Hayden teen seeks 100th medal at Jiu Jitsu tourney
<p>Isaac Lawrence, 13, grapples with his opponent on the mat during jiu-jitsu practice Monday night at Iron Lion Jiu-Jitsu Academy in Hayden. Lawrence has a chance to win his 100th medal in the sport at the Northwest Submission Challenge in Boise this weekend.</p>
<p>Isaac Lawrence studies the moves of his fellow jiu-jitsu athletes during practice on Monday.</p>
Hayden resident Isaac Lawrence, 13, heads to Boise this weekend for the Northwest Submission Challenge where he can win his 100th tournament placement medal in Jiu Jitsu.
It's the largest Brazilian Jiu Jitsu tournament in the state and runs Friday and Saturday. He fights Saturday.
Isaac has racked up 72 golds, 14 silvers and 12 placement medals since he started competing. He began training in 2009 and has competed throughout the West Coast and Canada.
"I love that moment when you know you're going to win - right before the bell rings" signaling the end of fight, Isaac said Tuesday.
Along with the sport teaching him discipline and providing good workouts, it's fun, too, he said.
"You don't do anything if it's not fun," Isaac said.
Isaac is a team member at Derek Cleveland's Iron Lion Jiu Jitsu Academy in Dalton Gardens.
Cleveland said Tuesday that Isaac is a smart and dedicated teammate.
"He's very bright," Cleveland said. "He's got a perfectionist personality."
Cleveland established the academy in 1996.
Isaac has inspired both his younger brother, Jakan, 9, and his father Shawn Lawrence, to get into the sport.
"I don't make a good spectator," Shawn said. "I always wanted to do martial arts and didn't have the opportunity."
Isaac is a student at Coeur d'Alene Charter Academy. He plays saxophone and enjoys learning about technology and computers.
Isaac tried other sports, but seemed bored, "kicking dirt and staring at birds flying in the field," Shawn said.
Jiu Jitsu stuck because Isaac likes the challenge and ability to gauge his growth. It's a sport where a person is always learning.
Shawn has watched his son grow emotionally through the competition. He has grown from crying after a defeat to shaking hands with his opponent and focusing on the next opportunity to compete.
"Win or lose, it doesn't destroy you," Shawn said. "You look forward to the next opportunity."
There are plenty of opportunities, as he is competing in a dozen tournaments each year. That means a lot of travel, as the closest tournaments are in Seattle and Portland.
Isaac remains a humble young man, his father said, despite earning titles like Kids World Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Champion, Idaho State Champion and Pan-American Champion.
"He doesn't like showboating," Shawn said.