Kelly takes bronze in Euros
By Stephen Leonard
JOHN Kelly, Head Coach of Checkmat Dublin in Ballymount, returned home from the IBJJF European Jiu Jitsu Championships in Lisbon with bronze.
Lining out in the Brown Belt Middleweight division, Kelly saw off the challenge of England’s Adam Baker, representing Team Grand Union Jiu Jitsu, in the quarter final.
Checkmat Dublin Head Coach John Kelly (second from right) made the podium at the IBJJF European Jiu Jitsu Championships in Lisbon
“It was a very good tough fight, but once I got in front, there was no stopping me” said Kelly.
The Checkmat Head Coach next faced off against Jose Mario Roberta Ventura in the last four, but was undone when he was caught in a foot lock from which he was unable to extricate himself.
Kelly is no stranger to success in this event having won gold in NO-GI and silver in GI Purple Belt competition back in 2016.
Since then he has chalked up a further three bronze and silver in brown belt on the continental stage.
On February 29, he will contest the London Open in which he has picked up gold over the past two seasons. He also hopes to travel to Barcelona for the European Masters Champ-ionships at the end of May.
A number of his club members are also gearing up for some competition, starting with the GAMA tournament in Portarlington this weekend.
Following that will be the Emerald Jiu Jitsu Cup in Dublin on February 23 and another major Grappling Industries outing in DCU in late March.
