Yemaso BJJ 2014 Accomplishments
We started 2014 on a good note. For the second year in a row our Sacramento Jiu-Jitsu academy went to the San Francisco International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation tournament, and brought back a team title. Our small team was able to accomplish a second place team trophy with some outstanding efforts from the entire team. We shared the podium with two other powerhouses in Caio Terra & Atos, both of which boast international associations and teams that are larger than our small squad of dedicated athletes.
Following the team trophy, we kept that momentum leading into the year of competitions. After having made our mark locally, our athletes were able to earn some pretty notable accomplishments abroad. We had some very ambitious athletes go out and compete in the biggest tournaments the world has to offer.
Major Tournament Medalists:
Pan Ams
- Billy English – White Belt Lightweight Silver Medalist
- Sourikone Nhingsavath – White Belt Lightweight Silver Medalist
- Rich Bothun – Purple Belt Middleweight Silver Medalist
- Marcus Boness – Brown Belt Middleweight Champion
- Marcos Torregrosa – Black Belt Lightweight Champion
- Steven Tafoya – Black Belt Middleweight Champion
Worlds
- Bernard Turner – White Belt Featherweight Champion
- Billy English – White Belt Lightweight Silver Medalist
American Nationals
- John Tai – White Belt Lightweight Bronze Medalist
- Jerry Hickman – White Belt Lightweight Silver Medalist
- Bernard Turner – Blue Belt Featherweight Bronze Medalist
- Bernard Turner – Blue Belt Absolute Bronze Medalist
- Donny Le – Purple Belt Light-Featherweight Champion
- Sean Gonsolin – Purple Belt Featherweight Bronze Medalist
- Rich Bothun – Purple Belt Medium-Heavyweight Champion
- Rich Bothun – Purple Belt Absolute Champion
- Eliot Kelly – Black Belt Heavyweight Silver Medalist
- Eliot Kelly – Black Belt Absolute Bronze Medalist
- Marcos Torregrosa – Black Belt Lightweight Champion
- Marcos Torregrosa – Black Belt Absolute Bronze Medalist
NoGi Worlds
- Billy English – Blue Belt Lightweight Bronze Medalist
- Rich Bothun – Purple Belt Medium-Heavyweight Silver Medalist
- Marcos Torregrosa – Black Belt Lightweight Champion
Master Worlds
- Carlos Machado – Blue Belt Light-Featherweight Bronze Medalist
- Billy English – Blue Belt Lightweight Bronze Medalist
- Allan Scott – Blue Belt Middleweight Silver Medalist
- Rich Bothun – Purple Belt Middleweight Champion
- Eliot Kelly – Black Belt Heavyweight Bronze Medalist
- Steven Tafoya – Black Belt Medium-Heavyweight Silver Medalist
Below is a list of Yemaso BJJ athletes who have managed to rank in the top 20 of their respective divisions. These rankings are comprised of belt, weight, and age divisions for the whole world. To be able to rank in the world means that you have to consistently win at tournaments. These guys have been competing often and winning just as much.
Yemaso Athletes Ranked in Top 20:
Angelo Suetos Tengan
- #1 Gi Teen3 Yellow Male
- #1 Gi Teen3 Yellow Male Feather
Bernard Turner
- #8 NoGi Master1 Blue Male Feather
- #20 Gi Master1 Blue Male Feather
Billy English
- #11 Gi Master1 Blue Male Light
- #13 NoGi Master1 Blue Male Light
Carlos Saquic Perez
- #18 Gi Adult Purple Male Rooster
Celina Malabanan
- #19 Gi Master1 Blue Female Feather
Donny Le
- #9 Gi Master1 Purple Male LightFeather
Eliot Andrew Kelly
- #3 NoGi Adult Black Male SuperHeavy
- #9 Gi Adult Black Male Heavy
Jerry Hickman
- #8 Gi Master2 White Male Light
Kyle Roberts
- #9 NoGi Adult Purple Male Heavy
- #17 Gi Adult Purple Male Heavy
Marcos Torregrosa
- #1 Gi Master1 Black Male Light
- #1 NoGi Master1 Black Male Light
- #2 Gi Master1 Black Male
- #2 NoGi Master1 Black Male
Marcus Boness
- #5 Gi Master3 Brown Male Medium
- #6 NoGi Master3 Brown Male MediumHeavy
- #14 Gi Master3 Brown Male Open
Randy Lacy
- #8 Gi Master2 Blue Male Light
- #8 NoGi Master2 Blue Male Light
- #20 NoGi Master2 Blue Male Open
Richard Selmar Bothun
- #1 Gi Master2 Purple Male Open
- #1 Gi Master2 Purple Male Medium
- #2 NoGi Master2 Purple Male MediumHeavy
- #5 Gi Master2 Purple Male MediumHeavy
- #6 NoGi Master2 Purple Male Open
Richard Wing Fu Wong
- #1 Gi Juvenile Purple Male
- #1 Gi Juvenile Purple Male Medium
- #1 NoGi Juvenile Purple Male Open
- #1 NoGi Juvenile Purple Male Medium
Sourikone Nhingsavath
- #3 Gi Master2 White Male Light
Steven Edward Tafoya
- #4 Gi Master5 Black Male Medium
- #8 Gi Master5 Black Male MediumHeavy
- #10 Gi Master5 Black Male Open
2015 Will be bigger. Join us.
The acquirement of a new affiliate of Puerto Rico means Yemaso BJJ is now an international team. You can expect to see our athletes competing on the east coast regularly in addition to our west coast efforts. Having a team in Puerto Rico will also allow us to coordinate some great Jiu-Jitsu vacations to train and enjoy the beaches of beautiful Puerto Rico (a traincation, if you will). Stay connected with us as we begin logistical planning in 2015. This is an exciting time for everyone involved with Yemaso BJJ!