Big wins at state for Ouachita Combat and Fitness athletes

By Ethan Nahté

Ouachita Combat and Fitness Academy competed at the Arkansas Grappling Federation (AGF) 2023 Arkansas State BJJ Championships, which is a state championship for Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ). The competition was held at the Conway Expo and Events Center June 24-25. The state organization is part of the American Grappling Federation.

No-gi vs. gi

The competition is not only divided by age group, weight and experience divisions, but also by whether the competitors wear a gi or not.

A gi is the attire worn by jiu jitsu athletes. Similar gis are worn in other forms of martial arts such as karate, judo or the dobok worn in tae kwondo. The outfit is comprised of long pants and a long-sleeved top that is open down the front but crossed across the front of the body and secured with a colored belt to indicate your rank in the sport. During a match, the opponents will grip each other’s Gi to gain leverage or control over the other person.

In No-gi opponents are not wearing a gi. In this style, neither opponent is allowed to use the fabric on the opponent for any kind of control or submission.

Coach Rondo Rawlings said, “The gi is the old-school original Brazilian jiu

(Back row, l-r) Ethan Rawlings, coach Rondo Rawlings, coach Todd Ham, instructor/owner Robert Hamilton, coach Nicholas Balestra, coach Zachary Espinola, Aspen Rawlings (Front row, l-r) Jacob Ham, Elijah Ham, Daren Robinson, Isaiah Robinson, Zayden Hamilton (Not pictured) Eric Aldridge and Jayden Aldridge (Submitted photo) jitsu. The no-gi is a newer thing. The main thing with grappling is you have more grips and submissions with the gi. There are people who do one or the other, and some who do both. We do both.”

Local classes

The Academy offers self-defense classes for BJJ, Muay Thai kickboxing, Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), and boxing for adults and kids, with an of 50 students between all three of the classes.

Rawlings said, “We’re a non-profit. We’ re not actually here to make money. We’re here to teach self-defense for those who need it.”

The Academy is located at 201 Maple Ave. Call Robert Hamilton 479-2163828 for more information.

Medals

The results of last weekend’s championship for both the team and individual members are as follows:

Team medals

• Silver medal/ plate for adult gi

• Silver medal/plate for adult no-gi

• Silver/medal plate for kids gi

• Bronze medal/plate for no-gi

Individual medals

• Ethan Rawlings – 1 silver

• Coach Rondo Rawlings1 Gold, 1 silver,1 bronze

• Coach Todd Ham - 2 silvers

• Coach Nicholas Balestra - 3 gold

• Coach Zachary Espinola - 2 gold

• Aspen Rawlings – 1 silver, 1 bronze

• Jacob Ham – 1 silver

• Elijah Ham – 1 bronze

• Daren Robinson – 1 bronze, 1 silver

• Isaiah Robinson - 2 silvers

• Zayden Hamilton 1 - bronze

• Eric Aldridge - 2 silvers

• Jayden Aldridge - 2 silvers

Parker wins Brinkley Invitational championship belt

By Ethan Nahté

Jasmine Parker, 14, of Mena, Arkansas, fought her way to another championship belt Saturday, June 24, in Brinkley, Arkansas, at the Brinkley Invitational. The event was held at the Brinkley Elementary School Gym.

She stepped up to the 110-pound, 14–16-year-old female division in the USA Boxing sanctioned event.

Defenders Boxing Coach Richard Hexamer said, “Jasmine fought Kylan Ward, who is a very good boxer from [Sherwood] Arkansas from Major Moves Boxing & Fitness. Jasmine dominated her opponent with her nonstop aggression, earning herself her sixth championship belt.”

Parker’s record is now 10-4 with six straight wins. She is currently ranked No. 1 in both regional and state. She is ranked sixth in the nation for 110-pound, 13-14 intermediate female division.

Parker’s family may need a dedicated room just to house her growing collec- tion of medals and belts, which include:

• Junior Golden Gloves Champion

• State and Regional Silver Gloves Champion

• State and Regional Junior Olympic Champion

• Overall Arkansas State Female Champion

• 2-time Mountain Mayhem Champion

• Hot Springs invitational Champion

• Sims Boxing Academy All-Female Show 106-pound Champion (2022)

Perhaps we’ll see Parker boxing in the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

Gym Masters Basketball Courts recently resurfaced the floor at Jim Rackley Gymnasium on the campus of Mena Middle School. The Mena School’s would like to thank Freedom Pharmacy and the Polk County Farm Bureau for their financial support to help us make those improvements. (Photo courtesy of Mena Public Schools)