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At the age of 62, blue belt Darcy Dunlop has become a double World International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) champion at the World Masters in Las Vegas.
He credits coaches Serena Cole and Nick Ovens for spurring him on and for taking his skills to the next level when he was confirmed for the World Masters.
For Dunlop, preparing for the tournament was one of the hardest parts.
“The preparations were extensive: I walked into the club just over 90kgs and stepped out onto the worlds at 73.5kg.
“The coaches prepared me technically and in conditioning. The bloody diet is the hardest, maintaining strength and conditioning while limiting the food groups, but boy, hasn’t that work paid off,” said Dunlop.
In Las Vegas, he was ranked fourth or fifth in his weight and age category and competed in the 76kg weight class.
He managed to get to the semi-finals by defeating his first opponent via submission. His semi-final match opponent was a three-time European champion who had been undefeated for a few years. Despite describing his opponent as a very tough, very experienced fighter, Dunlop won the match, 3 – 0, to enter the finals.
He also won the ‘Absolute Completion’, where all the world champions from other weight categories, but in the same age group, competed to find the overall winner.
“I’ve been pretty stoked at achieving the rare double at the worlds. What’s even more impressive was the amount of support and well-wishes from the pretty cool township of Waiuku. I’m not on social media, so I was blown away when I saw the supportive comments.
“I was proud to represent our club and town. My wife, Donna, did the most work, along with my dietitian and sport psychologist. I was very fortunate there.”
The event was held by the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) in Las Vegas between August 28 and 30.
