Sport
16 May, 2024
Three golds for Maryborough locals in state jiu jitsu championships on weekend
There was some recent terrific success for Maryborough’s Team Lazaros BJJ and Muay Thai club in the Victorian Jiu Jitsu Championships last weekend. A bevy of competitors made the trip to Melbourne to compete, taking three golds and two silvers...
There was some recent terrific success for Maryborough’s Team Lazaros BJJ and Muay Thai club in the Victorian Jiu Jitsu Championships last weekend.
A bevy of competitors made the trip to Melbourne to compete, taking three golds and two silvers from their six competititors across the weekend of May 11 and 12.
It was all about the Savvidis family taking to the podium throughout the weekend, with Laz — the coach at Team Lazaros — taking gold in the male GI brown-belt Master 3 category, while Kon took silver in the male GI blue-belt Master 1 category. That was followed on Sunday by Bella taking gold in the girls GI grey-belt junior II competition, and Alayla taking gold in the Juvenile girls GI blue-belt Juvenile 2 competition.
There was also success for Cruz Walker in his first competition, finishing on the podium with silver in the boys GI white junior III competition.
Mellanie Chapman paid tribute to all the club’s athletes who competed throughout the weekend.
“On Saturday, we had the adults competition. Finn Marshall competed in his first competition, which was a bit nerve-wracking for him, but he did a great job,” she said.
“Coach Laz competed as well, as a brown-belt, and he won and got gold. His brother, Con, competed in the blue-belt division and finished second, taking silver.
“On Sunday, the children competed. Cruz Walker competed in his first-ever competition, and he was really nervous, but he had two matches and he came home with silver, so he did really well.
“Bella Savvidis competed in the junior division and won her two matches, coming home with gold. Alayla Savvidis competed at blue belt level, competing with girls older than her, and won both matches, coming home with gold as well.”
Chapman said Laz Savvidis was key to the club’s success throughout the weekend with his communication and support of all his athletes when he wasn’t competing — and winning — himself.
“The coach is really good. He will prepare you ahead of competitions, lets the parents and everyone know through our Facebook page, through messages and general conversation,” she said.
“He asks if competitions are coming up if people want to jump in, and people have to go through the avenues and sign up online.
“In the lead up to the competition, he prepares you through the training, and what you need to do to be at your best.
“He’ll coach you through that as well, and he goes to the competition to support his team members and students if he isn’t competing himself. He is there on the sidelines and helping you.”
The additional success has come at a time where the Savvidis family is training with Stewie’s House of BJJ in Bendigo, as well as G-Force Mixed Martial Arts in Fawkner, with the learning from both of those gyms taken into the sessions with the students in Maryborough.
“He has put a lot of time and dedication into the students and the building, and making sure everyone has a nice, safe environment to train in and learn some good skills, as well as self-defence,” Chapman said.
“We also have a bigger women’s group for jiu jitsu happening, which is great to see, and the group is expanding quite well, which is great.”
Chapman spoke about the programs that the club offers, which has allowed their students to perform well in the Victorian Jiu Jitsu Championships.
“Muay Thai is more about kickboxing, so it’s all about punching, kicking and striking,” she said.
“It’s more of a high-impact for your fitness, moving around a lot, sparring and doing things like that. It gets you up and moving and motivated, which is great. We are getting more people joining our Muay Thai program as well.
"Jiu jitsu is more on the ground, with grappling and it’s more technical, and you’re learning moves, but also keeping your temperament, a level head, and work through those moves and counteract the move your opponent is doing as well. There’s a lot to it, but it’s also really good.
“It’s a sport that a lot of people probably don’t know about, but it’s worth jumping on, having a go, and it doesn’t hurt to try.”