Innisfail's mixed martial arts dojo has won gold in a Submission Ace Championship competition recently held in Blackfalds.
The Summer Nogi Classic was held on Sept. 6 at Abbey Centre in Blackfalds and featured top Albertan grapplers competing for world-class medals in six events for contestants aged four to over 40 years of age.
Innisfail's Ossie Wozny returned with a gold medal in the novice heavyweight division while Sean Carroll won bronze in the beginner division. Wozny could not be reached for comment but his wife Cheryl said she was impressed with her husband's performance.
“He started training with the Innisfail Chinese Boxing Connection with our kids four years ago and they stopped. He didn't,” said Cheryl.
She noted that since the 35-year-old heavy-duty mechanic started training under Sifu Ed Bruneau he has progressed from a white belt all the way up to a brown, which involves a sequence of yellow-orange-green-blue-brown testing.
“Before he started mixed martial arts with Sifu Ed, he was a hockey player but now trains twice a week and rarely misses a session,” said Cheryl. “I'm a hockey mom and he hasn't convinced me to join the dojo yet.”
Meanwhile, Bruneau has operated his dojo on the top floor of Alberta Trailer, which he owns and operates since 1999. His 25-year-old son Logan helps coach their class of students, which can number up to 40.
“We teach a combination of grappling and hand-to-hand martial arts,” said Bruneau who holds a second-degree black belt. “It's more of the Ultimate Fighting Championship style with a defensive emphasis.”
He added that discipline and respect are important elements of their dojo's teachings, along with a focus on personal development.
“Our young bronze winner, Sean Carroll, is a 17-year-old who has been with the club for close to three years,” said Bruneau. “It was good to see him compete well. We also sent Naomi Block who did not win a medal but fought well and represented our club admirably.”
One of the organizers of the summer nogi, Bruneau and team worked to bring world-class athletes to the event.
“Over this summer I was able to train with Russian champion Fedor Emelianenko in Calgary,” said Bruneau. “It was great to train with the best mixed martial arts fighter in the world.”
The Innisfail Chinese Boxing Connection dojo offers classes for interested athletes of all ages and can be contacted by calling Sifu Ed at 403-227-5577 for more information.
