Kanani Ragasa of Wailua earned two gold medals at the first World Masters and Senior Competition hosted by The International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation at the California State University in long Beach, last week. Representing Team Ka-mole from Wailua Houselots, Ragasa
Kanani Ragasa of Wailua earned two gold medals at the first World Masters and Senior Competition hosted by The International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation at the California State University in long Beach, last week.
Representing Team Ka-mole from Wailua Houselots, Ragasa became the first female to earn two gold medals, one in the Brown Belt Feather and one in the Open Weight divisions.
“Although no one entered in her division, Kanani still had to be present and pass both her weight and gi, or jiu-jitsu attire, inspections after earning her medals,” said Carl Ragasa in an email. “Kanani trained very hard for this event and we are very proud to bring home the two first place IBJJF brown belt gold medals for Hawai‘i.”
Carl said this event in California will probably be a lot bigger next year because it was held on only one day and had reached its capacity a week before the closing entry deadline.
“There are much more IBJJF competitors now, and hopefully, we will be ready to defend this title next year,” Carl said.
Kanani will be back in the ring, Nov. 10 at the Aloha Beach Resort when Team Ka-mole will participate in the Third Annual Internal Fighter Submission Competition.
During that event, Kanani will take on purple belt champion Tracey Goodell when Hawai‘i’s two top female fighters clash for what is now the tie-breaker where one will walk away with the belt, Carl said.
In 2008, Kanani defeated Goodell by an arm bar submission at the OTM Pac Sub Tournament in the Open Blue and Purple Belt division on O‘ahu.
Since then, Goodell has moved to the Mainland where she trains full time under the Lloyd Irvin Academy where she has won numerous events, including the 2010 Purple Belt World Title.
Following the 2008 match, Kanani took a two-year break, giving birth to twins.
Kanani returned to the mats in 2010 where she competed in her first tournament at her Internal Fighter where she captured the first place championship belt.
Kanani and Goodell met for the second time in 2011 on O‘ahu where Goodell defeated Kanani with a collar choke submission, giving both ladies a win over each other since 2008.
“Both fighters have mutual respect for each other and know how hard it is to compete in the IBJJF level of competition,” Carl said. “They are using this Nov. 10 match to improve their game so one day, they will have the opportunity to become Hawai‘i’s first female black belt world champion.”
Carl said Kanani would like to compete in more of the top IBJJF events hosted on the Mainland, but with no sponsors, it is a difficult dream to accomplish.
He said they would be more than happy to represent, or advertise any firm who would like to assist Kanani realize her dream.
Team Ka-mole appreciates Kai Wedemeyer, Frank Rivera, Eric Pereza and Brandon Chong for being Kanani’s top training partners and extends its mahalo to the family and friends of Ka-mole for the support.
For more information on the Nov. 10 Internal Fighter Submission Competition, or sponsorship for Kanani, contact ckragasa@yahoo.com.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
