up on top and submitted John Marks with a quick Kimura in 19 seconds. In the No Gi finals, Mr. Tapia went against Chris Buchinski, who previously won their Gi division. Mr. Tapia brought down Mr. Buchinski into a deep half-guard, then swept him into a knee bar, finishing the match in 39 seconds. Ed Tapia took 1st place in the Blue Belt, No Gi, (40+ yrs), Light Heavyweight (205 lbs) division. This is Ed's 3rd Gold medal in the No Gi Good Fight Sub-Only World Championship. Mr. Tapia has two Middleweight 1st place championships from the the two previous years.

Mr. Simon asked his teammate, Mr. Tapia, how were you able to finish so fast? “I was afraid that they'd hurt my ankle and take our 1st place medal.” - Ed Tapia

Woo Kickboxing Academy of Londonderry is an official Brazilian Top Team affiliate. Woo Kickboxing of Londonderry specialize in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Kickboxing and Teen's MMA. Woo Kickboxing of Londonderry's Brazilian Jiu Jitsu fighters, are locally known as “Team Woo” and are led by Brazilian Top Team, Black Belt, Professor Joe Kvetkosky.