NAGA Chicago - May 20th, 2006
By Scott Sjoquist

The event grew again this year over 800 competitor’s, it kicked off at around noon. We had one guy in the last division of the day and finished about 8:30 pm.
Drake was the first competitor of the day. Thomas and Pat were in rings 1 and 2 going back and forth.

Every match Thomas was in was exciting not only for me but the other competitors and spectators. He almost submitted the eventual winner of the no gi divisions twice.

Patrick had some tough competition. He went against a purple belt in the no gi and gi, and a couple 230lbs. wrestlers as well. The purple belt was almost submitted in both no gi and gi only experience saved him.

Patrick's comments: I had a great time at NAGA, which was my first external competition event. The competition was everything I expected….the 2 no-gi matches I participated in were good warm-ups to my 2 gi matches which came later in the day. Of the 3 events I participated in I was looking forward to the 40+ gi event where I thought I had a good chance to do well. I started out great by getting the take-down, then proceeding to take side control and eventually took his back and felt like I was on my way to a submission via rear choke, which a few others watching agreed with. However, as I learned in a big way, you’re always 1 mistake away from a submission yourself. I locked my feel together to lock in and maintain my back control only to find myself getting submitted by an ankle lock shortly thereafter. Even with that, however, the match felt great and actually was the highpoint of my day. Better than the event itself, however, was the ability to spend some time with fellow Warriors Cove members and getting to know them all better. I’m looking forward to the next external competition event and will try to make as many as I can going forward. Pat

Seth did well but lost both of his first matches. He is now motivated to improve in some areas for the next NAGA Chicago August 26th, 2006.

For the first time I signed up for both the no gi and gi division. I finally felt my body was ready for that many matches in one day. And the new guys on the team motivated me to step up as well. The guys I competed with and beat in the intermediate no gi were all blue belts in the gi division. One was the winner of the blue belt gi division. I won match one via guillotine choke from bottom at about 1 minute in. The second match was tough he was big and very strong and the winner of the blue belt gi division. But an arm bar from bottom did the job, he gave a yelp instead of a tap. The Championship match was a good one. It was back and forth up and down. After a couple submission attempts and a point for me for the submission attempt. He didn’t tap on an an elbow that everyone was saying the referee should have stopped. I looked down at his elbow thinking it was turned out. But it was facing the correct direction just bowed backwards. I have never seen an elbow bend backward that far. He ended up in my half guard and I was gassed. He started to slip out of the sweaty half guard and he slipped on a choke, match over.

The gi division was tough even with the blue belts gone. My first gi match was right out of a Nate Howe text book. Nate showed me a few tips on the shoulder lock last week. I knew the move but didn’t know how to start into it. I won match 1 via shoulder lock from bottom guard. I lost match 2 on points. Mike and I have competed against each other in the past. This time it was his turn. He forced me to transition into turtle position and kept attacking he was able to get my back but I escaped only to be forced back into turtle. He is a tough guy Division 1 wrestler from Northern Iowa University. I look forward to a rematch. The third place match was tough as well. He took me down and we worked from half guard. After several submission attempts I was gassed and just tied to keep him in closed guard, I won the match on points.

Nate Howe’s comments: In my no gi their were 16 guys and I took 4th losing by points only. (i hate points) all my wins by submission. In the gi their were 30 guys and I also took 4th losing in the semi finals to a Vaghi guy from St. Louis who has trained for over 3 years. Losing by points and all my wins by submission except one. I had a submission locked but he wouldn’t tap and I didn’t want to hurt him so I didn’t crank hard and time expired. He was also a Vaghi guy. Lost in the third place match 3 to 2 he scored a guard pass in the last 10 seconds ouch! I had already Taped him out in the no gi. But I’m still pleased with my performance. All of my competition had been training for at least 2 years. Except for the guy who beat me in the no gi semi finals he was a wrestler and all he did was take me down and then try to hold me. That is why I hate points. To me that is not what Jiu Jitsu is about but oh well.

Thanks again to Melissa for video taping as many matches as she could, and for the 8 plus hours of video editing for the DVD. If you guys like the video thank her not me.

Scott Sjoquist