• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Breaking Muscle

Breaking Muscle

Breaking Muscle

  • Fitness
  • Workouts
    • Best Shoulder Workouts
    • Best Chest Workouts
    • Best Leg Workouts
    • Best Leg Exercises
    • Best Biceps Exercises
    • Best Kettlebell Exercises
    • Best Back Workouts
    • Best HIIT Workouts
    • Best Triceps Exercises
    • Best Arm Workouts
  • Reviews
    • Supplements
      • Best Pre-Workout
      • Best BCAAs
      • Best Testosterone Boosters
      • Best Bodybuilding Supplements
      • Best Creatine
      • Best Supplements for Weight Loss
      • Best Multivitamins
      • Best Collagen Supplement
      • Best Probiotic
      • Best Non-Stim Pre-Workout
      • Best Greens Powder
      • Best Magnesium Supplements
    • Protein
      • Best Protein Powder
      • Best Whey Protein
      • Best Protein Powders for Muscle Gain
      • Best Tasting Protein Powder
      • Best Vegan Protein
      • Best Mass Gainer
      • Best Protein Shakes
      • Best Organic Protein Powder
      • Best Pea Protein Powder
      • Best Protein Bars
    • Strength Equipment
      • Best Home Gym Equipment
      • Best Squat Racks
      • Best Barbells
      • Best Weightlifting Belts
      • Best Weight Benches
      • Best Functional Trainers
      • Best Dumbbells
      • Best Adjustable Dumbbells
      • Best Kettlebells
      • Best Resistance Bands
      • Best Trap Bars
    • Cardio Equipment
      • Best Cardio Machines
      • Best Rowing Machines
      • Best Treadmills
      • Best Weighted Vests
      • Concept2 RowErg Review
      • Hydrow Wave Review
      • Best Jump Ropes
  • News
  • Exercise Guides
    • Legs
      • Back Squat
      • Bulgarian Split Squat
      • Goblet Squat
      • Zercher Squat
      • Standing Calf Raise
      • Hack Squat
    • Chest
      • Bench Press
      • Dumbbell Bench Press
      • Close-Grip Bench Press
      • Incline Bench Press
    • Shoulders
      • Overhead Dumbbell Press
      • Lateral Raise
    • Arms
      • Chin-Up
      • Weighted Pull-Up
      • Triceps Pushdown
    • Back
      • Deadlift
      • Trap Bar Deadlift
      • Lat Pulldown
      • Inverted Row
      • Bent-Over Barbell Row
      • Single-Arm Dumbbell Row
      • Pendlay Row
Fitness

Submission Series 902: Canada’s First Submission-Only Event

This event was one of the best experiences I have ever had as a spectator of combat sports.

Written by Sally Arsenault Last updated on Nov 22, 2021

This past Friday night, I attended Submission Series 902, Canada’s first submission-only Brazilian jiu jitsu event. It took place at Glasgow Square in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, which is about 160 kilometers outside of our capital city, Halifax.

As a member of the media, I was set up on stage so I could have a clear view for my play-by-play. When the athletes lined up in front of me, the tension and excitement were contagious. And the crowd? So supportive, energetic, and respectful. It was one of the best experiences I have ever had as a spectator of combat sports.

RELATED: Submission Series 902: BJJ Athletes With Bright Futures

I’m a bit of a party pooper and will usually opt to watch a stream rather than attend a live event, especially if I have to drive any distance. Looking back, I know if I hadn’t gone to Submission Series 902, I would have regretted it.

Gavin Tucker vs Kent Peters SUBMISSION SERIES 902

One of my favorite matches: Gavin Tucker vs Kent Peters

The Venue

While I had initially worried that not many people would show up to watch jiu jitsu, the venue seemed to be busting at the seams with spectators. Cat Clarke and Jaret MacIntosh did an amazing job organizing and promoting this event, and the martial arts community really came through.

“When the athletes lined up in front of me, the tension and excitement were contagious. And the crowd? So supportive, energetic, and respectful.”

