The Australia Cup 2009

Published by on

Combat Sports School Olympic Wrestling Club
Combat Sports School Olympic Wrestling Club team, with Coach Alan Rolton.

On the recommendation of the national senior wrestling coach, Rodney Jarman, the Combat Sports School Olympic Wrestling club decided to send Jessica Todd to the Australia Cup to get more competition. The tournament was held in Melbourne Australia and hosted by the United Wrestling Club.

There was an official invitation to the New Zealand Olympic Wrestling Union member clubs to attend the Australia Cup and although the Combat Sports School Olympic Wrestling Club confirmed entries at the 12th hour everything went to plan.

The New Zealand Olympic Wrestling Union Board were required to assist with entries and their assistance made the last-minute planning that much easier and our participation possible.

The Australia cup organizers were very obliging and were clearly geared towards promoting top competition.

Several other of our other young wrestlers were invited to make up a team and join Jessica, as well as coach Alan Rolton and team manager Trish Todd to the Australia Cup.

Jessica was entered in the senior division in order to test herself and get experience against older and more capable wrestlers.

The Combat Sports School Olympic Wrestling team got plenty of mat time and all six wrestlers won medals.

Jessica defeated Cassie Fields who had taken silver at the Australian championships against an international wrestler and was a multiple state and national Brazilian Jujitsu champion and seasoned kickboxer.

Jessica close to 10 years her junior and at the bottom of the weight division defeated her heavier opponent by pinning her in the first round.

Jessica also had 2 exhibition bouts with other experienced senior wrestlers not only holding her own but also dominating the more experienced and much heavier wrestler and winning the next bout by pin.

She was to wrestle Louise Randall the female that won in the 59kg class at the Australian Championships against NZ's top senior female wrestler Sian Law but just immediately before Jess and Louise took the mat they cancelled the bout and Jess was most disappointed.

Results

  • Jessica Todd Two Gold medals
  • Hanna Todd took one silver and two bronze medals.
  • Ryan Van der Lem took gold in the school age 51 kg class with a commanding performance but unfortunately when he went up to the juniors sprained his ankle in the first bout.
  • Lee Van der Lem took silver in the school age 64kg class and in the Fila cadets took a bronze.
  • Nico Bloemstaad did not place in the Fila cadets but did take silver in the juniors.
  • Aiden Spence in the cadets took silver and also silver in the juniors competing strongly and was unlucky not to take gold.

The Australia cup was a very affordable and beneficial competition for New Zealand wrestlers and provided class international opposition and we intend to make it an annual event for the Combat Sports School Olympic Wrestling club.

Article written by Tank Todd

Special Operations CQB Master Chief Instructor. Over 30 years experience. The only instructor qualified descendent of Baldock, Nelson, and Applegate. Former instructors include Harry Baldock (unarmed combat instructor NZ Army WWII), Colonel Rex Applegate OSS WWII and Charles Nelson, US Marine Corps. Tank has passed his Special Forces combative instructor qualification course in Southeast Asia and is certified to instruct the Applegate, Baldock and Nelson systems. His school has been operating for over eighty years and he is currently an Army Special Operations Group CQB Master Chief Instructor. His lineage and qualifications from the evolutionary pioneers are equalled by no other military close combat instructor. His operation includes his New Zealand headquarters, and 30 depots worldwide as well as contracts to train the military elite, security forces, and close protection specialists. Annually he trains thousands of exponents and serious operators that travel down-under to learn from the direct descendant of the experts and pioneers of military close combat. Following in the footsteps of his former seniors, he has developed weapons, and training equipment exclusive to close combat and tactical applications. He has published military manuals and several civilian manuals and produced DVDs on urban self protection, tactical control and restraint, and close combat. He has racked up an impressive 100,000+ hours in close combat.