Khunpon Martial Arts travelled from Phuket to AFG Open October Eclipse 2026 with Pasha, Vlad and Jackson, supported by BJJ Head Coach Justin. Held on 24 and 25 October at Imperial World Samrong in Bangkok, the event brought together 806 competing athletes for a weekend of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
For our team, this was an opportunity to take the work from the training room onto the competition mats. Pasha secured a podium finish, giving the team a result to recognise on its first outing. For Khunpon, the significance of the weekend goes beyond the podium: we have taken our first step into BJJ competition together, gained experience to bring back to the gym and established a starting point for the team's development.
AFG Open October Eclipse: Gi and No-Gi competition in Bangkok
The AFG Open October Eclipse tournament featured No-Gi competition on Saturday and Gi on Sunday. Categories spanned children, juveniles, adults and Masters, with athletes separated by age, belt and weight. Absolute and Absolute Pro divisions offered additional opportunities to compete, with championship belts and cash prizes advertised for the Pro categories.
AFG Open has a documented presence in Thailand dating back to at least 2023. Its October editions have included Evolution, Nirvana, Rising and, in 2026, Eclipse. Earlier events took place at Rangsit University, while the 2026 May and October editions were hosted at Imperial World Samrong.
The organiser's stated aim is to make BJJ competition more accessible and strengthen connections within the international grappling community. For a developing team like ours, events such as AFG provide a valuable setting to test our progress and establish what comes next.
For the full competition record, see the official results and match schedule.
Pasha, Vlad and Jackson represent Khunpon
Pasha, Vlad and Jackson represented Khunpon at the team's first BJJ competition, taking an important step from training together in Phuket to testing themselves on the competition mats in Bangkok.
Pavel "Pasha" Ronis recorded a match win and earned bronze in the adult men's Gi white belt middleweight division (under 82.3 kg). Having begun his jiu-jitsu journey at Khunpon, his first competition brought both a podium finish and an honest assessment of the work ahead.
"Khunpon is where my jiu-jitsu journey began, and the AFG Open was my very first competition. Honestly, it was a tough reality check: once I stepped onto the mats, all the triangles, armbars and endurance I had worked on in training seemed to disappear. The bronze medal means a lot to me, but more importantly, it showed me how much I still have to learn, and I am determined to raise my level, keep competing and come back stronger every time."
Pavel "Pasha" Ronis, Khunpon BJJ athlete
Together with Vlad and Jackson, Pasha brought experience back to the gym that will inform the team's next stage of preparation.
This first outing gives Khunpon a foundation to build on: a result to recognise, lessons to take into training and a shared ambition to become more competitive as a team.
The coach's perspective
Justin Sidelle, BJJ Head Coach, 3rd-degree black belt
Taking this first step together matters. Pasha reached the podium, and we should recognise what he achieved. All three athletes helped move Khunpon's BJJ team forward by representing the gym at our first competition outing.
This gives us a foundation to build on. We now have a shared competition experience to bring back into training, and a clearer sense of what the next stage requires. The aim is to keep developing together and become more competitive as a unit.
There is value in getting out there and testing ourselves. The next step is to turn that experience into useful work in the gym: recognise what worked, understand what needs attention and help each athlete prepare for the challenges ahead.
That starts with consistency in the gym. Everyone has a part to play: attending the sessions we agree on, taking feedback seriously, drilling with purpose and giving training partners useful, challenging rounds. We sharpen each other's skills, and the standard of the whole team depends on that shared commitment.
I want Khunpon to develop into a team that can compete strongly in Thailand. We are at the beginning of that process. Getting there will take sustained work, more experience and a more consistent level of preparation across the group.
For some of our athletes, the next focus is Grappling Industries Bangkok on 21 November. The aim is to build on this first outing, return better prepared and show progress in how we perform. We have started the journey together, and now we want to keep moving forward as a team.
For anyone thinking about joining us, that work starts with coming to class. You do not need to be ready for competition on day one. Come ready to learn, build good habits and be part of the team. If competing becomes your goal, we will work together on the commitment and preparation it requires.
Next stop: Grappling Industries Bangkok
Some of the team are now working towards Grappling Industries Bangkok on 21 November 2026. It is another opportunity to gain competition experience and build on the foundations established at AFG Open.
Returning to competition is an opportunity to demonstrate improvement. The priority is more consistent preparation across the group, clearer individual goals and stronger performances as a team. Our first outing gave us a starting point; the next stage is about raising the standard.
Your first step: join a Gi or No-Gi class
Joining regular classes is the starting point for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at Khunpon. Based in Cherngtalay, Phuket, near Bang Tao and Laguna, we welcome beginners discovering the sport and experienced grapplers looking to develop their game.
Whether you choose Gi or No-Gi, our structured classes combine technique instruction and drilling with positional sparring and live rolling. You learn the movement, work through it with a partner and develop your ability to apply it against resistance. The room is a shared learning space where everyone can ask questions, make progress and contribute to their training partners' development.
If you are deciding where to begin, our Gi and No-Gi BJJ guide explains the two formats. Check the current BJJ class timetable to find a session, then explore our class passes and membership prices.
Private BJJ training with Justin
We also offer private training with Head Coach Justin, our 3rd-degree BJJ black belt. One-to-one sessions provide focused time to work on your technique, understand difficult positions and develop a game suited to your experience and goals.
Private coaching can support your regular classes, whether you are building confidence with the basics or preparing for competition. Meet our coaching team or contact us about BJJ private training for availability and pricing.
From regular classes to competition preparation
Taking the next step into competition requires dedication to your training, your coach and the team around you. Start by speaking with Justin about your goals, experience and the event you would like to enter.
Athletes preparing to represent Khunpon should commit to the class attendance their coach recommends, follow the agreed preparation plan and make consistent use of feedback. The right training schedule is something to establish together, with enough time to build skills, practise under pressure and recover between sessions.
Regular classes remain the foundation. Competition preparation gives that work a more specific direction, with attention to your game plan, the positions you need to improve and the requirements of your chosen event.
The hardest part can be walking through the door for the first time. Once you do, there is a team here to help you learn, improve and work towards whatever comes next.
