Bruneau brothers win best belts

Logan and Conor Bruneau know exactly what it takes to win a championship.

The two brothers recently won championship belts in the absolute division in the Submission Ace (Jiu-Jitsu) Championship in Blackfalds on Feb. 27.

Logan, 26, and Conor, 23, began training in martial arts in Innisfail at the age of six with their father Ed Bruneau, former sifu of the Chinese Boxing Connection in town from 1999 to 2015.

The Submission Ace Championship tournament is the largest one in Alberta, noted Bruneau, and one of the most prestigious in Western Canada.

Together the brothers beat out 100 skilled fighters through eliminations, including 20 gold medal winners to earn the championship belts and title.

“To get the belt you have to enter into a mixed category where all the gold medallists from each weight division compete in one absolute division,” said Logan Bruneau. “They all fight in a tournament ladder until they are all eliminated except for one.”

In addition to winning the championship belts, it was especially rare for both brothers to win it on the same day.

“Of the 20 gold medallists we came out on top as number 1,” he said, noting this was his third attempt to win the belt. “I've been trying to get it for the last two years and every tournament I've fallen short.”

Bruneau said while he doesn't have any short-term goals he will continue training and competing in martial arts, a sport he has grown to love.

“Competing on a Canadian level is really great. If I ever had the time to, I'd love to compete at an international level or even North American level,” said Bruneau. “In a way, athletically (marital arts) is the ultimate expression of what you're capable of doing,” he added.

“It's a one-on-one fight. There's a really good balance of physical athleticism, mental strength and intelligence that goes into it,” said Bruneau. “You have to be smart and outsmart your opponents, but you also have to be fit.”

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