Squamish’s own Sound Martial Arts gym found success, taking gold in multiple fights in two separate Metro Vancouver events.
The recent victories have given the martial artists a chance to reflect on their wins.
Squamish residents Taran Bir and Indroop Virk competed in the muay thai fights of the 49th Battlefield Fight League tournament (BFL 49), which was held on June 24 at the Hardrock Casino in Coquitlam, with both winning their respective fights.
Twenty-four-year-old Bir, who competed in the feather weight class, won his fight via technical knockout.
“I knew my opponent was much bigger and older,” said Bir. “I was a bit nervous, but I was confident in my skills and my coach. It was amazing, being able to stop somebody before the match ends. It was a sense of relief, really great.”
Eighteen-year-old Virk, who made his BFL debut fighting in the 145-pound weight class, won via unanimous decision of the judges.
For Virk, focus was the key to victory.
“Before a fight, you usually get a little nervous, but this time I didn’t get nervous,” Virk said. “The crowd didn’t bother me at all. I was in a really focused state, really just listening to my coaches. I won all three rounds. It feels great, all that work, you know?”
The effort was the product of a disciplined regime, which had the fighter going to the gym five days a week for a combination of strength conditioning and cardio.
The Last Warrior tournament, held on June 25 in North Vancouver, also saw wins for Squamish-based Brazilian jiu jitsu fighters.
Twenty-four-year-old Fraser Young made his jiu jitsu debut at the tournament, earning silver in the heavy weight division after winning his second match via a rear-naked choke hold.
“It was a great time, and it was really well organized. I’m looking forward to doing the next fight, and I’m very thankful for everybody that came and helped out, especially my coaches Mike Nasu and Vance,” Young said.
For Johnny Thomadias, who won gold in the masters medium heavy division via a kimura shoulder lock, the victory carried some extra weight.
Thomadias, who is 45 years old, was pitted against fighters who were younger and heavier.
Some opponents were about 191 pounds, while Thomadias weighed in at 181. Furthermore, his opponents, in some cases, were 35 years old.
During the match, which earned him the silver, Thomadias won two out of the three rounds necessary for victory. The first round was a win based on a higher score, while during the second round, he beat his opponent with a submission.
“During the match I was in a dreamland,” he said. “It was no worries; I was floating on top of the world.”
For Tara McKone, who competed in the masters light weight division and won gold via inverted arm bar submission, victory was as much about mental strength as it was physical.
“Before a tournament, your energy levels peak and there’s amazing euphoria,” she said. “But that can burn out. That was my downfall last tournament. I was so uncomfortable I couldn’t sleep or eat. For my second fight I worked with an acupuncturist to calm that adrenaline down, using breathing techniques and meditation. Now I’m completely present.”
For McKone, respect for one’s opponent is also crucial.
“Acknowledging your opponent as a human being and a woman who is in the same place in life as me leads to a mutual respect, and that ends fear,” she said.
Mike Nasu, coach at the Sound Martial Arts gym, seemed proud of the fighters’ performances.
“They held the game plan strategy perfect,” said Nasu.
“They’re all warriors. It was awesome,” he said, referencing the jiu jitsu fights.
He also added he was impressed with the performances from Bir and Virk.
“They were just in a different class,” he said.
