09/08/2026
ECGC sent 7 of our best athletes and a handful of supporting cast to Las Vegas for the IBJJF Masters Worlds Championship and Jiujitsu Con this past week.
As the brackets started, then ended and the days of competition passed it became very apparent just how tough this tournament was going to be for each and every one of us.
It’s a single elimination tournament meaning one mistake can end your championship hopes. Wins here are extremely challenging to earn because every competitor is thinking the same thing… “I’m not ready to be done.”
While we are proud of all of our athletes we had one stand out amongst us and amongst his peers. William James walked on the mat 4 times and came away with 4 victories and in the process he claimed the Masters 4 Blue Belt Heavyweight Championship crown.
While William’s accomplishment is exceptional nothing he did to win this title looked like he was doing the impossible or the super human. William showed up to every match the same way he did to every day of training leading up to that moment.
Everyone wants to save the world but no one wants to help mom with the dishes.
William did the dishes every night. He did all the little things and left no stone unturned. He is a shining example of how to achieve your goals the right way.
Emperor City is blessed to have William James, the 6 others that put it on the line and competed, won and lost in a way that we can all be proud of and the support that traveled with them.
Help us in celebrating the accomplishments of our team as a whole and our individual athletes!
