Sport
14 November, 2024
Bywater focusing on 'what's next' after BJJ Roots world champs in Singapore
Travis Bywater claimed a gold and silver medal on November 9.
Brazilian Jiu JItsu
Singapore
Wimmera's own Travis Bywater has clinched world champion status after winning gold and silver at the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Roots World Championship in Singapore.
Bywater, 31, claimed silver in the male full gi masters ultra heavy weight category before going one better in the no gi class, winning gold.
Despite the achievement, Bywater is not being complacent.
"I run by the philosophy of every day you start at zero," he said.
"On Saturday, I did something really cool; it was a great achievement and not many people can say that they've done it, but what's next."
Bywater competed in two matches per division that were seven minutes in length.
"The objective is to take the person to the ground, and then from there, apply as much pressure and as much control as what you possibly can, progressively working your way up to submit [your opponent]," he said.
The preparation was completed at Stawell's Elite Contender Martial Arts, where he is the Jiu-Jitsu coach.
"I primarily run my own training camps, it becomes a really active training period," Bywater said.
"You've got your strength and conditioning days, and you've got your actual technique days... it's probably 15 to 20 hours per week of training solely on Jiu Jitsu.
"I'm doing it so I can take high-level Jiu-Jitsu and bring it back to the country. That's always been the goal, and it's still the goal."
Also a keen mixed martial artist, Bywater's next challenge is returning to the cage for a Fusion Fighting Championships bout on February 23, 2025.