Brazilian jiu jitsu: Big results for small team

Roman Nathan looks to secure his back mount position and finish with a rear naked choke.

Brazilian jiu jitsu athletes from Northland took the trip to Auckland for the national championships and returned with a swag of medals.

It is the first time the Whangarei-based myBJJ academy has sent a team to nationals as it has been open less than a year.

Nine kids and four adults competed in the tournament and punched well above their weight.

With 260 kids fighting in the tournament, it was impressive that all nine of the Whangarei competitors made the top four in their divisions.

It was a family affair as the nine athletes came from four families.

Sieanna Lloyd finished third in her division, while Jaime and Donnie Lloyd won their respective divisions.

Teagan and Trinity Nathan each finished fourth in their competitions, with their brother Roman going two places better.

Savannah and Chelsea Bodman each came second in their divisions.

Brock Cameron also snared a silver in his division.

A smaller team of adults went down, but were no less successful.

There were 220 adults competing.

Sheree Beehre came third and her husband, Isaac Lloyd, took first place, meaning that five members of a single family made the top three.

Steve Anderson finished fourth in his division and Brennan Matheson took third.

Head instructor James Cherrie had nothing but praise for his team.

"It's absolutely awesome that we managed to bring so many medals home after just 10 months of being together as a team," he said. "We placed in the top five academies in New Zealand for the kids and the top five academies in New Zealand overall, which is completely unheard of in New Zealand for a team as small and as new as ours."

"Everyone fought with such awesome technique, honour and respect."