Latest news with #jiujitsu
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Yahoo
Victim of San Diego plane crash honored by local jiu-jitsu community
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — After a local jiu-jitsu fighter was identified by teammates as one of the victims in last Thursday's deadly plane crash in San Diego, his martial arts community rallied together to host an open mat in his honor. Dominic Damian, 41, was one of six people killed after a Cessna 550 crashed into a Murphy Canyon military housing neighborhood early Thursday around 3:45 a.m. Damian was a black belt jiu-jitsu fighter who won several awards, including silver and bronze medals at the World Jiu Jitsu Championships. 'It's just like an emptiness': Friends and teammates remember victim of deadly plane crash His fellow athletes at The Training Center in Pacific Beach identified him as one of the victims of the crash. They held an open mat on Memorial Day as a way to remember him. 'Dom did a lot for a lot of people, and jiu jitsu itself does a lot for a lot of people,' said JD Speck, another black belt fighter at the center. 'So, when you have somebody who is such a top-level competitor but is also willing to reach out and help those that are first entering their jiu-jitsu journey, it means a lot.' Baret Yoshida, a trainer at the facility, said he started training with Damian in 2007 and they became friends. 'I couldn't believe it was real,' Yoshida told FOX 5/KUSI in an earlier interview. 'Even now, it's still settling in, you know, because just the other week, we were watching Dom hit home runs over the fence.' The San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office also named four other victims who died in the crash: David Shapiro, 42, Emma Huke, 25, Celina Kenyon, 36, and Kendall Fortner, 24. Although not yet announced by the medical examiner's office, Daniel Williams, a former drummer for the rock band The Devil Wears Prada, was also on the plane and presumed dead, according to Tandem Management Company. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Jordan Times
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Jordan Times
Jordan wins 7 medals at Asian Jiu-Jitsu championship
AMMAN — The Jordanian national jiu-jitsu team on Sunday secured a total of seven medals, one gold, three silver, and three bronze, on the third day of the Asian Jiu-Jitsu Championship, currently taking place at Prince Hamzah Hall in Al Hussein Youth City in Amman. Mohammad Hamdan clinched the gold medal in the under-62kg category, while Khaled Harahsheh and Shujaa Harahsheh earned silver in the under-62kg and under-69kg categories, respectively. Yaman Ismail also claimed silver in the under-85kg division, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. Othman Yaseen won the bronze medal in the under-94kg category, and Abdelkarim Mukhalba secured bronze in the under-77kg category, all within the jiu-jitsu contact competitions. Additionally, Zeina Saleh won a bronze medal in the under-70kg category in the jiu-jitsu division.
Daily Mail
25-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Brave 13-year-old girl leaves grown man attacker with major injuries using her jiu jitsu skills
California police are actively searching for a suspect involved in the attempted assault of a 13-year-old girl who bravely defended herself using her jiu-jitsu training. The terrifying incident took place nearly two weeks ago in Carmel-by-the-Sea as the teen was walking home from school through a quiet neighborhood—when she suddenly found herself under attack. According to authorities, the suspect—described as an adult male—was hiding between two parked cars when he suddenly lunged at the girl in an apparent attempt to physically assault her. 'Halfway home, and a gentleman was standing in between two cars and he stepped out to punch her in the face,' Sensei Michael Blackburn, the teen's instructor at the Carmel Youth Center, where she has been attending jiu-jitsu classes for the past three years, told 6ABC. What the attacker didn't expect was that the girl was far from defenseless. Drawing on techniques practiced over the course of several years, the girl reacted instinctively and with precision. 'She punched him, she got him in a headlock, kneed him a couple of times, spun him around, threw him on the ground. She had stepped on his foot doing all this, and when she threw him on the ground, he broke his ankle,' Blackburn said. Her quick and decisive response stunned the assailant long enough for her to break free and run home. Though shaken, she was physically unharmed and able to recount the incident to her family and law enforcement. To protect her privacy and ensure her safety while the suspect remains at large, the girl's identity is being withheld. Carmel police have released a composite sketch based on witness descriptions, but as of now, the suspect has not been identified. Investigators are urging the public to come forward with any information that could lead to his arrest. While her family is understandably rattled by the close call, they are also incredibly proud of how she handled the situation. Her instructor echoed that sentiment. 'I told her we were proud of her, and she did exactly as she was supposed to do,' Blackburn said. 'You have to fight in class like you're going to protect yourself on the street.' The Carmel Youth Center has long taught self-defense as more than just a physical skill—it's a mindset. Blackburn emphasized that what his student demonstrated wasn't just physical strength, but composure under pressure and the ability to take control in a high-stress moment. Now, the girl hopes her story will serve as a powerful reminder to others—especially young women—that self-defense can be a critical life skill. Her actions have already inspired conversations in the community about safety, awareness, and the importance of teaching kids how to protect themselves. 'She wants this to be a reminder that knowing how to protect yourself can truly make all the difference,' Blackburn said. As the investigation continues, anyone who may have seen something suspicious or who recognizes the suspect from the released sketch is encouraged to contact Carmel police immediately.
