Mandurah-based Brazilian Jiu Jitsu fighters Leo Bobadilla and Gina Chanel will represent Australia as they take on the rest of the world in Las Vegas next week.
The Grappling Fight Team (GFT) Mandurah duo will fly out bound for the International Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation World Masters Championships this week, with their sights firmly fixed on bringing home the gold.
Bobadilla, 37, will take to the floor for roughly 10 fights in a medium heavyweight black belt division stacked with more than 50 competitors, while Chanel, 44, looks to top her field in the blue belt middle weight class.
Competing isn’t unfamiliar territory for the pair, who regularly find themselves fighting at the national level, but Bobadilla said this would be their most significant event for the year.
“To be competing at the world championships and representing Australia is something we’re very proud of,” he said.
“We’ve been training hard looking towards this for just over two months now, checking our level every day and making sure we’re in good enough shape.
“I think we’ve got a real chance to do well and make Australia, and the Mandurah community, proud of us.”
A coach at GFT Mandurah, Bobadilla has been training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu for more than 24 years, but the journey to the world championships has been of a different sort of Chanel, a mother of four and grandmother of one.
The blue belt took up the sport just two years ago as a means of fitness and self defence, but quickly became immersed in the competitive aspect.
Since then she’s jetted off to several competitions on the east coast, but she’s hoping to put in an extra special performance at the world champs, keeping her family close in her thoughts.
“To be able to bring a world championship home to my kids and grandchild would be awesome,” she said.
“I’m always thinking of them every time I compete and to have their support is amazing, so I’d love to bring a medal home for them and everyone here at our gym.”
The duo will meet up with members of GFT’s California gyms for their final training sessions before heading into the competition.
The World Championships will kick off on Wednesday, August 22 wrapping up on Saturday, August 25.
For more information on GFT Mandurah visit their Facebook page or gftmandurah.com
To find out more about the World Championships visit ibjjf.com/championship/world-master-ibjjf-jiu-jitsu/
Justin Rake
Sports journalist for the Mandurah Mail, Australian Community Media, Fairfax Media.
Sports journalist for the Mandurah Mail, Australian Community Media, Fairfax Media.
