It’s a gripping situation

GRAPPLING his way through Australian junior jiu jitsu’s best has been a tough journey, but Beaconsfield’s Bailey Collins is ready to tackle his biggest competition yet.
Collins, 10, has been diligently practicing the Brazilian martial art for the last three years and has worked his way through the ranks up to a yellow-and-black belt.
His skills have seen him work his way up the belts and earn a number of prestigious victories – as Collins recently won gold at Grappling Industries to add to his prior top achievements: a bronze medal won at both the 2013 and 2014 Pan Pacific Championships, and Silver at the 2014 State Championships.
He picked up the martial art after watching his friends do it and wants to encourage a few more of his friends to get into jiu jitsu.
“I first saw my friends doing it, then I joined and they quit, but I kept on doing it and now I’m finally up to my yellow-and-black belt,” Collins said.
“I went to Jhunior and we now go to this place in Pakenham and it’s a lot better than the YMCA as its mostly technical stuff you can use.
“I just like my friends doing it and I like learning about the self-defence to keep myself safe – I like the games as well.”
Bailey will soon compete at the 2015 State Championships at Melbourne Exhibition Centre as part of a hectic period – he is also preparing for the Pan Pacs in Melbourne and the Australian Titles in Adelaide.
“I want a really big challenge, but not always to tap them, but also win by points,” Collins said.
“I’d love to tap them (instant win condition), just to get it over with straight away, but getting a hard fight would be good too.”
He’s in such good form that his coach Jhunior Guarnido is interested in taking Bailey to California next year for the PanAm Kids Championships – the pinnacle of junior jiu jitsu worldwide.
“Probably I’ll go for Las Vegas as there’s a world championships over there as well, but Brazil is where you get all the ‘gis’ (fighting uniforms) and that,” Collins said.
He also has a fascination with motorsport – loving his go-karting – it keeps Collins busy across his two great sporting passions.
Bailey trains with Guarnido at the Cia Paulista ‘Team JG’ Brazilian Jiu Jitsu dojo in Pakenham.
For more information, Guarnido can be contacted at 0478 686 160, or email info@australiabjj.com or Facebook page www.facebook.com/JGBJJ.