Grappling magazine article on Grapplers Quest and Brian Cimins

2. 2 • GRAPPLING
he best of the best grapplers in America gathered to determine who was the
best on the ground for 2003. The 2003 Grapplers Quest U.S. Nationals fea-
tured the highest level of competition at a tournament to date. America’s best
32 grapplers were featured in four stacked divisions sponsored by Sprawl
fight shorts, and Tribe fight wear to determine the official Grapplers Quest
Team USA. The 61 regular amateur divisions, featuring 597 competitors, were full of
talent as well. Combined with the Team USA Trials, the 2003 Grapplers Quest U.S.
Nationals had an amazing 629 competitors!
Youth Divisions
All of the youth divisions were double elimination, guaranteeing all competitors at
least two matches. The crowd was tremendous, with as many as 1,400 spectators at
Every sport has its
premier showdown to
determine the best of
the best. In wrestling
and judo there is the
Olympics, in baseball
the World Series, and
for Grapplers Quest the
U.S. Nationals.
T
By Sean Ranieri
Grapplers QuestGrapplers Quest

3. U.S. NationalsU.S. Nationals
GRAPPLING • 3

4. 4 • GRAPPLING
certain points of the day. Kioto Brazilian
Jiu-Jitsu’s own Anthony D’Angelo rolled
through his teen weight category to claim
his fourth national Grapplers Quest title
and seventh Grapplers Quest overall
event title. Delaware’s own Tai Kai
Machado prodigy, Calvin Harbaugh,
took his division by storm with an array
of arm bars and wicked takedowns to
claim his third consecutive national title.
Tiger Schulman’s Karate continued to
show their display of talent in the chil-
dren’s divisions with a one-two punch of
Jordan and Yoni Ginor, who both swept
through their respective weight classes in
route to their third consecutive Grapplers
Quest national titles. Daisuke Yamaji,
Team Renzo standout and the first annual
Grapplers Quest Most Technical Grap-
pler runner-up, returned to the competi-
tion scene and took it by storm, handily
defeating all opponents by submission to
take the stacked Advanced Middleweight
(170-179.9 lbs.) weight class.
Amateur Divisions
The team support for the amateur
divisions and the Grapplers Quest Team
USA Trials was unprecedented and
showed how much submission grappling
and Grapplers Quest are rapidly growing
nationwide. The crowds roared with sub-
missions, takedowns, and sweeps and
clapped to show proper respect to all
competitors. Roxanne ModAfferi, Team
Joao Amural/New England BJJ, won
both the Team USA Trials division for
women, as well as her regular weight class
in impressive fashion. Anthony Argyros
2002 Grapplers Quest World Champion,
a Team Renzo competitor, steamrolled
through his division to claim the presti-
gious Team USA Executive Trials title.
Leonardo Xavier, a Saulo Ribeiro black
belt, put on a display of skill and chess-like
game plans to make his way to the finals.
His match with Yamasaki brown belt Dave
Jacobs was a classic battle featuring non-
stop action for the entire eight minutes,
with the final score of 2-0 simply not
showing how much action there was in
this match. Xavier commented, “Dave
Jacobs showed me why his nickname is
‘The Rock.’ The caliber of this tourna-
Grappler’s Quest

