Team Ryano Limavady win big in Europe

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu club Team Ryano Limavady had a hugely successful performance at this year's Europeans in Paris.

The club took home five medals from the International Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (IBJJF) tournament held from January 23 to 29, 2023.

Stacey Sloan, Carla McGuigan and Michelle Cargill all took home gold medals while Majella McLaughlin and Andy Chapman both took home bronze.

Gold medalist and Park woman Michelle Cargill was one of the members who came home a European Champion.

“I couldn't believe it when I won. I only entered it last minute as I have three kids – two of whom also do BJJ – and I also work so it can be challenging trying to juggle everything,” she said.

“I was competing with competitors all over the world so I wasn't sure if I would be at their level and at times my confidence dipped.

“It is a hard sport both physically and mentally but I trained hard between training at Limavady and with my husband at home, which is the reason why I became involved in the sport initially,” she added.

Team Ryano Limavady (TRL) is a young club – created just two years ago – and many of its members are new to the sport. But they train with dedication and they have seen it begin to pay off.

Michelle has been training with TRL for those two years and says she wouldn't have believed how far she would come in that time.

“Never did I think I would have the confidence to compete let alone win but Andy, who is a brown belt and also has won the Euros, is extremely active in competitions himself convinced me to compete in the Irish Open in October 2022 on the day the deadline was closing.

“I panicked and was so nervous right up to the competition in which I won double gold and became double Irish Champion.

“It was the best experience and the club had a remarkable return of medals that day. I enjoyed every minute.

“This then led me to go for the Euros as this is the largest competition in Europe I wanted to test myself. I was very proud to represent the club,” Michelle said.

She says BJJ has boosted her confidence and she has since become obsessed with the sport.

TRL Head Coach Andy Chapman said he was very impressed with the club's performance.

“We had a really successful competition, easily one of the best medal returns from any grappling club in Ireland,” he said.

“From seven competitors, we took three gold medals and two bronze medals, in what is known as the single biggest BJJ competition in the world. All three of our gold medalists were females.

“As a club, we train extremely hard, and do a lot of live training, so I knew everyone would be prepared for the intensity of competition, though the margins at this level are so small, anything can happen.

“I knew we had the potential to perform, but we definitely exceeded our best hopes,” he added.

Anyone who wishes to get involved with the sport can contact TRL on Facebook or Instagram and they will receive their first class free.

The club encourages women to sign up and previously offered a women's only class. Now, however, it has gender classes as the women were happy to train with men.

Andy says BJJ promotes the idea of 'control through leverage rather than brute strength' making it a 'fantastic equaliser against strength'.