Sport
5 September, 2022
Strong results at national jiu jitsu championships
Team Lazaros were able to enjoy a successful campaign at the Australian Jiu Jitsu National Championships recently, taking home seven medals, including a gold from Chris Fogwill. Fogwill took home gold in the male absolute no-gi open weight class...
Team Lazaros were able to enjoy a successful campaign at the Australian Jiu Jitsu National Championships recently, taking home seven medals, including a gold from Chris Fogwill.
Fogwill took home gold in the male absolute no-gi open weight class, while also taking home two silvers in both the male gi +100.5 kg and male no-gi above +97.5 kg classes.
There was also a triple treat for the Savvidis family, with Alayla, Bella and Mickey all taking home medals — Alayla was silver medallist in the girls gi above 65 kg competition, with Bella and Mickey taking bronze in their respective competitions.
Nicholas Dan also stepped up a division to the juvenile boys gi -89.3 kg competition, and took home a bronze medal as a result, fighting against older boys in the competition for the first time.
Team Lazaros operator Laz Savvidis paid tribute to the achievements of his students in recent weeks.
“It’s hours and hours of training, having to be dedicated and committed. It’s not about just waiting for motivation, it’s all about continuing to train. COVID was hard, we lost a few kids and adults,” he said.
“We competed in Victorian competitions as well, and we have another competition next weekend, another national gathering, for our Machado teams.”
When it comes to Fogwill’s achievements, Savvidis says that his method of success is very straight-forward.
“He turns up every session. He’s committed, that is the key to all of it. Regardless of how he feels, he continues to front up. He does what he has to do,” he said.
He also paid tribute to Dan for moving up a division, as well as all their medallists in the national competition.
“Nicholas is 16 this year, going up against kids who are 17 or 18 and went up a division. He held his own. He didn’t get submitted, guys were bigger than him, more experienced and more seasoned.
One of the coaches for one of the winners who went in, he lost by submission in his first match,” he said.
“All our medallists are the same as Chris. They work incredibly hard and they are here every session. The guys who train the most are the ones who do better.”