On April 1 to 2, Vashon Grappling Arts competed at the Revolution 48 Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Tournament at the Washington State Fair Grounds in Puyallup.

This tournament had more than 2,100 competitors. Five Vashon Island grapplers competed, including the team’s first youth competitors, Lovela Dodd and Bidziil Dodd.

The Dodd family brought home four medals. Lovela Dodd earned first place gold in a girls youth no-gi division, and her brother, Bidziil Dodd, earned a bronze third place in a scrappy boys gi division. Coach and father Bobby Dodd earned two gold medals in both the gi and no-gi men’s blue belt divisions.

In an eight-man bracket, Josh Thorn placed first in a 181-pound men’s blue belt gi division. Sean Lang earned silver in his debut after a hard-fought championship bout, and Warren Maierhofer took fourth place in a men’s 168-pound blue belt gi division.

“Folks at the tournament asked, ‘who are you guys? Where’s Vashon Island?’” Said Lang. “We don’t really have a formal program or belt promotions. We just grind it out at the [Open Space for Arts and Community] with our training partners. We laugh a lot and don’t take it too seriously.”

Brazilian jiu jitsu is a combat sport that combines elements of judo and wrestling with a focus on submissions, or making your opponent surrender using chokeholds and joint locks. The UMO School at Vashon’s Open Space offers judo and jujitsu classes for adults and kids.

For more information, visit umo.org/school.