Cathy is the Star of the 2011 Boston International Open
by David Zwanetz – If you were at the Boston Open 2011 you would have seen Cathy Tran-Zwanetz in rare form. It was one of those tournaments when all the training, game planning, and circuit training all come together. That being said, it was far from an easy road to Boston. Cathy had a particularly hard weight cut this time. In fact, she slept in her sauna suit on Friday night and woke at 6:00 am Saturday morning and drove thirty minutes to the only gym in Boston advertising a sauna only to find that the sauna was broken. After running a few miles in her sauna suit pajamas, Cathy used the heat in the car on her drive back to the hotel to cut the remaining pound and a half. Cathy did not have so much as a sip of water from Friday night until weigh-in. Thus, Cathy was in full crazy mode.
Cathy submitted the 2011 World Silver Medalist. The two have faced each other at every IBJJF competition this year and have a nice series going.
Cathy’s first match in her weight class was against the 2011 Mundial silver medalist- an opponent she knows well and has fought many times in the past. Thus, Cathy looked very much forward to facing off with her yet again. Cathy and her nemesis were set to fight first match. Cathy got the call and was precisely on weight (118 gi-on). However, her opponent was over. After changing gis, shedding rash guards, and doing whatever else she could think of, Cathy’s opponent was readily disqualified for being .5 lbs over. Cathy was too busy re-hydrating to pay this any mind. Cathy was thrust directly to the division finals where she quickly swept, passed, mounted, swept, and mounted her opponent yet again to win the match by a staggering 15-0 with multiple advantages. Cathy’s preparations paid-off – Cathy is the 2011 Blue Belt Pluma champ!
"My husband is going to give me a great write-up!"
Cathy immediately signed up for the Open division. Cathy fought her first Open division earlier this year and has been determined and dedicated to her Open medal pursuit ever since. As a bonus, Cathy hoped to get a second opportunity to have the match that really wanted against the opponent that did not make weight in their division. Cathy got the match! Cathy beautifully executed her game plan – she quickly pulled and went to work from her guard. Cathy went oma plata to triangle and with three minutes left in the match, Cathy submitted the 2011 Mundial silver medalist. Cathy was moved to the finals and was elated. This is when things got very interesting.
Thank God Mr. Tran was not in Boston for this Jiu-Jitsu match!
The way that the other side of the bracket worked out, Cathy’s opponent was a heavyweight, every bit of 6 feet tall and 180 lbs. Cathy undeterred and still on edge from the weight cut stuck to her game plan. Within seconds, Cathy had her opponents back (looking like a tick on the back of a bull). Technique prevailed and with both her opponent flattened in a back mount sunk in a brutal bow and arrow choke for the Open Division win!
Helio Gracie would have been proud!
The crowd cheers on Cathy's victory while David Zwanetz screams "Thats my WIFE! That's my WIFE!"
Cathy was very excited and very thankful for all the priceless time that Master Julius has spent assisting her with her game plan and preparing her mentally and physically for challenges like this open division battle.
Editors note: Tye Ryan Murphy, Devon Delbrugge, and Mike Kellogg also competed and medalled at the tournament.
Hurricane Irene was no match for the competitive drive of Crazy 88 BJJ's Competition squad.
Tye Ryan celebrates Purple Belt Gold at the Boston International Open after a TOUGH cut to Lightweight.
Demonstrator ecstatic about Adult Blue Belt Gold before he heads back to River Hill High School on Monday.
Tye enroute to Silver in the Purple Belt Open division.
