Palm Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, martial arts gym located in Saginaw, Michigan brings home three gold, three silver medals after a hard fought weekend at IBJJF Master’s Worlds, Jiu Jitsu Con, Grappling Industries.
Medal Breakdown
- Vince Barber – Gold – IBJJF Jiu Jitsu Con Kids Male Teen 3 Green-Orange Middle
- Brandy Dimmitt – Gold – IBJJF Jiu Jitsu Con Novice Female Masters 3 White Middle
- Karl Briggs – Gold – Grappling Industries Detroit Senior (40+) No-Gi Beginner (-185 lbs) Silver – Grappling Industries Detroit Senior (40+) White (-185 lbs)
- Nathan Fowler – Silver – IBJJF Master’s Worlds Masters 5 Brown Medium Heavy
- John Rose – Silver – IBJJF Master’s Worlds Masters 6 Purple Heavy
Palm Brazilian Jiu Jitsu competitors were in fine form this weekend competing at IBJJF Master’s Worlds/Jiu Jitsu Con in Las Vegas, Nevada and Grappling Industries in Detroit, Michigan. In all, Palm saw eight competitors on the mats from November 11-14th, with five walking away with medals.
In Las Vegas, teen green belt Vince Barber showed up and showed out for his Green-Orange Middle division. In true Vince style, the fifteen year-old phenom showcased his own personal brand of jiu jitsu to defeat three tough opponents.
Utilizing his open guard repertoire which included mind-bending berimbolos and high-flying cartwheel passes, Barber secured a triangle finish in round one, a 2-0 finish in the semi-finals, and a 12-4 lead in the finals match to take home gold.
Brandy Dimmitt was also able to implement a dominant game of technical control to win three matches and earn gold in the Master’s 3 White Middle division.
I woke up thinking, ‘What the hell was I thinking signing up for this?’ But I’m so glad I did it.
Brandy Dimmitt, Palm Brazilian Jiu Jitsu White (now blue) Belt
She won the largest female IBJJF division Palm Brazilian Jiu Jitsu has seen, defeating a fresh opponent in the final, without a single point being scored against her.
Seasoned competitor Nathan Fowler Sr. fought and won against two opponents to make it to the finals match in his Master’s 5 Brown Medium Heavy division. There he earned a second place finish and silver medal.
Fellow seasoned competitor John Rose finished second place for the Masters 6 Purple Heavy division. He won his first match to battle in the finals for a podium finish at silver.
Rounding out the Las Vegas team were Joe Barber, Matt Eich, and Nathan (Trey) Fowler Jr.
Back home in Michigan, sixty-five year old white belt Karl Briggs competed for his first time at the Detroit Grappling Industries. Convincing evidence that age may in fact be just a number, Karl won two matches in the gi to finish second in the Senior (40+) White (-185 lb) division and won his finals match to take home gold in the Senior (40+) Beginner (-185 lb) No-Gi division.
After a weekend competing across the country, Palm Brazilian Jiu Jitsu brought home a few more medals, a ton more experience, and a lot more great memories.
Thank you to those who competed and to those who endured the past weeks of competition training to help us all achieve our goals, together.
See you on the mats.
Lauren LaCourse
11/16/2021