Press Release

LEMOORE, Calif. (July 1, 2010) – Grapplers Quest will crown the “2010 World’s Best Grappler” on Saturday and Sunday, July 10 and 11 with a 32-Man Superfight Tournament at the Tachi Palace Casino in Lemoore, CA.

The 32-Man Superfight Absolute Tournament will feature Alexandre Ribeiro, Jeff Monson, Bill Cooper, Joao Assis, Lucas Leite, Chris Moriarty, Sean Spangler, Antonio Braga Neto and many more of the world’s best Jiu Jitsu, MMA, Judo and Sambo fighters battling for the largest cash prize and most prestigious No-Gi Submission Grappling title in American history: $11,500 in cash ($10,000 for 1st place, $1,000 for 2nd Place, and $500 for 3rd Place).

GoFightLive.tv will stream the entire 32-Man Tournament (all 30 matches) live starting at 4:00 PM PST and 7:00 PM EST and then on-demand worldwide for just $19.99. Purchase online at: http://www.gofightlive.tv/showEvent.do?eventId=722

For amateur competitors, the event will also feature 200 Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Submission Grappling, Judo and Wrestling Divisions for competitors of all skill and belt levels and $3,000 in cash prizes. For event information, competitor registration, tickets and more on the Grapplers Quest at Tachi Palace in Lemoore, California on July 10-11, go to http://www.grapplersquest.com/events/tachi-palace-challenge

“There was no other tournament in 2010 to truly crown The World’s Best Grappler, so Grapplers Quest wanted to step-up and challenge the grappling world with $11,500 in cash,” said Brian Cimins, Grapplers Quest President. “This has been a dream of mine since I started this event in 1998, to ultimately crown the World’s Best, and Tachi Palace Casino and GoFightLive.tv will make this dream a reality and you can witness it live around the world.”

The 32-Man Tournament will feature Alexandre “Xande” Ribeiro (multiple-time World Jiu Jitsu Champion and 3-time Grapplers Quest Pro Champion), Joao Assis (2010 UFC Fan Expo Absolute Champion), Jeff “Snowman” Monson (former World Champion, UFC Veteran), Bill “The Grill” Cooper (26-Time Grapplers Quest), Rustam Chsiev (K-Dojo, 5tTime Pro Grapplers Quest Absolute Champion), Lucas Leite (CBJJ World Champion), Kelly Anundson (American Top Team, 2010 USA Wrestling/World Grappling Champion), Sean Spangler (2009 World Series of Grappling Cruiserweight Champion, Robert Drysdale Black Belt), Brandon “The Animal” Olsen (Team Pain Cave, World Series Silver Medalist), Marcelo “Lapela” Mafra (2009 World Series of Grappling Champion), Cameron Diffley (AutismRadio.org Charity Superfight Champion), Chris Moriarty (ADCC Veteran), John Toth (Team Balance/2008 All-Star Pro Challenge Champion), Carlos Diego Ferreira Neves (Amazonas BJJ), Peter Iacavazzi (Sylvio Behring Black Belt, 7-time Grapplers Quest Advanced Champion), Brian McLaughlin (The Ultimate Fighter contestant, Precision MMA, Kardian MMA), Enrico Cocco (Zen Jiu Jitsu, 2009 ADCC North American Champion, 6-time Grapplers Quest Champion, Walter “Cascao” Vital (Mica/Machado/Cascao), Bruno Bastos (Nova Uniao, World Champion), Leopoldo Serao (World Champion from Fairtex), Stephen Martinez (Millenia MMA, 3-time Grapplers Quest Advanced Champion), Chris Downum (Camarillo Jiu Jitsu), Nathan “The Great” Ducharme (David Terrell), Antonio Braga Neto (Evolve MMA, Brazil and Singapore), Jason Manly (Jake Shields’ Gracie Fighter Berkeley), Paul Stark (2010 Canadian Absolute Champion), James Popoulo (Rafael Lovato Jr.), Alexandre Ceconi (2010 ADCC Pro World Black Belt Champion), and Luke Rockhold (American Kickboxing Academy/Strikeforce Contender). The card is subject to change. Alternate are spots available, submit resumes at: http://www.grapplersquest.com/contact

