Taken from: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=262842727100690&set=a.204909356227361.64098.193561784028785&type=1&theater
Anyone who follows the sport of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Canada should know of Alison Tremblay. She is currently one of the most dominant Canadians on the scene. She will be competing December 10 in a super fight to take place at the Montreal Grappling Experience / BJJ Tournament. There she will fight Melissa Biscardi who has also made quite a name for herself on the world scene. I was honoured with the opportunity to talk with Alison about her background, her training, and her thoughts on the sport. The interview takes place below.
Montreal Grappling: Tell us a little bit about yourself, your grappling experience, your head coach, and your team?
Alison Tremblay: My name is Alison Tremblay, I just turned 21 and I live in Carleton Place Ontario, a small town of 9,000 people just west of Ottawa. It’s there that I train at Alpha MMA with my dad and head coach Peter Tremblay, who is coached by Ben Meireles. Our club is affiliated with BTT Canada under Fabio Holanda. I've been training in BJJ now for about 3 and half years.
Montreal Grappling: You recently competed in to NoGi Pan-Ams and it was quite a day for you, could you walk us through the tournament and aftermath?
Alison Tremblay: The NoGi Pan-Ams this year were held in New York during the 1st week of October. I ended up placing first in my division and first in absolute. It was there that I received my purple belt on the podium. That weekend meant a lot to me. For the past 2 NoGi Pan-Ams that I had competed in, I had gotten silver both times, I was sick of silver! My coaches helped me stay focused throughout the day and in the months prior developing a game plan.
Montreal Grappling: Outside of grappling what is your occupation as well as some of your interests? How do these interests affect your training habits?
Alison Tremblay: I like to keep busy! When I have nothing to do I feel like I am wasting my time! The time that I don’t spend training I either spend at school, or at work. I'm taking a full course load (5 credits) at Carleton University where I’m in the 3rd year of a 4 year Honours degree in Psychology. I also work 30 hours a week at a local gym in Ottawa, as well as teach the kids classes at Alpha MMA alongside my brother. I'm fortunate enough to have a great support system at home that supports me and allows me to dedicate so much of my time to training and school.
Montreal Grappling: What is your favorite personal grappling memory in the gym?
Alison Tremblay: I can't pick just one great memory. That’s like asking someone to pick one thing they love about their family. That's truly how I feel about Alpha. We are a family in every way shape and form. Everyone that I train with has helped me in so many ways. Each person motivates me on the days I am having a hard time.
Montreal Grappling: Could you give us your take on women’s grappling in Canada and the rest of world? Do you feel it is respected as much as the men are, in both the gym and especially at tournaments? What would you like to see added to women’s grappling?
Alison Tremblay: I have definitely seen a growing popularity in women’s grappling over the past few years, both from a spectator’s position and in the number of competitors. When I started competing you’d be lucky to get 3 or 4 girls at a tournament (all belt levels and weights included). Now I’ll go to Mundials and have 80 girls in the absolute division. It’s great! I can`t speak for other clubs but I know at Alpha MMA men and women are treated the same and respected the same. My coaches expect the same work ethic and focus from me as they would from any guy my size and belt level. As for tournaments I have always felt the BJJ community, both locally and internationally, to be very welcoming and supportive to everyone.
Montreal Grappling: You are fighting Melissa Biscardi from Toronto BJJ at the Montreal Grappling Experience on December 10 in a purple belt gi women’s super fight, what do you know about Melissa and what are you expecting from her in this fight?
Alison Tremblay: Melissa and I go way back, from competing at tournaments together. There is probably no one I respect more in the local grappling community than Melissa. She always comes ready to fight and is a great role model for those who are just starting out. I know she is going to bring her A-game for this fight and I am looking forward to this fight very much.
Montreal Grappling: Your father, Peter Tremblay, not only as well practices BJJ but is at the helm of the team you train with, can you tell us how you came to start BJJ and what it means to have your father as your coach?
Alison Tremblay: My dad has been running a martial arts club for as long as I can remember. When I was a kid I did the whole hockey in the winter and soccer in the summer combination. When I was 16 I was playing Junior AA hockey and Regional level soccer. It came down to where I had to make a choice between the two, I couldn’t be elite at both. So I chose hockey. I continued to play at the AA level until I was finished high school. At the end of high school I had a few scholarship opportunities but decided that I wanted to stay in Ottawa and study at Carleton University. This was when I really discovered BJJ. Having my dad as my coach means the world to me. I’m so fortunate to be in a family that supports me in every aspect of my life.
Montreal Grappling: What notable tournaments have you won? Do you aspire to someday be considered a world champion?
Alison Tremblay: Well most recently, in October I won the IBJJF No-Gi PanAms in my weight division and in absolute. Last February I qualified at the Abu Dhabi Pro Trials in New Jersey and won a trip to Abu Dhabi compete in the Abu Dhabi Pro Championships where I came away with a bronze medal.
I think everyone who trains at the elite level hopes to one day to be World Champion and I am no different. With the great team of coaches and training partners I have I know that this is definitely possible.
Montreal Grappling: What does Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu mean to you? What are your future goals in the martial art?
Alison Tremblay: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a tool for me to learn about myself. All the bad habits that I have in life show up on the mats. Not only does Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu help me to become aware of them it also allows me to figure out the formula to fix them. My goal is to become a black belt world champion.
Montreal Grappling: Sparring is universal in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Practitioners tend to go through all sorts of sparring phases, some people go light and some and hard, some people spastic and technical. What is your philosophy to sparring?
Alison Tremblay: As Jigoro Kano taught, for me sparring is free practice. Randori is about working on what your weaknesses are, shiai is a contest. I never try and beat my partner in sparring, I just work on my technique, if my technique is good that will happen by itself.
Montreal Grappling: After being exposed to enough techniques, some practitioners tend to feel that there are some moves harder to pull off than others. Let’s play a little game called “Written BJJ”, try to write us a description of the hardest technique you’ve ever pulled off in sparring or competition.
Alison Tremblay: I don’t try and ever pull off a “hard” technique; I look for what comes to me the easiest.
Montreal Grappling: This is your first time fighting for Montreal Grappling, what have you liked about working alongside the organization? How do you feel about how Montreal Grappling is looking to expand the sport as well as expose their fighters to the spotlight?
Alison Tremblay: It is my first time. What I like the most is the promoter’s, David Aguzzi and Mathieu Cournoyer, enthusiasm! I am also excited and pleased anytime an organizer goes out of their way to showcase female talent!
Montreal Grappling: Is there any sponsors or people who have helped you get here that you would like to give a shout out to?
Alison Tremblay: Obviously my Dad (Peter Tremblay) and my brother (Michael Tremblay) but also my Dad’s coach Prof. Ben Meireles a black belt under the head of BTT Canada Fabio Holanda. Also all of my training partners, it’s a great family to be part of!
TTT