All Star Grappling Cup league

THE past weekend saw the fourth leg of the ALL Star Grappling Cup.
Seven Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) students representing Kilian Academy participated at the tournament, bringing home 3 silver medals and one trophy.
In only his first tournament, Jaco Pretorius took silver in the amateur Gi sub-league, in the 74-77kg division. In the amateur No-Gi division, he placed fourth, fighting a total of 12 fights. Pretorius was picked by the Kilian Academy team, as their man of the tournament. In his second tournament, Vincent Roberts once again took silver in the amateur No-Gi sub-league 80-90kg division.
Chris Venter, in his first tournament, took silver in the amateur Gi sub-league, in the 80-90kg division. In the same division in only his second tournament, Riaan Lombaard improved from his previous tournament result, placing fourth.
Abrie Kilian took third place in amateur Gi sub-league, in the 70-80kg division, losing only on points and maintaining his personal record of only being submitted once in a tournament. Kilian was also awarded the most technical amateur of the day.
Also in his first tournament, Frans de Jager secured 8th place in the amateur Gi sub-league, 80-90kg division and 5th in the amateur No-Gi sub-league, 80-90kg division.
Making his debut, Charl Beukes came 7th, fighting an incredible 13 fights on the day, placed 7th in the amateur Gi sub-league, 70-75kg division. Beukes also secured a 7th place the amateur No-Gi sub-league, 70-75kg division.
The ALL Star Grappling League has been growing fast, supported by the increase in popularity of Extreme Fighting Championship (EFC Africa), drawing clubs from as far as Namibia.
The tournament consists of amateur and professional Sub-League. The amateur sub-league is made up of competitors that have been training BJJ, grappling, wrestling and Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) for less than three years. The professional sub-league is made up of competitors that have been training for longer than three years, including EFC competitors such as Michiel Opperman, Danie van Heerden and James Speechly.
The advent of MMA in 1993, saw BJJ rocket into popularity across the globe, making it the fastest growing martial art in the world. Kilian Academy is currently the only accredited BJJ school in a town within South Africa. All other schools are situated in major cities.