EBCI tribal member Landon French (center) holds a sword he won by placing first in the Teen NO-GI Beginner Heavyweight 16-17 division at the North American Grappling Association tournament in Charlotte this past weekend. He is shown with Silver Medalist Andrew Villarreal (left) and Bronze Medalist Mitch Bullins (DAWN ARNEACH/One Feather contributor photos)
Tribal Member wins at Grappling Tournament
By DAWN ARNEACH
ONE FEATHER CONTRIBUTOR
CHARLOTTE – Landon French, an EBCI tribal member from the Yellowhill Community, attended the North American Grappling Association (NAGA) North Carolina Championship tournament held at the Grady Cole Center on Saturday, April 9 and came home with a sword.
French takes down Mitch Bullins in the Teen No-Gi division on Saturday. In addition to his first place finish in No-Gi, he won a Silver Medal in the Gi Teen Division.
French won the sword by placing first in the Teen NO-GI Beginner Heavyweight 16-17 division. He also brought home a Silver medal in the Teen GI Beginner Heavyweight division.
French won his first match in No-Gi by executing an arm triangle choke. He won his second match just seconds into the contest with a guillotine choke.
He won his first Gi match by scoring six points. He lost his second match on points and ended up with the silver medal in the division.
French has been training in mixed martial arts with Clyde Dull at the Birdtown Recreation Center for over a year. He just recently started training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at the Basulto Academy of Defense in Waynesville. This was only his second grappling tournament.
“I want Landon to move up to the men’s division,” said Armando Basulto, his jiu-jitsu instructor. “He’s a natural.”
Dull commented, “He is also a good striker and I am looking forward to seeing Landon fight in the cage when he is old enough.”