For event information, competitor registration, tickets and more on the Grapplers Quest at Tachi Palace in Lemoore, California on July 10-11, go to: http://www.grapplersquest.com/events/tachi-palace-challenge

California USA Wrestling Joins the Fight to Save the UC Davis Wrestling Program
 
Fresno, CA – June 28th, 2010 – California USA Wrestling Inc. announced today that they have joined forces with the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) to help financially support the fight to reinstate the University of California, Davis wrestling program. The California USA Wrestling Board of Directors recently donated $20,000 to the cause.
 
Duane Morgan, state chair for California USA Wrestling, had this to say, “Wrestling programs throughout the state of California have taken a big hit over the past six months. Due to the elimination of the UC Davis wrestling program, the student-athletes are essentially left with very few options to stay within the state and wrestle at the Division 1 level. We chose to partner with the NWCA in an effort to help formulate a plan that not only translates into the reinstatement of the wresting program at UC Davis, but that also serves as a long term solution for the remaining college wrestling programs in California.”
 
In April, UC Davis abruptly announced that they were eliminating the wrestling program, and three other intercollegiate sports programs, effective July 1, 2010. The $20,000 donation made to the NWCA, by the California USA Wrestling Board of Directors, is an effort to help sustain an ongoing attempt to reinstate the UC Davis Wrestling program, and to help maintain existing Division 1 wrestling programs in the state of California.  Should UC Davis drop the wrestling program as announced, there will be no remaining collegiate wrestling programs in the University of California system.
 
UC Davis head wrestling coach, Lennie Zalesky, issued a public statement within hours of the announcement stating that the wrestling program had been eliminated. According to Zalesky, in the fall of 2009, he was informed by personnel at the University, that no matter what may come to be, football and wrestling were safe at UC Davis, yet the wrestling program was cut without any notice to the student body, student-athletes, coaching staff or coach Zalesky. Further, UC students were not allowed to attend the press conference announcing the elimination of the program.
 
According to Chancellor Linda Katehi, dropping athletics teams and losing opportunities for student-athletes is regrettable but necessary. However, neither Chancellor Katehi, any university administrators or Athletic Director Greg Warzecka ever discussed the prospect of eliminating the sports programs with the students, student-athletes or the coaching staff, despite the fact that the sports programs are largely funded from self-imposed student fees.
 
Mike Moyer, the executive director of the NWCA, feels that despite the financial situation California continually finds itself in, solutions may be better found with the active involvement of all parties.  Moyer stated, “To purposely ignore the student body, student-athletes and the coaching staff, and to ignore the student initiative, in which the student body agreed to a self imposed fee for sports programs, are disrespectful and irresponsible.”

 
Moyer also expressed his gratitude to California USA Wrestling, “The NWCA would like to personally thank Duane Morgan and the entire California USA Wrestling Board of Directors for their support. Their financial contribution is a testament to their continuous resolve to protect the interests of the wrestling community inCalifornia.”
 
The UC Davis wrestling program had the second highest fund-raising numbers (behind football) over the last three years (averaging $65,000/year), the highest alumni/donor support, and one of the most profitable per contest gates of any sport at UC Davis. This specific criterion was supposed to be examined when determining which programs to retain. The elimination of the UC Davis sports programs, which includes wrestling, as well as men’s and women’s swimming, currently effects 73 female and 80 male student-athletes.
 
