Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) superstar Ashton Epp competed in a tournament this past weekend, and when it was all said and done, the Mitchell star was crowned the new Strangle Middleweight Champion.
Finding the sport
"I've always been into some sort of martial arts," Epp explains. "I've tried a bunch of different martial arts, but BJJ really stood out. It's great with basics; you can use it anywhere in life, and it's very practical. I caught onto it right away, and I really enjoy it."
Chess-like fighting
Epp says that the BJJ discipline is not just physical; it's also dependent on the mental side. "I think of it like a real, live chess game going on. Someone can have more pieces on the board, but you can out-maneuver them and break them down a little bit. For example, one of my teammates, who is 165 pounds, just kind of tapped and took out four guys who are easily 40 pounds heavier than him. That's a good example of how tactically, it can be a huge factor. It's awesome."
Community
Finding people who are passionate, willing to teach, and willing to learn, Epp says, has made this run even more special. "It's awesome," he says with a smile. "It's so welcoming. You can go to any gym, and they'll welcome you with open arms. It's a supportive group, we learn, we grow, and we bounce ideas off each other. We all grow together, and that's a nice thing about BJJ."
Another great part is that anyone can get into BJJ at any time. "We have people in here from kids who are six years old, to guys who are competing and they're 45. It's great to have that range, and it's awesome."
Strangle Submission Series
This past weekend, Epp partook in a big tournament and fared very well. "A bunch of us from different gyms were competing for a 185-pound middleweight belt. The competitors were awesome, they are great guys. It was a great evening and a great time."
The humble star needed a little push to admit that he did, in fact, win the tournament. "Yeah, I did," he says with a humble grin. "I had three fights, three submissions, and I was very happy with the outcome."
Middleweight Champion
Being the last man standing, having his arm raised in victory, will be a moment that Epp won't forget and will cherish. "It is honestly one of the best feelings in the world. Being all amped up, then finding that peace. You get to know that you've put in the work, you did what you needed to do, and you came out on top. It's a great feeling."
His friends also did quite well in the tournament, which is another highlight for Epp. "They all did so awesome. We take pride in what we do. We like to think that our gym is very technical, and we focus on things that other gyms are maybe just getting into, or just getting introduced. We go headlong into leg locks and different positions that are not the most popular. We're very proud to show that off."
Up Next
Already thinking about what's coming next, Epp has an event circled.
"Some teammates and myself, we're thinking about going to ABCC in Vancouver, BC, in the next coming month. That would be awesome to take home gold from there, that would show that Manitoba is on the map for BJJ, and don't miss out on that."