Glasgow Square is a small theatre and while the atmosphere was cozy, sometimes it felt a little too crowded. The warm-up area in the back was tight quarters and the media table was tricky to access when I had to get up for any reason. Still, it was a nice venue and it served its purpose. The stage was easy to see and the mats left plenty of room for the competition.

RELATED: Behind the BJJ Scenes: What It Takes to Run a Tournament

I’ve heard a rumor the promoters are looking at other venues for the next event. If these rumors turn out to be accurate, event number two will be epic.

The Production Team

I loved that almost everyone involved in the production of this event trained jiu jitsu. The announcer, Craig Ferguson, is a brown belt at Titans. The co-commentator, Dan Vanderlans, is a brown belt at Marmac Athletics. The techies at the media table were blue and purple belts out of Clinch Martial Arts. The promotors, blue belt Cat Clarke and black belt Jaret MacIntosh, train at Titans Jiu Jitsu Academy in New Glasgow. And the list goes on. What can’t the jiu jitsu community do?

The Crowd

What I noticed about the audience at this event was the education and the respect. It brought to mind stories I’d heard about Japanese crowds at MMA events. No one was yelling, “Smash him!” or “Get out of there!” or other useless suggestions. They clapped at appropriate moments and they treated our guests with respect. They generally remained quiet throughout the matches.

“I was impressed at how gracious all three of the victors were and the respect they showed my teammates. It was an honor to have such amazing athletes make the journey to compete in our event.”

I remember noting to the guy beside me that when athletes Kyle Sandord and Jonathan Satava were on the stage stretching out and getting ready before the curtains opened, the crowd was hushed in anticipation. Had I closed my eyes, it would have been easy to believe I was in a church. It was refreshing in comparison to live MMA events where there are always drunken experts (sometimes including me) trying to ensure their instructions are heard over the crowd.

RELATED: What We’ve Learned From Ultimate Fighting

The Matches

Grappling events like Polaris and Metamoris can be exciting, but they can also have you nodding off at certain points. Sometimes elite-level jiu jitsu matches can be a battle of inches. While very technical and educational, this isn’t very entertaining. Bouts between the lower-ranked athletes can be much more dynamic, but still technical.

In contrast, at Submission Series 902, only one out of eight matches ended in a draw. Nate O’Brien and Colin MacMichael kept me on the edge of my seat for the full fifteen minutes. What a ride!

Nate O'Brien vs Colinho Mac SUBMISSION SERIES 902

Nate O’Brien vs Colin MacMichael

Other matches had athletes trying to settle scores from tournaments in the past, injuries led to some last minute partner changes, and the main event was an old school versus new school battle. Drum music was played during the matches and added an element of urgency.

Each match has been loaded on YouTube so view them at your leisure. I enjoyed all of them, but my favorites were O’Brien versus MacMichael and Tucker versus Peters.

  • Nate O’Brien vs Colin MacMichael
  • Jesse Allen vs Kyle MacDougall
  • Gavin Tucker vs Kent Peters
  • Scott Nauss vs Kevin Thibault
  • Jon Williams vs Jon Foster
  • Josh Presley vs Mansher Singh Khera
  • Joel Jacquard vs Michael Tremblay
  • Kyle Sandord vs Jonathan Satava

Watching My Teammates

Unfortunately, the matches that involved my teammates did not go the way we wanted. Michael Tremblay defeated Joel Jacquard with a cross choke from mount, Mansher Singh Khera defeated Josh Presley with a gi choke from the back, and Jonathan Satava defeated Kyle Sandford with a kneebar one second before the bell rang. I was impressed at how gracious all three of the victors were and the respect they showed my teammates. It was an honor to have such amazing athletes make the journey to Nova Scotia to compete in our event.

bjj, grappling, submission series 902, cat clark, jaret macintosh

Being involved in this event and seeing how hard everyone around me worked to bring it together has made me incredibly proud to be a part of the Taylor Gang at Titans Fitness Academy. We may not have won every match, but I feel the team as a whole will grow because of Submission Series 902.

