36 JANUARY 2023 By Mallory Gleich With a full class load, tutoring responsibilities and daily life tasks, it’s hard to imagine that Arcadia High junior Jace Egnew has time to enjoy his favorite hobby: the art of Jiu Jitsu. But, he’s got it down to such a science that Jace recently won gold at the Compnet USA National Championship in Austin, Texas. Jace became interested in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (a form of grappling based around positions to control an opponent on the ground) after watching UFC events. More specifically, from watching Conor McGregor battle against Cowboy Cerrone in the UFC 246 fight in January 2020. After that, Jace was ready to discover the martial arts world. Jiu Jitsu originated in the 1530s when the first school was established in Japan. The martial art was formed as a close combat system that uses joint locks, paralyzing strikes, throws and holds to subdue armed and armored enemy combatants. It migrated to South America thanks to a Japanese diplomat named Mitsyuo Maeda, who helped form the modern Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. In the early 1900s, it gained popularity with the help of Maeda, who was trained in Judo (also called Kano Jiu Jitsu, where Brazilian Jiu Jitsu got its name). Maeda agreed to teach the art to others, including a young man named Carlos Gracie, Jr. In 1986, Gracie Jr. founded the first Gracie Barra School in Rio de Janeiro. Now, there are offices in North America, Brazil, Australia, Japan, and Europe, and more than 700 schools worldwide – including one serving Arcadia, where Jace trains with Professor Ryan Wood. Students start with a white belt and move up to blue, purple, brown, black and coral, though coral is rare and only awarded to Jiu Jitsu masters who have been active black belts for over 30 years. CompNet is the global Jiu Jitsu competition league where Jace competes. Started in the early 90s, Master Gracie Jr. created it to host in-house tournaments to select the top division competitors to represent Gracie Barra at state, national and international competitions. Matches can differ depending on the practitioner’s age, belt level, and weight. They usually last around five to 10 minutes and rely on a points system and submissions to determine the winner. “Submissions are used to cause an opponent to ‘tap,’ which ends a match immediately,” Jace said. In the past two years, he has participated in the Arizona State Championship, Winter Championships, an Autumn Championship, a tournament called Jiu Jitsu World League, and two American National Championships: one in Las Vegas and the most recent in Austin. At the Compnet American National Championship, hundreds of competitors gathered to compete in matches based on weight, belt level and age. Jace’s bracket was 163.5 lbs./blue belt/16-17 years old. “In a national tournament, competitors attempt to defeat everyone in their bracket to obtain a gold medal. If you receive that, you become a national champion. I was ecstatic when I found out I’d won,” Jace said. “Jace’s mother and I are very proud of his accomplishments, and we’re thrilled to have him train at Gracie Barra Arcadia; we’re incredibly thankful for his coaches and training partners,” Dad, Jeff, said. Jace’s favorite part of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is “the family you find in the gym.” “Without it, I would not have met some of the humblest and most supportive friends I’ve ever had,” he said. Jace’s ultimate goal is to earn his black belt, which he said is an enormous accomplishment because it can take up to 10 years. After graduation, Jace plans on pursuing commercial aviation through a four-year university, although he is undecided on where he’d like to go. “I plan on continuing to practice Jiu Jitsu in college because the love I have for this sport is unlike the love I have for any other,” he said. compnet.smoothcomp.com A love for the sport helped this martial artist win gold Logan Linde, Will Ingram and Jace at the Championship in Austin. PHOTO COURTESY OF JEFF EGNEW If you are currently working with an agent, please disregard. CUSTOM HOME BUILDS LINCOLN - MID MODERN PRVIATE TOURS AVAILABLE CALL TODAY! 5151 E EARLL DRIVE LUXURY RENTAL 3530 E GLENROSA - CALL FOR SHOWING NEW CONSTRUCTION COMING 2023 3832 MONTEROSA STREET NATHAN ANDERSON + PAUL NICOLETTI 480.888.5800 | NATEANDPAUL.COM THANK YOU TO OUR CLIENTS FOR MAKING THIS A GREAT YEAR. Call us today to discuss your next move. MODERN COASTAL SCAN HERE BUILD WITH US! SCAN HERE or Call 602.730.0668 Today ROC #314154 PRVIATE TOURS AVAILABLE CALL TODAY! 5141 E EARLL DRIVE CHEERS TO 2023!

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