Tyler Martial Artists Compete In Inaugural Event

By ADAM RUSSELL
Staff Writer

Nine-year-old Austin Artmire and 10-year-old Tyler Keyworth grappled for position as their mothers knelt silently at the edge of the mat inside Lone Star Event Center Saturday afternoon. The two boys study the martial art of Brazilian JiuJitsu together and are putting their training to the test in a physical chess match.

As their parents and other spectators looked on, and other matches progress around them, the two writhed on the floor, tied together by their tiny limbs, grimacing concentration and looking for the upper hand. The fight for position ended with Keyworth on top an

d was stopped by the referee before Artmire, whose chin was sinking deeper and deeper toward his own chest under Keyworth's force, could be injured.

The look on Artmire's face questions the stoppage as the two untangle and then turns to disappointment. Keyworth's arm is raised and the two fightingfriends shake hands and shuffle toward the encouraging words of their moms.

Artmire received a bronze medal and Keyworth would go on to win silver in their weight class during the inaugural East Texas Regional Gracie JiuJitsu Tournament in Tyler. Artmire and Keyworth, who have trained for 2 1/2 years and 1 1/2 years, respectively, wore their medals as evenly as their smiles following the competition.

"It's healthy competition and teaches them how to be a winner in life," Austin's father Karl Artmire said. "It's about selfdefense, but they learn much more than that."

More than 300 people, including about 100 competitors from around the state and country, surrounded three mats inside the center to watch JiuJitsu fights from midmorning to midafternoon. Competitors fought in several divisions and weight classes for children, teens and adults.

Drew Arthur, owner and instructor of Relson Gracie JiuJitsu/Lone Star Mixed Martial Arts Academy, which held the event, said the turnout surpassed anything he imagined. Arthur, a former deputy U.S. marshal and longtime martial arts participant and instructor, expects even bigger things next year.

Chris Spicer, 24, represented the Relson Gracie

JiuJitsu

Austin

Association

academy. He's an experienced mixedmartial arts competitor and said the level of competition

was strong, the camaraderie as well.

"The martial arts community, especially the Gracie JiuJitsu community is very tightknit," he said. "Competitors can beat each other bloody and still shake hands and talk about the match or just chitchat afterward. It's like a big family."

Spicer began with Tae Kwon Do, another martial art, at 5 years old, but because there was no martial arts instruction where he lived, he watched Ultimate Fighting Championship bouts and mimicked them with friends. Early Ultimate Fighting Championship fights put martial arts masters of styles such as karate and JiuJitsu against each other to determine the best style and fighter in the world.

In the early years, Gracie JiuJitsu ruled the martial arts fight game. Ultimate Fighting Championship fighters now are skilled in several styles and the popularity of the sport has grown.

Spicer said despite the trend toward learning skills from several styles, mastering a ground fighting technique such as JiuJitsu, especially because of its focus on fighting with an opponent on top, is important. For people unfamiliar with the sport, Spicer said a match can look like "mass chaos," but there is technique and method behind every movement.

The end game is to submit your opponent by using techniques to apply pressure to joints in the arms, legs or to the throat to cut off the airway. Submission is typically signaled by tapping.

"You're going to see two guys in a big ball of mess, but it's a chess match where moves lead to other moves and then somebody gets choked out," he said.

Spicer said he was most excited to see the next generation, such as Artmire and Keyworth, grappling for a submission. The sport draws all ages and types, male and female, Arthur said.

His two daughters, Kaya, 8, and Tala, 10, took eight medals, four bronze and four gold medals, combined. Both participate in ballet but said they prefer to grapple.

Artmire and Keyworth are engaged with the sport, their parents said. Artmire also loves baseball but Keyworth said he gave up playing ball to focus on martial arts. His parents drive 70 miles roundtrip from Athens three nights a week for judo and JiuJitsu classes.