Members of Cameron’s Brazilian Jiu Jitsu club compete at state tournament

When the American Grappling Federation held its Oklahoma State Championship Tournament, two members of Cameron University's Brazilian jiu jitsu club found themselves in the thick of competition. Seth Pleasant, a sophomore majoring in allied health science, and Junior Ramirez, who graduated in December 2024 but remains active in the club as an alumnus, joined more than 400 competitors to test their skills.

Both are relative newcomers to the sport. Pleasant has been engaging in the sport for approximately 10 months. Ramirez started learning the discipline about eight months ago.

"Training in Brazilian jiu jitsu has been an intense but rewarding journey that's filled with steep learning curves and moments of growth," Ramirez says. "What really draws me to it is the blend of strategy, technique and adaptability. It's like a physical game of chess where every movement matters, and you're always trying to think a step ahead of your opponent. Plus, the camaraderie in the gym is incredible. You grow and learn together as a team."

Consistent training, drilling fundamentals and working on weak areas with his coaches prepared Ramirez for the tournament.

"I also upped my conditioning to build stamina and practiced specific scenarios I might face during matches," he says. "Mental preparation was just as important as I visualized success, stayed calm under pressure, and trusted in my training."

His strategy paid off as Ramirez, a two-stripe white belt, emerged victorious in White Belt Gi - Heavy and took second place in White Belt No Gi - Heavy.

Pleasant, who has participated in wrestling and boxing in the past, says he's always liked martial arts.

"The thing about Brazilian jiu jitsu that appeals to me more than anything is the sense of community I feel with the sport," he says.

Pleasant says he prepared for the statewide competition by attending CU's club training as well as taking classes at Lawton's Dreadnought BJJ Academy as often as possible He also focused on cardio workouts. At the tournament, Pleasant, who is a two-stripe white belt, competed in the White Belt No Gi/Ultra Heavy divisions, finishing in fourth place.

The tournament offered divisions for competitors wearing the Gi as well as No-Gi divisions. The Gi is a training uniform that consists of a heavy cotton jacket, reinforced drawstring pants and a belt that communicates the wearers rank. In a Gi competition, individuals can use traditional grips, controls and submission techniques using the Gi material. Gripping of an opponent's collar, lapel, and/or sleeve can allow for many leveraging techniques.

No-Gi BJJ is an alternative style in which athletes wear a rash guard (tight-fitting athletic shirt) and grappling shorts or spats (tight-fitting athletic bottoms). No-Gi focuses more on wrist and body control rather than fabric grips and is typically faster-paced than Gi. Additionally, some Gi-specific techniques are not available in the No-Gi divisions.

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