Anthony Perry, a student at Danny Savery Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu & Martial Arts Academy’s Bristol location, earned first place in Gi competition at the NAGA Rhode Island Grappling & BJJ Championship in Tiverton on Saturday, Sept. 12.

Perry’s gold medal finish was part of a strong showing by the academy’s youth and adult competitors, who helped Danny Savery BJJ earn four team awards. The same day, two of the academy’s MMA fighters recorded victories at Cage Titans in Plymouth, Massachusetts.

For the Bristol academy, Perry’s result provided a local highlight in a weekend that brought together athletes from Danny Savery BJJ’s three locations in Bristol, Somerset and Fairhaven. His first-place finish joined those of teammates competing under the same academy banner.

At NAGA, Danny Savery BJJ captured the 1st Place Adult Gi Team Title, along with 2nd Place Overall Adult Team, 2nd Place Kids Team and 2nd Place No-Gi Team honors. Gi competition uses the traditional martial arts uniform, while No-Gi competition takes place without it.

Alongside Perry, Griffin Bassler, Jason Gonsalves and Cortland Hayden each captured first place in Gi competition. Somerset athletes also reached the podium: Gage Makuch earned first place in No-Gi and second place in Absolute No-Gi; Denzel Rego took first place in No-Gi and third place in Gi; and Tabetha Botelho earned first place in Gi.

The team added numerous additional podium finishes throughout the tournament. Logan Riley earned 2nd place in Gi and 3rd in Absolute Gi; Steve Lyons, Cole Resnick, Liam Borges, Charlie Flood, Robert Amaral, Lawrence Mogardo and Aaron Jesus each earned 2nd-place Gi finishes; and Ja-Nalee Read placed 2nd in No-Gi. Isaac Bigelow, Agnes Kelley and Luna Desa each earned 3rd-place Gi finishes. Colton Brant and Theodore Sandoval also represented the team in competition.

Coaching the Danny Savery BJJ competitors throughout the NAGA tournament were Bobby Collins, Steve Lyons, John Miranda and Danny Savery Jr.

For the academy, the results represented more than the medals, championship awards and fight victories. Coaches emphasized the discipline, sportsmanship and respect shown by the athletes throughout both events, particularly among the younger competitors learning how to handle both competition and pressure.

The results connected the Bristol academy to a broader team effort spanning youth grappling, adult Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and mixed martial arts. Perry’s gold medal was among the individual accomplishments that contributed to the academy’s successful day in Tiverton.

Danny Savery Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu & Martial Arts Academy operates locations in Somerset and Fairhaven, Mass., as well as Bristol, with students and competitors training across the three academy locations.