Bermuda’s jiu-jitsu athletes produced a solid showing competing against a highly competitive international field at the Pan IBJJF No-Gi Championships in Secaucus, New Jersey, last weekend.

The island’s ten-strong team held their own on the mat, with black belt competitors Jason McAlpine and Christopher Regan earning silver and bronze medals after battling their way through a highly competitive bracket to lead the charge.

Aaron Dyer, the OpenMat Bermuda owner, hailed the pair’s success.

“Jason’s silver medal and Chris’s bronze medal were fantastic achievements, particularly given the level of competition at this event,” he told The Royal Gazette.

Fellow team member and former Somerset Cup Match cricketer Greg Maybury Jr also enjoyed a bit of success in securing an impressive victory in his opening match before being eliminated in his second by a tough opponent.

“Greg also represented the academy well with a win in his opening match,” Dyer said.

Dyer is proud of the efforts of the entire team, which also comprised Charles Patten, Ramazan Ramazanov, Ryan Hopkins, former PHC footballer Lonnie Bascome, Keegan Dyer, Jahmali Bridgewater and Reina Maypa.

“Every athlete who competed showed heart, discipline and sportsmanship, and we're extremely proud of the way they represented both OpenMat Bermuda and the island,” he said.

“We're proud to represent Bermuda on one of the biggest stages in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and look forward to seeing our athletes test themselves against some of the best competitors in the world.

The Pan No-Gi Championships attract competitors from across the globe and is widely regarded as one of the premier tournaments on the international Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu calendar. For OpenMat Bermuda, the results continue to demonstrate the academy's growth and the increasing presence of Bermudian athletes on the world stage.

“OpenMat Bermuda has grown tremendously over the past few years, and having ten athletes competing at the Pan No-Gi Championships is a reflection of the dedication and hard work put in by our members,” Dyer said.

Bermuda’s recent success in New Jersey follows on the heels of earning two bronze medals at the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation Pan Championship in Kissimmee, Florida, in March.