Intrepid MMA head coach Richard Dubois is a world champion.
Dubois, from Sicamous, recently attended the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) No-Gi Submission Grappling World Championships in California along with three students.
He had just recently received his brown belt in association with West Coast BJJ and competed as a brown belt at the worlds. Finding there were no entrants in his weight category, he moved up a weight class to compete against bigger men. There he won gold in his division.
Dubois also entered the absolute class where there are no restrictions on size and he did a repeat performance – winning gold in that division as well.
“Needless to say, we are extremely thrilled to have a world champion here in Salmon Arm to instruct us,” said student Ryan Hunniford.
Marcus Blair, one of Intrepid’s blue belts, recently went to Vancouver to compete. He chose to challenge himself by entering the purple belt division. Belts in jiu-jitsu can take years to earn and each gradation can denote a large difference in skill.
Blair took a big step up and proved himself when he won gold in his division.
On the subject of blue belts, Intrepid MMA recently promoted several members and now have six blue belts to help welcome and work with newcomers.
The club trains adults from 7 p.m. onwards Tuesday and Thursday and can be reached on Facebook.com/IntrepidMMA or Dubois can be reached at 250-804-6516.