Submission grappling attracts 27 exponents at Rentap Championships 7.0

KUCHING (Jan 22): Submission grappling reached another milestone when it was staged at the Rentap Fighting Championships 7.0 (RFC 7.0) at The Summer Shopping Mall in Kota Samarahan last Sunday.

It marked the second time that submission grappling was featured in the tournament.

The submission grappling segment attracted 27 athletes comprising 20 men and seven women contesting 14 bouts. It was organised by Hornbill Grappling Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and underscored the commitment of RFC 7.0 organisers to expand combat sports beyond traditional striking disciplines.

The participants comprised Malaysians and international competitors from Indonesia and Egypt.

Participating teams included SBG Borneo, Warmonger Training Academy, Arena Martial Arts Academy, Klubhouz Association, 11 Fight Camp, Tempur Jarak Dekat MMA, Fearless MMA Club, FÉROCE and Gorilla Thaiboxing amid several independent fighters.

“We are proud to see more international participants compared to last year, which makes the competition even more exciting as fighters test their skills and limits on the mat. Overall, the event ran smoothly, and we believe we have achieved a good level of competition for the local community,” club president Kent Phang said in a statement.

The club is hoping to continue growing the sport in Sarawak and to introduce more programmes such as women’s self-defence initiatives.

While the sport may seem intimidating, Phang added, it is a skill-based discipline at its core which can be applied positively in our daily lives.

Organisers believe that Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and submission grappling are rising in popularity in Sarawak and they expect continued growth in the coming years.

It helps that RFC 7.0 was broadcast by TVS.