Two local youths are making their mark on the provincial jiu-jitsu scene.
Keyden and Merritt McCue recently attended the Ontario Open tournament in Whitby along with their fellow Driven jiu-jitsu team members and took home a gold and silver medal, respectively.
Keyden McCue, 17, says there were teams from other parts of the province at the tournament.
“It’s fun, physical,” he says of the sport that has become an important part of both his life and that of his 16-year-old brother Merritt. “I just like grappling.”
The siblings, who live in Honey Harbour and go to school in Midland, are members of Beausoliel First Nation.
They competed at the same tournament last year and again finished first and second in their respective divisions. And earlier this year, they attended the Barrie Open and each came away with gold medals in their respective divisions.
The boys initially tried the sport on the suggestion of their mother Sabrina Jatsura when they were younger and “really liked it,” but ended up taking a break for a few years.
They returned to the martial arts two years ago and haven’t looked back.
“She (Jatsura) didn’t like us getting beat up,” Keyden jokes about returning to the sport.
Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) is a martial art, combat sport, and a self-defence system that focuses on grappling and especially ground fighting.
BJJ training can be used for sport grappling tournaments (gi and no-gi) and mixed martial arts (MMA) competitions or self-defence.
The boys compete out of Driven in Midland.
“I’m quite proud of them,” Jatsura says. “I’m just really glad my kids got involved.”
Both Keyden and Jatsura credit the dedicated and excellent coaching of kids and adults instructor Chris Jambrich and Alex Jeffery, who co-owns the facility and serves as its head instructor, with helping the boys on their path to success.
“I feel like they really have their coaches’ support,” Jatsura says, noting her sons can come and go to the gym to train whenever they please.
“It’s such a supportive gym. He (Alex) has really taken them under his wing.”
For more information about Driven’s Brazilian jiu-jitsu programs, click here.
