Mixed Martial Arts in DC News Blog

Andrew 'Goatfury' Smith wrestled for four years in highschool then did judo at VCU before formally starting BJJ.

ASHLAND, Va. – Brazilian jiu-jitsu and submission wrestling teams from all over the mid-atlantic region competed at the U.S. Grappling Richmond tournament on February 5, 2011. BJJ Revolution emerged as the overall winner for the adult team title represented by three academies in Richmond and Charlottesville. Andrew Smith, one of the academy head instructors and part owner of U.S. Grappling, took first place in the no-gi advanced 188 pound division.

The BJJ Revolution team was originally started by Carlson Gracie black belts Julio “Foca” Fernandez (Vermont) and Rodrigo Medeiros (San Diego). BJJ Revolution carries a national and international presence, with almost 60 Brazilian jiu-jitsu affiliate academies in the United States, Brazil, and Europe. The association eventually reached Richmond, Va. under Eric Burdo (from Vermont) at Richmond BJJ in 2002. According to Smith, the BJJ Revolution association is a five time American National team winner and continues to grow. A BJJ Revolution affiliation was established in Chantilly, Va. in 2010 by BJJ brown belt Dimitri Chrisos.

For Smith, finding the association at Richmond BJJ was a day he will never forget. “My formal training (in BJJ) started on January 2, 2002…I remember the first class…the subject matter. I remember everything,” he said.

Years after his first day with the association, Smith is now a black belt under Foca and is the head instructor of Revolution BJJ. The academy is named as a salute to his association affiliation. For Smith, teaching was something that was natural for him. “My parents were teachers, so I sort of felt the calling for teaching myself,” he said.

Keeping his students interested and leading by example is an important part of his program. In the recent U.S. Grappling tournament this past weekend, he focused on not only competing but also having a good time. He said of his students that “The apples don’t fall too far from the tree. They like to compete.”

Lauren 'Lo' Menzies of BJJ Revolution took double gold in the advanced no-gi and blue belt divisions.

Following in the footsteps of their instructor, his students worked hard and helped contribute to the overall team title. For Gordon Emery, a finals match with Fifty/50 BJJ instructor Seph Smith resulted in Seph winning 5-0 and the gold medal. Andrew Smith said of the match, “A lot of good positional changes. Seph dominated the positions but Gordon kept the fight alive the whole time.” A tough match earned the association a silver medal in the brown belt division.

Another one of Smith’s students, Lauren “Lo” Menzies, would take double gold in the advanced no-gi division and the women’s blue belt division. Menzies said of her experience that “I’m especially excited about my first advanced division win. Michelle Welti and Lisa Demico made me work hard for it! They’re tough ladies.”

Additional BJJ Revolution medals were contributed from Charlottesville BJJ and Richmond BJJ. The final standings in adult team points were BJJ Revolution, Fifty/50 BJJ, and MMA Institute.

For Smith, his future plans are to continue his efforts in teaching, competing, and promoting BJJ and submission wrestling tournaments through his business partnership in U.S. Grappling. Menzies remarked of plans with her instructor, “My coach Andrew Smith and I have been working on my nogi game, and I can’t wait to compete again.”
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