For those who live and breathe Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, NAGA is a highlight of the year. It's a chance to test skills, push limits, and see how the hard work on the mats translates into real competition. For the team from 10th Planet Banbury, this year's event was no exception. With a mix of seasoned competitors and rising stars, the squad was ready to take on the best of the UK's grappling scene. Here's a glimpse into their journey, from the weight cut to the final bell.
The Road to London
The alarm clock screamed far too early on Friday, marking the start of our NAGA London adventure. The mission? To bring some gold back to 10th Planet Banbury and some flair to the mats of the capital. First stop, picking up Charles and Gav. Then a rendezvous with Nathan in Bicester to complete the squad.
But before the grappling could commence, there was the small matter of weight. Anyone who's competed knows the drill. A quick stop at a local sauna in Bicester helped to shed those last few pesky pounds before we headed down to London to sign in and step on the scales.
With the weigh-in successfully navigated, it was time to refuel! We made short work of a mountain of food, essential after a weight cut, before the drive back to Banbury for some much-needed rest. Tomorrow was the day.
Fight Day Frenzy
Saturday morning arrived, and it was time to do it all again, except this time, the mats awaited. Another early start saw us collect Charles, Gav and Nathan before hitting the road back to London.
The venue was buzzing with energy, a mix of nervous anticipation and focused determination hung in the air. We settled in, found our spot, and went through some warm-ups. There was a good few hours wait before any of the guys were due on, so relaxing and conserving energy was the name of the game.
Battles on the Mat
Then it was go time! First up, Charles was on fire, showcasing some slick submissions. He secured a win with a brutal Japanese neck-tie and another via a savage face crank.
Next up we had Nathan, going up against some seriously tough opposition, though it wasn't the result he may have hoped for, he showed skill, technique and dominance throughout his performances.
Then was the turn of head coach, Gavin. Showing his experience and skill, he stormed through both of his matches, nearly finishing his first match with a lethal d-sev choke (you may remember this as the sub from his win at Polaris 2024), securing the bag and claiming the NAGA belt! 10th Planet Banbury was making its mark!
The Aftermath
Victorious and exhausted, we piled back into the car for the journey home. A well-deserved food stop was essential, and Gavin even got mobbed by some fans congratulating him on the win. The 'press' as he likes to call them!
It was a long, tiring, but ultimately rewarding weekend. We are already looking forward to the next one, check out our socials to see what we've been up to.
You can head over to our YouTube to catch our vlog from the NAGA weekend!
