Ontario Fire Fighter Wins Pan-Am Championship  

April 30, 2008 – After completing an agreement to fight in the Pan-American and World Masters Jui Jitsu Championships for Team Equipe Fabricio Jui Jitsu of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Toronto, ON Local 3888 member Brian Beauchamp was one of only a few Canadians to medal at the Pan-Am Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Championships held in Carson, California, in April.

Beauchamp trained for the month of March at Black Trunk Martial Arts in Fort Myers, Florida, under BJJ Black Belt Sean Wilson. He first won Gold in the NAGA Grappling Tournament in West Palm Beach with his teammates from Black Trunks and then traveled across the country and won the Gold Medal at the Pan-Am Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Championships.

Beauchamp, a 3rd degree Black Belt in Judo, a BJJ Blue Belt and a former member of the Canadian National Judo Team, is the only Canadian to win both the Pan American Championships in Judo and Brazilian Jui Jitsu.

He says, "I am still growing and learning as a BJJ competitor and my time in Florida with my good friends at Black Trunks was invaluable. I realize I have a lot to learn but my time at Black Trunks and Gracie Barra in California was a step in the right direction.”

Beauchamps hopes to win the Mundials in Brazil in July.

Read more about Brian Beauchamp.