5. GRAPPLING • 5
ment is so high that it is an honor to have
been invited to compete.”
Mike Mrkulic, Montclair Brazilian Jiu
Jitsu Academy Head Instructor, and
Team Royler Gracie USA/Dave Adiv
purple belt, put on a showcase of his skills
defeating 2002 Grapplers Quest World
Advanced champion, Matt Zaccaria (Tai
Kai) 6-4, and then going against Team
USA Trials champion, Marcos Avellan.
Avellan commented about Mrkulic by
staying, “He was my toughest opponent
in the division.” Mrkulic placed third
overall in the division. Both David and
Marcos Avellan were simply amazing,
sweeping their respective Team USA
Trials divisions without a point being
scored on them.
Kenny Florian, Boston Brazilian jiu-
jitsu instructor, and Shawn Williams,
Team Renzo Gracie black belt, showed
why they are two of the best mid-
dleweights in the nation, soundly
blanking their first-round opponents and
then facing each other in the third place
match in an epic battle. The final score
was 4-2, with Florian taking third, but
these athletes really shined. Nakapan
Phungephorn, Team Linxx standout and
the number one ranked SportFighting
welterweight, submitted Tai Kai
instructor Scott Schultz via neck crank,
and then defeated Shawn Williams by
points 4-0. Finally, Nakapan faced Team
USA Middleweight Champion and
Team USA Trials Results
Sponsored by Sprawl shorts and Tribe Fightwear
Executive
Men: Anthony Argyros (Ricardo Bittencourt/Team Renzo)
Women: Roxanne ModAfferi (Joao Amaral/New England BJJ).
Lightweight – 159.9 lbs.
1. Marcos Avellan (Freestyle Fighting Academy – Florida)
2. Leonardo “The Wizard” Xavier (Saulo Ribeiro - Texas)
3. Mike Mrkulic (Montclair BJJ/Royler Gracie USA – New
Jersey)
4. Mike Moses (Linxx Academy - Maryland)
Middleweight – 160-179.9 lbs.
1. Pablo Popovitch (American Top Team - Florida)
2. Nakapan Phungephorn (Linxx Academy - Maryland)
3. Kenny Florian (Boston Brazilian Jiu Jitsu - Massachusetts)
4. Shawn Williams (Renzo Gracie – New York)
Cruiserweight – 180-199.9 lbs.
1. David Avellan (Freestyle Fighting Academy – Florida)
2. Jamie Cruz (Renzo Gracie – New York)
3. Rafael Lovato Jr. (Machado Jiu Jitsu - Dallas, Texas)
4. Justin Ellison (Walt Bayless - Utah)
Heavyweight – 200 lbs & Over
1. Jeff Monson (American Top Team - Florida)
2. Brandon Vera (Linxx Academy - Maryland)
3. Tom Muller (Serra Jiu Jitsu/Team Renzo Gracie – New York)
4. Pat Stano (U.S. Grappling – Pennsylvania)

6. 6 • GRAPPLING
American Top Team black belt, Pablo
Popovitch in the finals. These two com-
petitors had faced each other twice
before, with each securing a victory.
Popovitch shutdown Nakapan, but not
after some intense scrambles, submission
attempts and major takedown attempts.
In cruiserweight action, Team Oyama
(formerly Team Punishment) fighter
Jason Miller fought hard and fast against
Rafael Lovato Jr.’s open guard passes, to
no avail. No points were scored in the
match, but the referee, David Camarillo,
a Ralph Gracie black belt, awarded the
win to Lovato Jr. for pressing the action
and controlling the pace of the match. A
focused Miller, entered the Advanced
Division in his weight class, then vowed
to submit all of his opponents. In
amazing fashion he actually did so,
claiming the Grapplers Quest U.S. Cruis-
erweight (180-189.9 lbs.) national title.
Team Renzo standout Jamie Cruz
was on fire, defeating tough Team
Groundhog competitor (sponsored by
JiuJitsuGear.com), Justin Garcia and
then meeting the crafty Lovato Jr..
Cruz, whose only loss was to Team
USA Cruiserweight Champion David
Avellan via a guard pass. Cruz was very
impressive in all of his matches and
made Team Renzo proud. Lynn Lane,
Team Renzo Gracie Association
Director, said, “This was Jamie’s day to
shine and he made us all very proud.
Renzo walked off the plane from Japan
and came directly to Grapplers Quest
to support his team and he was
extremely honored to be their
instructor on this day.”
David Avellan definitely had one of
the toughest paths to follow in divisional
action, but decided to mow down his
opponents and create his own path to the
championship. Facing number-one
seeded Todd Margolis in the first round,
a takedown war took place with both
competitors displaying their world-class
standup skills. Avellan landed two huge
takedowns to secure the victory over Mar-
golis, and claimed the bragging rights as
one of the best standup grapplers in the
United States. Avellan then poured on his
jiu-jitsu skills, scoring 18 points against
Walt Bayless black belt Justin Ellison,
who submitted his first round opponent,
Kenny Kronenberg, in only 44 seconds
Grappler’s Quest

