LIHU‘E — Parents and supporters of Caio Terra Association, Kaua‘i Lions Brazilian Jiu Jitsu were elated during the special promotions ceremony, Monday evening at the CTA Kaua‘i Lions BJJ workout facility on Fujii Street.
“They’ve won gold at the North American Grappling Association tournaments, before,” said the excited parents and supporters. “But this is the first time they’ve gotten a national title.”
Individual performances from the 23 participating members at the 2022 NAGA Hawai‘i Grappling Championships led to the overall national belt that is scheduled to be delivered in the near future. Instead, Professor Black Belt Mory Lee Fernandez hosted a special promotions ceremony where nearly all of the competitors in the April 9 and 10 tournament at Radford High School earned an advancement ranging from a degree rise in their belt color, to a change in belt color, the keiki students given g the designation of “Lion,” or “Lioness” with their degree rise.
“We’re not working out, tonight,” Fernandez announced. “Tonight, we recognize your achievements. This is about the journey, as I tell all students.”
Fernandez, taking the reins of CTA Kaua‘i Lions BJJ in 2016 (as indicated by a newspaper article pasted on the walls of the tiny Fujii Street gym), said he was moved to tears by the outstanding impression made by his tiny group of competitors at the tournament that drew more than 1,000 competitors from all over, including several other Kaua‘i schools like Esaki Jiu Jitsu.
Representing the CTA Kaua‘i Lions BJJ are students: Jaiden Ogata, Mia Ogata, Daryn Ogata, Janessa Llego-Finney, Robert Welsh, Maiah Welsh, Kenji Ishida, Kanoa Ishida, Keeva Celebrado, Kaeja Celebrado, Elisha Kelley, Laeshia Peeren, Kenzee Rapozo, Isaac Matsuda, Lillianne Matsuda, Jahni Ouye-Tacub, Storm Ouye-Tacub, Makaio Ouye-Tacub, Tiare Kaui, Micah Kaui, and Thanan Andersland-Zatrapa.
•••
Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
