Burnaby Heights mixed martial arts instructor Scott Boudreau is going back to defend his world master’s jiu jitsu title.
Boudreau, who is the two-time defending International Jiu Jitsu Federation masters 2 purple belt world champion, will try for a third consecutive title in Los Angeles in October.
At 40 years old, the likable owner of Budo Mixed Martial Arts in North Burnaby is also considering a go at a world belt in the all-ages adult competition.
“Believe it or not, next year, I’m going to go in the adult worlds,” said Boudreau, who is also a second degree black belt in Kyokushin karate, as well as an accomplished Thai boxing instructor.
In the adult competitions, martial artists of all ages compete in larger divisions.
“I think I have some new found faith that I could do well,” he said. “I’m up for the challenge, not to prove anything to anyone. It’s just from myself. If I do well in the master’s division, I think I should try and challenge myself with something harder. I feel very strong and my cardio is great. It tells me I’m still good to go for a while.”
It is with a similar feeling of good health having a few good years left in my body that I recently visited Boudreau at his Hastings Street studio and asked him to give me a crash course in the Brazilian martial art.
Boudreau was both welcoming and engaging.
He took me through some warmup exercises that that would be useful in order to defend my position on the mat.
Boudreau also showed me some basic grips, much like judo, that I could use to get the upper hand on my opponent.
The interesting part for me was when he described jiu jitsu as the gentle art, although the “snap, nap (choke) or tap (submission)” instructions he gave me hardly seemed well, gentle.
Jiu jitsu, Boudreau said, was more about leverage and technique than brute strength and uses clinches, takedowns, holds and submissions.
True to my age – I felt great after the half-hour workout, but days later my back seized up like it was nailed to a plank.
But that was directly attributable to my overall lack of fitness and not anything I encountered during my tumbles with Boudreau on the mat.
Boudreau proved a master instructor and a good sport as well, providing a running commentary while he took me through what was happening on the mat – both what his superior position offered and the options I had to combat them.
I found it fun and, most importantly, informative.
Budo Mixed Martial Arts is located at 3916 Hastings St. in Burnaby.
For more information, go to www.budomixedmartialarts.com.