7. GRAPPLING • 7
via a vicious and explosive Kimura
shoulder lock from the half guard. Today
was David Avellan’s day in the sun, as he
faced the always-dangerous submission
expert, Jamie Cruz. Avellan stuck to his
game while adding several spinning and
cartwheel guard pass attempts, and finally
successfully passed Cruz’s guard to secure
the victory and Team USA Cruiserweight
division title.
The two big stories in the Heavy-
weight Team USA Trials division were
four-time Grapplers Quest champion and
Linxx Academy fighter Brandon Vera,
and 1999 Abu Dhabi World Champion
and American Top Team standout, Jeff
Monson. Both of these warriors faced
some fierce competition throughout the
bracket, and ultimately met each other in
the finals. Although Monson took the
title, hats must come off to Brandon Vera
as well. No points were scored in the final
match, but the referee felt that Monson
controlled the pace of the contest.
Monson commented by saying, “Vera’s
wrestling was very strong - no wonder
he’s never lost before at Grapplers Quest.
It was an honor to have competed against
him. For some reason, I have a feeling I
will meet him again in the near future.”
Conclusion
Look out for The Grapplers Quest
World Championships September 20th
in Bayonne, New Jersey and Grapplers
Quest West 4 in Las Vegas sometime in
the Fall. Stay tuned to Grapplers.com
for all Grapplers Quest, Copa Atlantica,
and SportFighting event and news
announcements.
Grapplers Quest
National Champions
Children’s Divisions
49 lbs.: Calvin Harbaugh (Tai Kai Machado), 50-59
lbs.: Jordan Ginor (Tiger Schulman), 60-69 lbs.:
Gianni Grippo (Renzo Gracie); 70-79.9 lbs.: Yoni
Ginor (Tiger Schulman), 80-89.9 lbs.: Michael Trasso
(Team Jerry Jones); 90-99.9 lbs.: Lauren Bednarz (NJ
I.M.B./CABECA)
Teen Divisions - 13-17 Years Old
114.9 lbs.Amie Turton (NJ I.M.B./CABECA); 115-
129.9 lbs.: Paul Minore (Hamilton Martial Arts); 130-
144.9 lbs.: Levi Mosely (Linxx Academy); 160 lbs.
and over: Anthony D’Angelo (Kioto BJJ)
Women’s Divisions
Class A - 119 lbs.: Debbie Lewis (Rodrigo
Gracie/Team Renzo); Class B - 120-134.9 lbs.:
Catherine Rohr (Renzo Gracie); Class C – 130-149.9
lbs.: Roxanne ModAfferi (Joao Amaral/New England
BJJ)
Men’s Executive (35+ yrs.)
159 lbs.: Peter LaValle (Jay Lally); 160-179.9 lbs.:
Dean Marino (Rodrigo Gracie/Renzo Gracie); 180-
199.9 lbs.: John Moorehead (Yamasaki); 200 lbs. and
over: Joe Dix (New England BJJ)
Men’s Novice
(139.9 lbs.: Scott Monsefan (Fusion BJJ); 140-149.9
lbs.: Chris Bailey (Maguilla BJJ); 150-159.9 lbs.:
Duke Koblinsky (Baltimore Martial Arts Academy);
160-169.9 lbs.: Dennis Forsyth (Dave Adiv/Royler
Gracie USA); 170-179.9 lbs.: Cesar Ospina (Renzo
Gracie); 180-189.9 lbs.: Dave Kenworthy (Linxx
Academy); 190-209.9 lbs.: Daniel Rice (Marcus
Suares); 210 lbs. and over: Sharif Fajardo (Renzo
Gracie)
Men’s Beginner
139.9 lbs. and below: Evan Chapman (NYMAG/Gene
Simco); 140-149.9 lbs.: Christopher Cusumano
(Montclair BJJ/Dave Adiv/Royler Gracie USA); 150-
159.9 lbs.: Binky Jones (Baltimore Martial Arts); 160-
169.9 lbs.: Kris Kim (Fusion); 170-179.9 lbs.:
Kirkland Campbell (Renzo Gracie Jiu Jitsu); 180-
189.9 lbs.: Shaun Smith (Tai Kai); 190-209.9 lbs.:
John Sivori (Advanced Fighting Systems); 210 lbs.
and over: Feliz Cotto (Team End Game/Eddy Rolon)
Men’s Intermediate
139.9 lbs. and below: Bill Elder (Dave Adiv/Royler
Gracie USA); 140-149.9 lbs.: Michael Ammon (Iron
Lion Jiu Jitsu); 150-159.9 lbs.: Brandon Persa
(Renzo Gracie); 160-169.9 lbs.: Luke Cummo (Serra
Jiu Jitsu/Renzo Gracie); 170-179.9 lbs.: Dominick
Pisicelli (Team End Game/Eddy Rolon); 180-189.9
lbs.: Phil Mazzurco (Alex Wilkie); 190-209.9 lbs.:
Carlos Rodriguez (Royler Gracie USA); (210 lbs. and
over): Mark Staniszewki (Serra Jiu Jitsu/Team Renzo
Gracie)
Men’s Advanced
139.9 lbs. and below: Nick Cottone (Never
Surrender); 150-159.9 lbs.: Michael Fowler (Lloyd
Irvin); 160-169.9 lbs.: Andrew Calandrelli (Renzo
Gracie); 170-179.9 lbs.: Daisuke Yamaji (Renzo
Gracie NYC); 180-189.9 lbs.: Jason Miller
(Oyama/Team Punishment); 190-204.9 lbs.: Richard
Macauley (Hassett’s Jiu Jitsu); 225 lbs. and over:
Texeira Glover (NYMAG)
Grappling