Grappling | Brianna Ste-Marie, fighter in full control

Under the radar of more well-known combat sports, a Montrealer is among the best in the world in her discipline.

Frederick Duchesneau
The Press

Never had an athlete from the country recorded a better result in this sport. Montreal’s Brianna Ste-Marie recently finished second in her class at the World Grappling Championship.

It is first necessary to define the word: grappling brings together all kinds of gripping techniques. On the ground, positional controls, immobilizations, arm locks, strangulations. As well as the standing and projection holds, inspired by judo and wrestling, the objective being to bring the opponent to the ground.

Jiu-jitsu is the most complete sport of grappling. During the interview, last Thursday, Ste-Marie uses the two terms almost interchangeably.

“Grappling is a category that also includes wrestling and judo, etc.,” she explains. But it’s always jiu-jitsu athletes who win the events. It’s very rare that we see someone who just practices pure wrestling who will win the ADCC. »

No, boss, Ric Flair never took that title with a foursome.

It is at this 14^e ADCC (for Abu Dhabi Combat Club) Submission Fighting World Championship — which takes place every two years — that Brianna Ste-Marie has just won the silver medal in the under 60 kg category.

Many words for a name of competition, but of which it is enough to retain that it constitutes to some extent the Olympic Games of the grappling.

Mixed feelings

Only the cream of grapplers compete in the ADCC World Championship, held two weeks ago at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas. It is accessed by invitation — in the case of the medalists of the last edition and legends of the sport — or through tryouts (trials) continental. Brianna Ste-Marie earned her worlds pass by winning the North American Trials in April. Out of six fights, she had won four by submission.

With this perspective, a second place in the worlds, unexpected or expected result?

” A bit of both. For my first participation, it’s a very good result. Objectively, I know. Lots of athletes would like that, ”admits the 26-year-old fighter.

Beaten on points in the final by Welshwoman Ffion Davies, the Quebecer will also remember the occasion for another reason.

“There was a crowd of 12,000 people, it was sick. People were screaming, jumping out of their seats. It was a special experience. »

Ontario’s Dante Leon won bronze at 77 kg, a feat in his case too, the discipline being largely dominated by Brazilians and Americans.

Why grappling?

When she was younger, Brianna Ste-Marie first played rugby. “I loved the physical side of the sport,” she says, an interest that obviously hasn’t left her.

Immersed in martial arts since the 1980s, his father focused on jiu-jitsu at the turn of the 2010s.

“When he started, I was a teenager and I didn’t really want to do the same activities as my father! says the Concordia graduate in environmental studies.

Then, on the verge of her twenties, she decided to try jiu-jitsu, “to do something new”.

“And from the first lesson, I absolutely loved it. It’s a bit like playing chess, but with our bodies”, describes Ste-Marie.

Initially, she did not think that this passion would turn into a career choice. “But it’s very addictive. The more you do, the more you want to know. »

One thing leading to another, she ended up following a training partner who took part in important competitions all over the world. “And it snowballed. »

Brianna Ste-Marie does not completely close the door to mixed martial arts. She doesn’t like to say no.

“But I’m a little nervous with concussions,” she says.

Ideally, she would therefore prefer to make a good living out of grappling. Her sport is growing and she gives classes in various gyms, including the Mizu Studio, in the Saint-Henri district.

And, of course, the wins don’t hurt.

“When you start having success in competition, gyms all over the world ask you to give seminars of a few hours, it pays well. Then, if you win the ADCC, you’re really established in the sport. »

Medalist in her first participation, everything seems possible.