OpenMat Athletes To Compete In Las Vegas
[Written by Stephen Wright]
Nine competitors from OpenMat Bermuda will be vying for glory at the World IBJJF Jui-Jitsu No-Gi Championship in Las Vegas this week.
Representing OpenMat Bermuda – the island’s first Brazilian Jui-Jitsu academy – are Reina Maypa, Sydney Mason, Greg Maybury, James Adams, Thomas Gregory, Lonnie Bascome, Jason McAlpine, Aaron Dyer and Chris Regan.
Dyer, the founder of OpenMat, believes all nine athletes who headed to Vegas yesterday are capable of podium finishes in their respective divisions.
“I believe Jason, Lonnie and Chris all have a great chance of winning medals,” Dyer told Bernews. “Hopefully, we all can!
“We’re a small club compared to some of the teams we face. I think that’s a positive and benefits us. We’re a close-knit and a strong little group.”
Dyer, a black belt in jiu-jitsu, said top international tournaments such as the World IBJJF Jui-Jitsu No-Gi Championship offer the OpenMat contingent the perfect opportunity to test themselves against overseas opposition.
“These tournaments show where we are in the world and give us a shark in the tank,” he added. “It’s important to have goals to give us something to chase.”
The championship runs from tomorrow to Saturday.
OpenMat Team
- Reina Maypa [blue belt] women’s adult lightweight division
- Sydney Mason [blue belt] women’s adult middleweight division
- Greg Maybury [blue belt] men’s masters lightweight division
- James Adams [blue belt] men’s masters ultra-heavyweight division
- Thomas Gregory [purple belt] men’s masters super-heavyweight division
- Lonnie Bascome [brown belt] men’s masters lightweight division
- Jason McAlpine [brown belt] men’s masters middleweight division
- Christopher Regan [black belt] men’s ultra-heavyweight division
- Aaron Dyer [black belt] men’s heavyweight division
