This past weekend was one to remember. My 6-year-old son, “J,” stepped onto the mats at the GTA BJJ Classics Tournament and came home with a Bronze medal.
He has been training BJJ for more than a year and a half now. This was only his second tournament. His first one was the NextGen Tournament in Toronto, where he also won Bronze.
But this one was different. It was a Gi-only tournament. And the twist? He had only trained in the Gi for one week before the event. We didn’t set expectations. The plan was simple—go have fun. The venue was only 15 minutes from home, so it felt like a great chance for him to get more experience.
The night before the tournament, he came home from school and I suggested we hit another training class. He was struggling with collar grips and guard breaks in Gi, so I thought some extra practice would help. He agreed right away—“Dad, let’s go after my snacks.”
We fought through Brampton traffic and made it to the academy a little late. He jumped straight into warm-ups and rolled with the group. I had a quick chat with his coaches, Brad and Niel, who shared some valuable tips. Niel even stayed back after class to walk him through grip breaks and the importance of staying heavy on top. The Brampton and Georgetown BJJ academy truly stands out—the coaches know how to connect with kids, meet them at their level, and keep the sport fun. If you’re in the GTA, I can’t recommend this place enough. After class, we headed home for an early dinner and bedtime.
The next morning we were up at 7. I made him breakfast, and the family gave him a big group hug for good luck. Then it was just me and him heading to the Save Max Sports Centre. We arrived 45 minutes early, did registration and weigh-ins, and got ready.
His bracket changed at the last minute, most likely because of the Gi adding a couple extra pounds. His first match was against a kid with a higher belt.
The mats were set up with plastic barricades around them. Parents and spectators stood on the outside, while coaches stayed on the inside. His coach, Ricky, was right there by the mats, ready to guide him with instructions.
First Fight
The fight started rough. His opponent scored two takedowns and got mount positions, running the score up to 11-0. But my son is determined and resilient—quitting isn’t in him.
After the first minute, he found his rhythm. He swept his opponent, got mount, and scored his first points of the day. Now it was 11-7. He nearly took the back but lost position and his opponent passed guard and scored again. With 40 seconds left, the score was 14-7 and he was trailing by 7 points.
Then came the turning point. They went out of bounds, and the referee reset them in the center. He started on top. I called out loudly for him to pass the guard and go for mount. His coach was doing the same, though it was hard to hear with the noise of eight other matches happening at once. Whether he heard us or just trusted his instincts, he knew exactly what needed to be done. With 30 seconds left, he passed guard, locked in side control, and transitioned to mount—earning the 7 points to tie the match.
The buzzer went. The score was tied, but he had 2 advantages. That was enough to win.
It was one of the most exciting matches I’ve ever watched. His opponent was skilled and strong, but my son’s persistence carried him through.
Second Fight
His second fight was tougher. This time he faced an opponent with a bit more experience, judging by the extra stripes on his white belt. But J had the weight advantage, which helped even things out.
Fresh off his first win, J came out strong and immediately shot for a single-leg takedown. His opponent defended well and didn’t give up much ground. From the sidelines, it looked like the other kid was just waiting for J to make a mistake—and that’s exactly what happened. J eventually took the takedown, but his opponent countered right away with a sweep, moved into side control, and then climbed to mount.
J fought back and managed to sweep, getting on top for a moment. But his opponent sweeped him again, and from there the momentum shifted. He was taken down, mounted, and stuck underneath a heavy top game. His opponent pressured him with smothering grips and even threatened chokes, keeping control for most of the match.
J tried hard to sweep but couldn’t break free. When the clock ran out, the referee ended the fight with a score of 13-0. He was disappointed—he knew this meant no shot at silver or gold. But his spirit stayed strong. Before his next fight, he looked at me and said, “I’m bringing home the bronze.”
Third Fight
The third and final fight was for the Bronze. J had just lost his previous match, but his determination was written all over his face. Just before the handshake, he looked over at me, gave a small nod, and it felt like he was saying, “I’ve got this one.”
He came out explosive. Right off the start, he hit a clean takedown and scored two points. Without slowing down, he began working to pass guard. He succeeded, added another three points, and went up 5–0.
That’s when the trouble began. His opponent pulled him into closed guard with a firm collar grip. This is still a weak spot for J. With only a week of Gi training, he hasn’t learned the tricks to break collar grips cleanly. He spent a good chunk of time trying to free himself while stuck in guard.
Eventually, he broke it. Maybe his opponent’s fingers gave out from squeezing too long, or maybe he just adjusted to go for a collar tie instead. Either way, J saw the opening, passed the guard, and slipped into side control. But before he could settle, his opponent turned and gave up his back.
This is J’s sweet spot. Rear Naked Choke (RNC) is one of his best submissions. He immediately got seatbelt control, rolled, and sank both hooks in—a picture-perfect setup for the RNC. To my surprise, he didn’t finish it. Instead, he looked at the referee and let go. Later I realized why. In another tournament, submissions at his level could mean disqualification. That must have clicked in his mind, and he wasn’t willing to risk losing Bronze.
His opponent seized the moment and rolled. J reacted fast, pushed him away, and ended up back in his opponent’s closed guard. The last seconds ticked down with J staying safe, moving in and out of guard, until the referee called time.
Final score: 5–2. J won the fight, and with it, the Bronze medal.
Ending the Day with Gratitude
What a day it turned out to be. Three hard-fought matches, ups and downs, and in the end, a Bronze medal. But more than the medal, what I’m proud of is his heart—he never gave up, even when the odds were stacked against him. At just six years old, he’s already showing the persistence and courage that BJJ teaches every day.
None of this would have been possible without the guidance and support of his coaches. A huge thank you to Ricky, Hugh, Matt, Hamza, Niel, Brad and the entire staff at Brampton Jiu-Jitsu Academy. The way they work with kids—teaching them technique while keeping the sport fun—is truly special. They meet the kids at their level, build their confidence, and remind them that BJJ is as much about character as it is about competition.
This Bronze medal belongs to J, but it’s also a reflection of the team effort behind him—the coaches, training partners, and everyone who has helped him on this journey so far. We’re excited for what’s next and thankful for where we are today.
Crafting Bits, Building Bonds 
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