RELATED: When Losing Is Actually Winning

I know when I get back on the mats on Monday, our coach, Kevin Taylor, will have all of us learning solutions to the problems presented on the stage Friday night. I am also grateful to Michael Tremblay, Mansher Singh Khera, and Jonathan Satava for sharing their jiu jitsu and challenging our homegrown athletes.

Where to Watch It

If you would like to watch a full replay of the event, it is available on the Global Combat Network and my play-by-play is available on my blog.

Submission Series 902 has committed to two more events this year and many of the matches for the next event have already been confirmed. Stay tuned for updates on scheduling. I hope to be on card number three myself, so wish me luck!

Photos courtesy of David Brown Photography.

About Sally Arsenault

Sally Arsenault was not an athlete growing up and did not begin fitness training until she was 26 years old. Her first love was weight lifting, but after being robbed at gunpoint twice, she decided to learn self-defense to take back a sense of control over her own safety.

After trying muay Thai, MMA, and BJJ, she decided to focus on BJJ as it is a leverage-based martial art that was developed for small people, like her, to defeat larger attackers.

Now Sally is a BJJ brown belt under Kevin Taylor at Renzo Gracie Halifax in Nova Scotia, Canada. She founded a women's only program with hopes of introducing other women to the sport she loves.

BJJ is Sally’s passion and she is constantly researching training methods, techniques, supplements, nutrition, new training gear, and following leaders in the sport to learn their strategies to become a better athlete and competitor.

View All Articles

Related Posts

Fergus Crawley 5K Run Tips Photo
Fergus Crawley Shares 5 Tips For Running a Better 5K
Actor Chris Hemsworth in gym performing dumbbell row
Chris Hemsworth Diagrams a Killer Upper Body Workout Fit For an Action Star
Hugh Jackman Deadpool 3 Workouts Spring:Winter 2023
Hugh Jackman Returns to Wolverine Condition in Workouts for “Deadpool 3”
Method Man Incline Dumbbell Presses December 2022
Check Out Rapper Method Man Cruising Through 120-Pound Incline Dumbbell Presses for 10 Reps

Primary Sidebar

Latest Articles

New Year’s Fitness Sales (2025)

XWERKS Motion BCAA Review (2025): A Registered Dietitian’s Honest Thoughts

Assault Fitness AssaultBike Pro X Review (2025): Assault’s Best Bike Yet?

13 Best Exercise Bikes for Home Gyms (2025)

Transparent Labs BCAA Glutamine Review (2025): The Key to Post-Workout Recovery?

Latest Reviews

Element 26 Hybrid Leather Weightlifting Belt

Element 26 Hybrid Leather Weightlifting Belt Review (2025)

Omre NMN + Resveratrol, Lifeforce Peak NMN, and partiQlar NMN on a red background

Best NMN Supplement: Fountain of Youth in a Bottle? (2025)

The Titan Series Adjustable Bench on a red background

Titan Series Adjustable Bench Review (2025)

A photo of the NordicTrack Select-a-Weight Dumbbells on a red background

NordicTrack Adjustable Dumbbell Review (2025): Are These Value Dumbbells Worth It?

woman lifting barbell

Be the smartest person in your gym

The Breaking Muscle newsletter is everything you need to know about strength in a 3 minute read.

I WANT IN!

Breaking Muscle is the fitness world’s preeminent destination for timely, high-quality information on exercise, fitness, health, and nutrition. Our audience encompasses the entire spectrum of the fitness community: consumers, aficionados, fitness professionals, and business owners. We seek to inform, educate and advocate for this community.

  • Reviews
  • Healthy Eating
  • Workouts
  • Fitness
  • News

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS Feed

© 2025 · Breaking Muscle · Terms of Use · Privacy Policy · Affiliate Disclaimer · Accessibility · About