Greifswalds Alva Pannwitz fetches two bronze at the European Championship!

Greifswalds Alva Pannwitz fetches two bronze at the European Championship!

Greifswald, Deutschland - In the past few days, the German Grappling team, led by Alva Pannwitz and Gamila Kanew, has caused a sensation. At the Grappling European Championship in Warsaw, the 19-year-old athlete from Greifswald won two bronze medals in the Grappling and Grappling-Gi (U20) disciplines and thus achieved an impressive success for herself and her team. Pannwitz competed in her second squad tournament and was already able to distinguish herself as vice world champion in grappling with her potential. This shows not only your skills, but also the excellent work that is done in the German grappling scene. According to [NDR] (https://www.ndr.de/nachrichten/mecklenburg-vormern/zwei-bronzemedillen-bei-europame championship-fuer-Greppler-Grapplerin, Mvregiogentswald-182.html), the entire team was extremely successful and won seven of seven possible Medals.

The 29-year-old Kanew himself can now look proud of the title of European champion in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, whom she recently won in Lisbon in the middle weight of the black belt. In order to obtain this title, she had to compete in three exciting fights, with the decisive victory in the final against the Canadian defending champion Bruna Ricalde Maciel only fell in the last ten seconds of the fight. These successes prove how strong the athletes from Greifswald are in international comparison. Kanew's proud of her team is obvious; She was active as a fighter until 2024 and has won numerous titles, including gold at the World Combat Games 2023. Since this year she has completely dedicated her time to the role as national coach and prepares her team for the upcoming World Cup in Serbia in October.

strong in the team

A total of three other athletes from Greifswald took part in the European Championship. While Matti Birken and Alva Pannwitz were able to win their first fight, unfortunately they had to delete the sail in the second fight. Ramesh Roth could not prevail in the first round duel. Nevertheless, the result reflects the strengthening and growth of the sport in Germany.

• Alva Pannwitz: 2 bronze medals (Grappling, Grappling-Gi)
• Gamila Kanew: European champion in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
• Matti Birken: First fight won, second lost
• Ramesh Roth: First fight lost

A look at the development of the sport shows that Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, which was founded in Brazil in the 1920s by the Gracie family, is becoming increasingly popular in Germany. With over 200 schools across the country, especially in large cities such as Berlin and Munich, the number of practitioners is growing steadily. The European Championships, which are considered the largest BJJ tournament in Europe, are proof of the dynamics of this sport. According to BJJ100, BJJ is often described as "human chess", since it requires strategic thinking and technology what makes it a fascinating challenge for athletes.

The success of the athletes from Greifswald are not only a reason for joy for the region, but also a sign of the future of sport in Germany. With a strong trainer such as Gamila Kanew and talented young fighters like Alva Pannwitz, the German Grappling sport is on the right track and can hope for further success.