About California USA Wrestling Inc.:
 
California USA Wrestling Inc. (CA-USAW) is a non-profit corporation that promotes amateur wrestling in many forms to Californians of all ages. California Wrestling is an affiliate of USA Wrestling in Colorado Springs, the national governing body for international-style amateur wrestling in the United States. They are the designated representatives for USA Wrestling in the State of California. CA-USAW educates the California public in both collegiate and international wrestling styles. In addition, the organization conducts and sponsors well-planned wrestling activities, including wrestling camps, clinics and tournaments, and other related programs in order to improve the quality of California wrestling at all competitive levels. 

About The National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA):
The National Wrestling Coaches Association, established in 1928, is a professional organization dedicated to serve and provide leadership for the advancement of all levels of the sport of wrestling with primary emphasis on scholastic and collegiate wrestling programs. The membership embraces all people who are interested in amateur wrestling. The NWCA, through its organizational structure, promotes communication, recognition achievement, recommends rules and regulations, sponsors events and serves as an educational and informational source. Additionally, the NWCA strives to foster the sportsmanship and integrity that are the cornerstones of athletic competition.

Luis “Limao” Heredia will be offering a Brazilian jiu-jitsu seminar in San Diego. Heredia is regarded as Rickson Gracie‘s right-hand man for many years.

Time: 12-3pm
Cost: $100

Robert Lovi Academy
3504 Adams Avenue
San Diego CA 92116

MAP

Luis “Limao” Heredia will be offering a Brazilian jiu-jitsu seminar in San Diego. Heredia is regarded as Rickson Gracie‘s right-hand man for many years.

Time: 12-3pm
Cost: $100

Robert Lovi Academy
3504 Adams Avenue
San Diego CA 92116

MAP

Luis “Limao” Heredia will be offering a Brazilian jiu-jitsu seminar in San Diego. Heredia is regarded as Rickson Gracie‘s right-hand man for many years.

Time: 12-3pm
Cost: $100

Robert Lovi Academy
3504 Adams Avenue
San Diego CA 92116

MAP

Luis “Limao” Heredia will be offering a Brazilian jiu-jitsu seminar in San Diego. Heredia is regarded as Rickson Gracie‘s right-hand man for many years.

Time: 12-3pm
Cost: $100

Robert Lovi Academy
3504 Adams Avenue
San Diego CA 92116

MAP

The Gracie Pro/Am Circuit presents:

The California Championships, a Professional and Amateur Gi and No-Gi tournament. The event will be held in Sacramento, Ca. at the Inderkum Highschool on September 4th and 5th.
The Professional No-Gi tournament will feature 4 weight classes with $2,000.00 going to the winner in each class and $500.00 to the runner-up.

A professional Gi Open competition will offer prize money to the winners of the Blue, Purple, Brown and Black belt divisions. $500.00 to the winner and $100.00 to the runner-up in the Brown and Black Belt Open and $300.00 and $100.00 to the runner-up in the Blue and Purple belt Open.

An Amateur Gi and No Gi competition with consist of the best teams and individual competitors from around the West Coast.

2500 New Market Dr
Sacramento, CA 95835
MAP

More information on the official site.

Custom Medals to All Winners!

Samurai Swords to All Kids and Teen 1st place winners!

$50 Kids – GI and No-GI
$50 Teens – GI and No-GI
$65 Adults – GI and No-GI

$5 Spectator Fee

This is a Pre-Registration Only Event

In order to provide a better competitor experience, this will be a pre-registration ONLY tournament.

Cobb Civic Center
548 South Marietta Parkway
Marietta, GA 30060
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More information on the official website.

Pre register is $55 for adults, $30 for kids, and comes with a free t-shirt.

Day of registration is $65 for adults and $40 for kids

Cash awarded to all male absolute division winners.

3400 Broadway
Gary, IN 46408-1197
MAP

More information on the official site.

Pre register is $55 for adults, $30 for kids, and comes with a free t-shirt.

Day of registration is $65 for adults and $40 for kids

Cash awarded to all male absolute division winners.

3400 Broadway
Gary, IN 46408-1197
MAP

More information on the official site.