A Blenheim martial artist is back home with a bronze medal after taking part in what she called the toughest competition of her career.
Rain Pfaff was one of hundreds to take part in the World International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi Championship last week in Las Vegas.
She competed in the female 169 lbs black belt category, finishing tied for third after losing in the semi-finals. The competition was single-elimination, meaning both women who lost in the semifinals received bronze medals.
Pfaff ended up losing to the eventual gold medalist, something she was happy about.
"I was secretly cheering for her," she laughed.
Despite not winning the gold, Pfaff was happy to win a bronze against some of the best martial artists in the world.
"I feel like it's going to open up some opportunities and doors," she explained.
Pfaff also joked that she specifically competed in the -169 category to try to avoid one of the world's best, Brazil's Gabrieli Pessanha. As fate would have it, the two would compete against each other in the open weight category, with Pessanha winning easily.
Even though she lost, Pfaff said the fight was entertaining.
"If you watch the video of me getting dummied, I'm smiling the whole time," she said.
Pfaff was happy to compete against one of the world's best, also getting the chance to speak with her afterward.
Pfaff wasn't the only Chatham-Kent (CK) martial artist who competed in Las Vegas, as Thomas Armstrong and his daughter Isabelle Armstrong also flew down.
While Thomas lost his only fight, Isabelle won a bronze medal in the juvenile female featherweight blue belt category.
The three martial artists will be taking the next month or so off before competing again in February.
