Martial arts students excel

Students from Tiger Schulmann’s Mixed Martial Arts Center in Marlboro represented their school on Dec. 10, competing in the Challenge of Champions martial arts competition held at the Meadowlands Exposition Center in Secaucus.

This 21st Challenge of Champions event was the largest ever with more than 1,600 competitors of all ages, backgrounds and belt ranks participating in more than 270 divisions of head-to-head, dual-discipline martial arts competition. The event took place in front of a sold out crowd of more than 3,000 spectators (with an additional 500 volunteer staff).

“Our students train long and hard for this very demanding competition. It not only gives them a chance to compete with students from our other (41) schools, it also provides them with a competitive goal to work and strive for in their training,” said Sensei Johnson, head instructor of Tiger Schulmann’s Mixed Martial Arts Center in Marlboro.

“In preparation for this event, students become focused on maximizing their skills and train to be the very best they can be. I’m very proud of all who competed from my school. They’re all winners as far as I’m concerned,” Johnson said.

The areas of competition included Submission Grappling, Free Fighting and Mixed Martial Arts (which combines the two disciplines) for both juniors (ages 15 and under) and for adults (of all ages).

Submission Grappling is one of the largest and fastest growing disciplines in martial arts. This competition’s grappling event was the largest yet, with nearly 1,300 competitors in various divisions.

Submission grappling is similar to traditional wrestling in its clinch and ground fighting techniques, with the key difference of aiming for a “tap out” submission, using various choke holds and joint locks.

Winners from the Marlboro Tiger Schulmann school in the Submission Grappling competition include Stephen Felle, first place; Ronny Ghaida, first place; Ryan Ghaida, third place; Christopher Gonzalez Jr., first place; Christopher Gonzalez Sr., second place; Idania Gonzalez, second place; Tyler Kornmehl, first place; Bryan Pritsker, third place; James Silva, second place; and Julian Spangenberg, first place.

Also featured was the Free Fighting competition with nearly 1,000 students competing in various divisions. This fast paced sparring competition features participants in full protective gear using strategic combinations of punches, kicks and blocks to cleanly land blows on their opponent and outscore them.

Winners from the Marlboro Tiger Schulmann’s in the Free Fighting competition include Jeevan Boggavarapu, first place; Nina Cammarata, second place; Zachary Feldman, third place; Christopher Gonzalez Jr., first place; Christopher Gonzalez Sr., second place; Idania Gonzalez, third place; Tyler Kornmehl, first place; and Linda Silva, first place.

Challenge of Champions was introduced in 1996 and has become the largest martial arts tournament of its kind in the United States.

Tiger Schulmann’s has 41 schools in five states including New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Florida.