KAGMAN High School alumna Marilyn Cruz has earned her first gold medal in the Masters Division of the 2022 International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation’s World Master JiuJitsu Championship held on Sept. 1-3 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Marilyn Cruz, center, smiles after winning gold in the Masters Division of the 2022 International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation’s World Master JiuJitsu Championship held on Sept. 1-3 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Her championship match was six minutes long, but ended in little over four minutes of action via a cross collar choke.
It started with Cruz executing a double guard pull. She then decided to cut an angle toward the back side of her opponent. As the opponent tried to roll away from Cruz, she latched onto her back.
“It was a battle to maintain the position,” she said. “I kept control of my opponent with some grip changing and a little patience.”
She said her opponent played a smart game, defending positional points but thanks to Cruz’s persistence, she was able to secure a back mount and followed through with a cross collar choke, forcing the tap with under two minutes left in the match.
The Masters is a division for those who are 30 years old and above.
“It’s a small division compared to adults, because of the age and weight class limitations, but the competitors are just as hungry,” she said.
When asked how she felt after winning, she said, “I am ecstatic about winning a world title in my new division and in a different level (purple belt).”
Cruz believes she is in the prime of her competitive career. “My last world championship title was at blue belt in No-Gi. It’s a goal of mine to win a world title at every milestone. I am determined to accomplish more titles,” she said.
She is set to compete in the 2022 No-Gi World Championships at the end of the year and she may also compete in the 2022 Copa De Marianas on Guam.