Kauai Spring Open on May 13

LIHUE — The Kauai Spring Open is set for Saturday at the Kauai High School gymnasium.

The Brazilian jiu-jitsu competition is part of a statewide tour hosted by the Hawaii Triple Crown of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

“The tour this year is 10 events in Kauai, Maui and Oahu,” said event coordinator Romolo Barros. “Seven of those events are part of the Hawaii Triple Crown, and three of those events are part of the Hawaii All Star Jiu-Jitsu Invitational.”

The event will be a single-elimination bracket format for the adult competition, and a double-elimination bracket for children. Division will vary from age, weight classes, expertise levels and gi or no gi divisions.

The deadline to register online is midnight tonight at www.hawaiitriplecrown.com. Registration will also take place on site the morning of the event starting 8:30 a.m.

The Kauai Spring Open will be held in memory of Eric Cannon, a practitioner and instructor who lived in Kapaa and previously competed in the Hawaii Triple Crown. Cannon died in February from an epileptic seizure. He was 26 years old.

Cannon was named Best Competitor of 2016 in the Hawaii Jiu-Jitsu Tour, Barros said.

“He was a very good competitor and incredible human being,” Barros said. “He had the warrior spirit, and he had aloha. He was incredible.”

“He was a brown belt in jiu-jitsu. … His dream was to become a black belt world champion,” he added. “From doing this, I’ve been doing it all my life, he was on his way to achieve that dream. He was getting better and better every day.”

Weigh-in will take place the morning of the event. Kids will begin weigh-ins at 8:3o a.m., and adults start at 9:30 a.m.

Tickets will be sold at the door. Admission is $10 for adults, and $5 for children. Doors will open 10 a.m.

Kauai will host two more events this year — the Kauai Open in September and the Hawaii All Star Jiu-Jitsu Invitational in December.

Information: www.hawaiitriplecrown.com