Kasparas Strazdas, an eighteen year-old member of Vilnius “Smauglys” club, triumphed in the grappling championship of the Baltic States. In the finals of the Absolute NoGi group (without the kimono), he defeated Mindaugas Veržbickas, a representative of Ukmergė Judo Club. In addition, on his way to the finals, he managed to beat the biggest star of the tournament Teodoras Aukstuolis, who has won a number of MMA tournaments in Japan. Theodoras Aukstuolis himself though, doesn’t consider this defeat as very significant.
"Of course, I tried to win, but I am not very upset, because my main goal was to test my strength," – said T. Aukstuolis after the contest.
The biggest martial arts tournament KOK World Series to be held on the 16th of November at Siemens arena in Vilnius will include not only traditional COP and MMA fights, but also, for the first time in history, a combat for the Champion’s belt of the Absolute Professional Grappling of the Baltic States.
Lithuanian Grappling Federation was founded only four years ago. Now, however, it already has something to boast about. More and more participants are taking part in the organization's events, including well-known names in the world of martial arts. For example, the athletes who compete in bushid tournaments in the capital's arena "Siemens" competed in the last Baltic Championship: Mindaugas Veržbickas, Konstantinas Mokšinas, Matas Stebuliauskas, Julia Stoliarenko. Often, Teodorius Aukštuolis is also among these athletes.
