Renzo Gracie Woodland Park Students to Compete in Metamoris Challengers
Metamoris, one of the few professional Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu organizations in the world, is holding a nationwide tournament that begins Oct. 3. This tournament provides participants the opportunity to earn international exposure, a $10,000 prize and a contract to be a professional grappler in Metamoris.
Two practitioners training out of Renzo Gracie Woodland Park will compete in the regional qualifier in New York. Jason Bulaclac, a purple belt, an Jose Rosado, a blue belt, have been preparing for the tournament for several months, steadily increasing the intensity of their training. They modified their training for the unique rule set of the tournament.
While most tournaments award victories based on either submission or points for achieving position, Metamoris only awards victory for submissions. Jamie Cruz, a third-degree black belt and head instructor at Renzo Gracie Woodland Park, recognizes the difficulties inherent in this format and has attempted to prepare his students accordingly.
“These types of tournaments are fairly new,” Cruz said. “In my day as a competitor, there weren’t really tournaments like this. You cannot be completely consumed with the positional aspect of the game.You need to get away from that and worry about winning with a submission.”
Bulaclac and Rosado recognize the shift in Cruz’s typical philosophy to fit the conditions of Metamoris.
“(Cruz) is usually one to advocate for position over the submission, but he’s thrown that one out the window for me,” Rosado said. “Submission, submission, submission. That’s all we’ve focused on for two months, so even if I lose position, I’m still hunting for my way to end the match.”
In addition to the technical training, a key element to competing in any athletic endeavor is being in shape and maintaining a good diet. Bulaclac set a stricter diet and more intense training regimen consisting of Jiu-Jitsu and weight training.
“I have had to lose around 10 pounds to make the weight limit, I’ve modified my diet to mostly chicken, fish and vegetables and I drink a lot of water throughout the day.” Bulaclac said.
To maintain the level of training necessary to prepare for a Jiu-Jitsu tournament, a competitor must possess a high level of self of self-confidence and intensity. Rosado in particular dedicated himself to mental preparation.
As a blue belt, Rosado has less experience and pedigree than the other competitors in the field. However, he has channeled his underdog status into motivation.
“I’ve been mentally and physically on fire,” Rosado said. “I literally get myself psyched before stepping on the mats. Whether I’m in the car or already on the mats about to roll, one of the biggest game changers has been that I tell myself “You are the best blue belt in the world.”
With a field that features some top black belts and up and coming brown belts, the tournament field poses a true challenge to all three competitors.
“I expect to submit all my opponents and I expect all my matches to be hard,” Bulaclac said.
Cruz expressed confidence in both of his students leading up to the tournament, but he also recognizes the challenges ahead. Despite believing in his students’ abilities, he recognizes that anything can happen in a competition. He said he looks forward to his students maintaining motivation should they not perform up to their standards.
“They are doing very well and I’m excited to see what happens, but what I also look forward to is if it doesn’t work out their way, being ready to compete again and get back out there,” Cruz said.
Despite unshakable confidence, Rosado embraces the mentality to his instructor.
“I cannot promise I’ll win at Metamoris,” Rosado said. “I can’t even promise I will at least make it to a draw. But no matter what, I always show up, give 150 percent until the very end, and try to put on a show for everyone watching. I go out there for everyone who has supported me, everyone that has helped me train.”
