The words of Survivor, “Risin' up, straight to the top, have the guts, got the glory, went the distance, now I'm not gonna stop, just a man and his will to survive,” sums up the K2 Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Fight Team! Participating in their 2nd grappling competition ever, the K2 Fight Team walked in with 28 fighters and walked away with 10 - 1st place titles, 5 - 2nd place titles & 6 - 3rd place titles at the North American Grapplers Association Tournament (NAGA) held on March 15, 2008 at Palm Beach Central High School.

A total of 1,350 competitors, ranging in ages from 3 to 63, competed for the coveted custom-engraved Samurai swords and championship belts.

The North American Grappling Association is the nation’s largest mixed grappling tournament circuit with more than 80,000 registered competitors in the world. Grappling is one of the most popular fighting methods in mixed martial arts featuring Gi and No-Gi competitions. Led by K2's Founder, Sensei William Wright III, the K2 BJJ Fight Team placed 2nd in the nation beating out 57 other competitive teams.

States Sensei Wright, “we’re a local independently ran school, not a franchise, so when that is factored into the scenario, we ranked 1st in the nation!” Continues Sensei, “Because this is only the 2nd NAGA tournament we have ever participated in, this is an incredible accomplishment for our team. I would like to give special thanks to our  instructors, Christian Carvalho, BJJ Black Belt and Joshu Eric Bellerose, MMA 2nd Degree Black Belt, and all the families for their continued support and dedication.”

K2, located in the heart of Royal Palm Beach FL, was started by Sensei William Wright III in June 2002.  The 1600 square foot facility affords it’s members the opportunity to train with the best of the best. Sensei Wright hails from Jersey City NJ and has over 17 years of training and teaching experience with both children and adults; Christian Carvalho was born in Manaus-Amazon-Brazil with a true warrior spirit and has over 18 years of training and teaching experience with children and adults; Joshu Eric Bellerose, our local Floridian, worked hard and moved up in the ranks from one of the first students of K2 to now being a beloved assistant instructor, working with both children and adults.  

K2’s dedication to Faith, Strength and Honor produced the following eye-of-the-tiger champions during the March 15, 2008 NAGA Tournament:

• Taylor Way, 1st place in Gi and 1st place in no-Gi
• Mike Delrossi, 1st place in Gi and 1st place in no-Gi
• Jack Stengel, 1st place in no-Gi
• Mike Williams, 1st place in no-Gi
• Blake Kessler, 1st place in Gi
• C.J. Kessler, 1st place in no-Gi
• Gisela Alvarez, 1st place no-Gi
• Kevin Estevez, 1st place in no-Gi
• Alex Cabrera, 2nd place in no-Gi
• Adrian Cabrera, 2nd place in no-Gi
• Tyler Bertolami, 2nd place in no-Gi
• Brian Ormsby, 2nd place in Gi
• Katie Hammesfahr, 2nd place in no-Gi
• Trey Bertolami, 3rd place in no-Gi
• Landen Fresch = 3rd place in no-Gi
• Elias Strahl, 3rd place in Gi
• Blake Kessler, 3rd place in no-Gi
• C.J. Kessler, 3rd place in Gi
• Brian Ormsby, 3rd place in no-Gi

Ranking in the Top Ten in the Nation include the following nine K2 BJJ Fight Team Members:

• Saskia Mourra
• Lindsay Placius
• Alex Thornton
• Danielle Indiveri
• David Summa
• Rob Hammesfahr
• Justin Hammesfahr
• Marshall Weaver
• Alex Meese
• Timmy Hammesfahr

Read more about K2 and how you, too, can become  a member of one of the nations leading Martial Arts Teams by visiting www.k2life.com. A list of classes, with descriptions, is available.

Article by: Teresa Duerr, K2 Publicist
March 25, 2008