A local fighting outfit played host to a veteran American grappler.
Ironshore Martial Arts Club recently held sparring sessions with Ken Primola, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt who has been involved with mixed martial arts for more than 20 years. Primola, based out of Philadelphia in the United States, started wrestling when he was 12 and earned his black belt in 2009. He now teaches techniques related to his discipline and has written several books.
Floyd Moxam, one of the assistant coaches at Ironshore, said Primola’s visit was about improving the technical ability of local fighters.
“Ken was brought to Cayman because we are always looking for world-class coaches and competitors to train with and learn from,” Moxam said. “Ironshore member Dandy Lamarca made this trip possible by contacting Ken and arranging all the details of the trip.”
While in Cayman, Primola, who has a law degree, focused on various points related to grapples, submission maneuvers and defense. Roughly eight club members were present, including Moxam, Ian Charlery and club lead instructor Leif Ristimaki. Under Ristimaki’s tutelage, numerous club members have competed abroad and won medals. Moxam, for example, won gold at the 2011 Grapplers Quest Tournament at the Ultimate Fighting Championships Fan Expo in Toronto, Canada. Moxam also won bronze at the 2012 Grapplers Quest competition in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Primola learned from noted Gracie Jiu Jitsu instructors Rodrigo Medieros and Phil and Ricardo Migliarese. He spent months in Brazil at the famed Nova Uniao academy, which has trained Ultimate Fighting Championship stars BJ Penn, Jose Aldo and Gray Maynard, in Rio de Janeiro under Robson Moura. He went on to compete in various tournaments, winning the Brown and Black Belt section of the Men’s Gi division at the North American Grappling Association World Championships as a brown belt.
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