Tim Spriggs (Team Lloyd Irvin) took double gold (weight and absolute) at Purple belt at Europeans. Competing under the flag of Team Lloyd Irvin, Spriggs came from Baltimore, Maryland, where he trains at Crazy 88 Academy. He used some powerful shakedowns to take his opponents to the ground. With that, he first demolished his adversaries in the heavyweight division. Then, in the absolute, four more matches, all won by points, for the gold. The final challenge was against Alliance’s Rehan Muttalib and a guard pass was responsible for the 3-0 score that meant gold. In This Interview With BJJEE.com he talks about his BJJ story and his future plans:
1. Hi Tim, can you please introduce yourself to the BJJ Community of Eastern Europe?
My name is Timothy-Michael Spriggs, I am 22 years old and am Purple Belt under Master Julius Park. I’m from Columbia, MD and train at Crazy 88 Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
I won No-Gi Worlds, Pan Ams, 3rd in Heavyweight and Open at the Worlds last year and just got double gold at the Europeans.
2. What’s your Jiu-Jitsu story?
I started training martial arts because I didn’t have any other hobbies besides playing video games all day. In high school I played football my freshman year, but after riding the bench all season I decided to quit. So then I started doing Karate for about a year. After I realized that it wouldn’t be very effective for self defense, I looked for another martial art that would actually work. I feel as though destiny brought me to Team Lloyd Irvin. One night I was watching t.v. at 1 in the morning and a commercial for Master Lloyd’s school in Camp Springs comes on. I immediately go to my computer and search for schools and come to find out, Crazy 88 Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu was literally 5 mins away from my house.
Tim has powerful shakedowns and takedowns
3. What are your other interests apart from Jiu-Jitsu? Do you have time to a have a normal social life with all the training and competing?
I don’t have any interests outside of Jiu-Jitsu. There’s no separation between my goal of becoming the Best Jiu-JItsu Fighter Ever and my lifestyle. My social life involves me sleeping, spending time with my family, and watching jiujitsu videos.
4. How would you describe your Jiu-Jitsu style?
Old School/Brutality. Take people down, get to a dominant position and finish. Not very pretty, but effective.
5. Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?
In 5 years I will be a Black Belt World Champion. And on my way to being recognized as the Best to ever do it.
6. Please tell us about your academy Crazy 88 Jiu-Jitsu? How often do you train at the main Lloyd Irvin Academy?
Crazy 88 is my home. I started training there when I was 17 so all my teammates are my closest friends. I consider the team my family. I train and work at the academy full-time. Julius Park is the head instructor and owner of the school, I owe a lot to him. If it wasn’t for his support and guidance I don’t know where I’d be. He teaches me and the rest of the students not only about jiujitsu but about life as well.
7. Please guide us through your performance at the 2013 Europeans where you took double gold at purple belt.
It was one of the better performances of my Jiu Jitsu career. Going in I knew that I would have some showdowns with the top guys in my division and the open. All my matches were tough. All except one went the distance. In my weight class alone I had two World’s medalists. The matches I had with the decorated fighters were the toughest, I had to dig deep to get the win.
Grand Slam tournaments are tough because you are fighting the best in the world back to back over the course of the entire day. The only way I was able to push through was my training. At Crazy 88 we push each other to the breaking point every training session. I’m used to the craziness.
8. Which BJJ players do you admire or look up to?
Roleta, Xande Ribeiro, Rodolfo Vieira, and Jacare
9. What is next in 2013 for you?
Boston Open next month, Abu Dhabi Pro, and the rest of the Grand Slam Tournaments.
10. If you want to thank somebody or sponsors, feel free
I’d like to thank my family for supporting me. Especially my Mother, Grandmother, and Father. My BJJ Coaches Master Lloyd Irvin and Julius Park, my Judo Coach Nick Delpopolo, also my Strength and Conditioning Coach Shane Davenport, all my teammates and training partners, and the Best Gi Company on Earth 12P!
