Milano Challenge 2013

Group photo at Pave cafe 

Milano Challenge 2013 

After a great competition in Milan, Italy, Aspida Team Renzo Gracie managed to bring back back home four gold and three bronze metals .Milano Challenge is one of the biggest and most highly esteemed tournaments in Europe. With more than 600 athletes the tournament was one of the most organized events that I took part in and all these thanks to Milanimal's own, founder and coach, Andrea Baggio. For four days, while in Milano, we felt and were treated like royalty thanks to Andrea who treated us as if he wasn't burdened by the stress that usually comes with a-600-plus-person-logistics'nightmare.

The Aspida Team member's bonding grows stronger and stronger after each competition and this trip was a great example. Everybody did great despite winning or losing; For me, as a coach, everybody did great in their own right, for their own reasons. The spirit of fighting and competing  is a very personal thing and in this competition I learned two new things:  

A:NO excuses

B: Our greatest foe is not the one standing on the opposite side of the mat, BUT our own self!  

RESULTS

Paris Kemanes    - Bronze -65 kg white belts 

Panos Petralis   - Gold   +100kg and open division blue belts 

Thomas Georgiou  - Bronze -88 kg purple  belts

Dino Kouyialis   - Gold   -82 kg purple belts

Panikos Melodias - Gold   -100kg and Bronze open division brown belts

Written by Andreas Achniotis Perales

Edited by Dino Kouyialis

Panos Petralis first place at +100kg and open 

Dino Kouyialis first place at -82kg

Panikos Melodias first -100Kg and third in open 

Thomas Georgiou third -88kg

Paris Kemanes third -64