Mariza Nasu proved she can hang with the boys on the mat.
Nasu took home a bronze medal in the six-year-old open division at the Canadian Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) Federation鈥檚 second annual BC provincial BJJ Championships at the UBC War Memorial Gym on Saturday, Dec. 6.
It was the first tournament for the youngster, who matched the bronze medal her brother Evan Nasu captured on Nov. 23. She trains at Gracie Barra 麻豆社国产and was one of only four female competitors in her division. She was the lone competitor from the Sea to Sky Corridor.
Mike Nasu, her father and assistant coach for Gracie Barra Squamish, said it was a great competitive debut for his daughter.
鈥淚 am extremely proud that Mariza stepped up to compete,鈥� he said. 鈥淪he fought three other boys and was not intimidated, and imposed her game on them.鈥�
He said she was inspired to compete after the recent success of her brother and teammates last month. Her win was the seventh medal Gracie Barra 麻豆社国产athletes have won in the past two weeks. She started BJJ training locally back in September 2013.
鈥淚 wanted to know how it felt to compete,鈥� she said, when asked why she chose to participate.
She will next compete alongside her brother and Gracie Barra 麻豆社国产teammates at the next youth tournament in February.
For more information on the club, visit www.gbsquamish.com.
