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Warnbro Jiu Jitsu national champion dedicates gold medal to friend lost at sea

Vanessa SchmittWeekend Kwinana Courier

WARNBRO resident Tony Jeanes won gold and silver at the Pan Pacific Jiu Jitsu Championships in Melbourne on the weekend.

He dedicated his nationals campaign to his friend Tuan Pham, who was lost at sea earlier this month.

“He was one of four family members that failed to return from their fishing trip to Rottnest,” Jeanes said.

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Jeanes won the silver in Gi light weight (76kg) and gold in the No Gi middle weight (79.5kg) Masters 2 Division (35-39 years).

“I felt OK with silver, but I knew it wasn’t my best performance,” he said.

“I lost by one advantage point, which is the lowest you can lose by other than ref’s decision, so that made it hard to accept, knowing I was that close to getting the gold.

“In the No Gi, I decided I wasn’t going to walk away with the same result as my Gi division.

“I quickly reflected on the work I put in, in my nine-week training camp.

“I stepped on to the mats and had a great battle with my opponent, walking off as a No Gi Pan Pacific Champion and claimed the gold.”

Jeanes is training for the World Masters Championships in Las Vegas 2019.

“I will be representing Australia, the Arena MMA Rockingham and Zenith BJJ Australia, and heading over as a state, national and Pan Pacific purple belt champion,” Jeanes said.