Double world champion puts Frome on the map

TEENAGER, Kai Melling, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) student at Gracie Barra Frome, took home two gold medals from the Junior BJJ World Championships last month, with fellow student Daniel Orford sadly missing out on a medal. 

Over the weekend of Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd July, the two students from Gracie Barra Frome took part in the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Junior World Gi and No-Gi Championships held in Wolverhampton. 

Daniel Orford and Kai Melling, who are both 14, have been training with Gracie Barra Frome for less than two years and competed in the male, teen 2, grey belt, under 65kg category. 

Head instructor, Callum Swift said, “Dan put on a remarkable performance competing for the first time in the grey belt  category, having previously won a British title as a white belt in May, but unfortunately lost this time by a narrow two-point margin.

“Kai put on a stellar performance despite being one of the lightest entrants in the division, submitting all his opponents to take the win. Submissions used included a shoulder lock and an arm-bar joint lock. 

“Having breezed a path to the final, not surrendering a single point to his opponents, Kai came up against the competitor who had defeated team mate, Dan, earlier that day. Not letting the pressure of the event take over, Kai finished his opponent in less than 30 seconds with a surprising loop choke that has become his signature move whilst training at the school in Frome, thus avenging Dan’s earlier loss. This means Kai is now a Junior World Gi Champion.”

On Sunday, Kai then competed in the No-Gi event. No-Gi refers to the removal of the traditional kimono uniform (Gi), where competitors compete in rash guards and shorts. 

Callum added, “Kai maintained his winning form, again finishing all his fights by submission, and making his way to the final of the male, No-Gi, teen 2, grey belt, under 63kg category. In the final Kai came up against a fellow Gracie Barra student, this time from the Blackburn school.

“This was one of Kai’s most competitive fights, but eventually came down to a triangle choke submission, where Kai used his legs locked together to apply pressure to his opponent’s neck, eventually getting the submission at 2 mins 25 seconds. After his hand was raised, Kai became a double world gold medallist and world champion.

“Kai’s success at competition is a testament to the hard work he put into his training on the mats. He is young and very dedicated, and would love to run his own Gracie Barra school once he is older. He is very respectful when he competes, and especially humble in victory, never celebrating a win or submission, instead his priority is helping his opponent to his feet and shaking their hand.

“Dan was very disappointed with his performance during the weekend, as this was his first defeat in competition, but this is also his first competition at grey belt. It is another level of competition in terms of skill, and we couldn’t have expected any more of him. He will be competing again late this year at the Junior Europeans in September.”

Kai said, “I’m thrilled, it’s been a lot of hard work and training, and it has finally paid off!”

Gracie Barra Frome, is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and self defence school based in Frome. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a grappling martial art that derives its roots from Japanese Ju-Jitsu and traditional Judo in the early 1910s, utilizing throws, joint locks, and chokes to control and submit your opponent or attacker.

Gracie Barra runs on the ethos of ‘Jiu-Jitsu for everyone’, and as such offer a one week free trial to all new students. Please visit www.graciebarrafrome.com for more information, or find them on social media.