The 2019-2020 school year has seen more students excelling at the martial art known as the “game of human chess.”

CBA Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is the only high school BJJ club in the state of New Jersey. The club is dedicated to promoting health, building confidence, and bonding with fellow athletes, all while developing a potential life-saving skill.

This year, several students and coaches have participated in regional competitions, and unsurprisingly, have earned podium finishes along the way.

BJJ is a martial art based on grappling and ground fighting, focusing on the skill of controlling one’s opponent through strategy and technique. Jiu-Jitsu promotes the concept that a smaller, weaker person can successfully defend against a bigger, stronger opponent by using leverage and proper technique.

Students are trained by faculty instructors Mr. Matt Butler and Mr. Mike Tomaino, both multiple-time international BJJ competition gold medalists. The club competes in tournaments around the tri-state area and meets two to three times per week, with more frequent practices during tournament season.

In December and January, Butler and a group of students were active in Submission-only tournaments. William Attardi, Max Bean, Doug Cannon and Butler all took home gold medals in their divisions at the Brooklyn-based tournament. These first place finishes earned them a qualification into the Submission-only World Championship. While they ultimately did not travel to the world championship meet, they proved how far the Jiu-Jistu program has come at CBA.