Saturday saw Full Fat Grappling, Radstock, crowned NoGi Jiu-Jitsu National Quintet Champions.

In a five man team, Full Fat took on five other mens teams across the country in white belt and black belt categories. It was the white belt teams first outing with Matt Hillier as captain along side Kyren Saunders, Simon Harrison, Luke Atwell and Tim Leeder. Despite some fantastic performances, they placed in third, which wasn’t what they hoped for, but still very respectable.

The black belt category saw head coach, former GB Judo, and captain of the team Matthew Hucker alongside Kern Foot, Tom Rubens, Bradley Wills and Ross Ridpath.

The team started in a blaze of glory with Tom taking out his first opponent, Kern taking out three opponents with arm locks and arm crushes and Matthew finishing up with a dominant display on the last opponent.

Full Fat worked themselves to the final without even using two of their fighters. In the final they faced the British Army team who came with European and World Champions! The game plan was to draw every fight, and leave their best man at the end to win on submission. The plan nearly went perfectly, with Tom, Kern, Matthew and Bradley completely dominating each fight eliminating their opponent. Unfortunately Full Fat could not quite submit their opponent in the last fight, meaning EBI (penalty shoot out).

In EBI, athletes were placed in submitting positions and it was the quickest to choke your opponent wins. Matthew chose Bradley Wills to take on the challenge and he rose to it. Strangling his opponent in 28 seconds meant Full Fat took home the belt, trophy and £1,000 cheque - ahuge result for the three-year-old judo and Jiu-Jitsu club in Radstock.

Matthew Hucker teaches judo and Brazilian Jiu-jitsu from Pratten’s Sports and Social Club Radstock and Arch Martial Arts in Bath whilst Kern Foot teach at Full Fat Shepton in Pilton.

For information about the clubs, please contact them via Facebook or Instagram or call 07877 816749. M Hucker