Curaçao delegation claims podium finishes with all five athletes and secures 3rd place in the national team standings at the International AJP Tour Brazilian Jiu Jitsu event in Panama on May 3, 2026.
WILLEMSTAD, PANAMA CITY – IMMARTIAL – Athlete Centre has long been a household name in the combat sports community on Curaçao. The gym is widely recognized for its strong performances in Kickboxing and MMA, but is increasingly establishing itself as one of the island’s most active gyms on the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) competition circuit.
Just two weeks ago, on April 18, IMMARTIAL – Athlete Centre served as a main supplier at the HONOR Fight League, where its athletes stood out in both Kickboxing and MMA. And less than a month later, the gym departed once again with a delegation to Panama to represent Curaçao on the international stage of the AJP Tour — this time in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. It is a clear testament to the breadth and versatility with which IMMARTIAL continues to put Curaçao’s combat sports on the map.
The Delegation
On Friday, a delegation of five individuals departed from Curaçao to Panama. The group consisted of four adult athletes and one youth athlete. All participants competed in two categories: the Gi and the No-Gi division.
The Curaçao delegation comprised the following athletes and coach:
• Baris Namlioglu – Athlete (Blue Belt Division)
• Thomas Groeneveld – Athlete (White Belt Division)
• Chris Soeterboek – Athlete (Blue Belt Division)
• Sammy Huguett – Athlete (Youth)
• Fernando Huguett – Athlete & Coach (Black Belt Division)
Exceptional Results
The performances delivered by the IMMARTIAL delegation were nothing short of outstanding. All five athletes secured a podium finish, with two of them doing so in both categories. An overview of the medals won:
• Baris Namlioglu – Gold in Gi & Gold in No-Gi
• Thomas Groeneveld – Gold in No-Gi & Silver in Gi
• Chris Soeterboek – Gold in Gi
• Sammy Huguett – Gold in Gi
• Fernando Huguett – Bronze in Gi (Black Belt Division)
Curaçao on the International Stage
Thanks to these remarkable performances, Curaçao finished as the 3rd country in the national team standings, directly behind host country Panama (1st) and Costa Rica (2nd). A historic achievement for the island.
In the club competition, IMMARTIAL – Athlete Centre, which competes under the banner of De La Riva International, claimed an impressive 4th place — a more than respectable result in a highly competitive international field.
“Once again an incredible achievement by our guys, showing that we can compete at the international level — and that while BJJ is still a relatively young sport on the island.”
— Fernando Huguett, Coach & Athlete, IMMARTIAL – Athlete Centre
Looking Ahead
The delegation returns to Curaçao on Monday and will immediately resume their training schedule in preparation for the next tournament. IMMARTIAL – Athlete Centre once again demonstrates not only its broad reach within combat sports — active at the international level in Kickboxing, MMA, and BJJ alike — but also reaffirms its position as the island’s leading martial arts gym.