Friday, February 14, 2014

IBJJF PAN AM CHAMPIONSHIP 2014 March 12th-16th

Join Spartan Martial Arts as we Travel to California for the IBJJF PAN AM Championships!

Team Spartan will apearing in California for the tournament of tournaments to show off there skills and talents which they have learned under Team Spartan! 

Location:
University California Irvine
100 Bren Event Center
Irvine
CA
USA
92617
Prices:US$90.00 by December 27th, 2013
US$115.00 by January 24th, 2014
US$130.00 by March 3rd, 2014
Spectator's Entrance Fee

Wednesday/Thursday/Friday - $12.00
Saturday/Sunday - $15.00

Athletes affiliation and
Academy registration deadline

Athletes affiliation and academy registration deadline
All Juvenile, brown and black belt athletes must be properly affiliated for the current year.

All academies must be registered in order for its students to register in the competition.

All the documentation must be sent properly filled and signed as instructed on the e-mail received when soliciting your affiliation online. Juveniles, Brown and Black belts with pending and/or incorrect documentation won't be able to register for the tournament, as they need to have their request approved first.

For information about how to become a member or renew your membership please access 
this page.
Academy Registration:
Why should I register my academy?
By registering your academy your students will be able to apply for their USBJJF/IBJJF membership ID card. Your students will also have the privilege to represent your academy when they sign up to compete in all IBJJF tournaments.
What are the requirements to register an academy?
As a requirement, the responsible professor must be a black belt, and with a current valid membership ID card from the IBJJF.  If you are black belt and are not yet a member or have an outdated membership ID card, you need to request or renew your membership.

BELT & AGE DIVISIONS

  • Male:
    Year of BirthAge divisionBelt
    1998Juvenile 1White, Blue, Purple
    1997Juvenile 2White, Blue, Purple
    1996 and beforeAdultWhite, Blue, Purple, Brown, Black
    1984 and beforeMaster 1White, Blue, Purple, Brown, Black
    1978 and beforeMaster 2White, Blue, Purple, Brown, Black
    1973 and beforeMaster 3Blue, Purple, Brown, Black
    1968 and beforeMaster 4Blue, Purple, Brown, Black
    1963 and beforeMaster 5Blue, Purple, Brown, Black
    1958 and beforeMaster 6Blue, Purple, Brown, Black
     
    Female:
    Year of BirthAge divisionBelt
    1998Juvenile 1White, Blue, Purple
    1997Juvenile 2White, Blue, Purple
    1996 and beforeAdultWhite, Blue, Purple, Brown, Black
    1984 and beforeMasterBlue, Purple, Brown, Black












OPEN CLASS

Athletes who placed 1st, 2nd or 3rd in the following weight divisions are eligible to register for the Open Class bracket:
Juvenile (Middle Weight and above) - Blue and Purple Belts
Adult division - Blue, Purple, Brown
Master division - Blue, Purple, Brown and Black Belts

All Black Belt competitors in the Adult Division are eligible to compete in the Open Class division.

The athletes who are willing to register for the open class may do so at the event’s open class registration table. There will be registration deadlines for each open class division, which will be posted alongside the event’s schedule. Athletes will not be able to register for the open class division after its registrations deadline.

There will not be an open class for the following divisions:
All White Belts
Juveniles (Light Weight and below)

IMPORTANT INFO

Black belt adult division athlete's should bring one royal blue and one white gi for use during the semi-finals and finals.

Click here to download a copy of the event poster.

Media personnel may submit an application for the event by clicking here.

What to do when you get to the tournament:
- Refer to the schedule link in order to know when you should be at the event and inside the warm up area;
- Athletes will receive a complimentary event t-shirt which they should pick up at the event; IBJJF will not mail shirts after the event;
- Athletes who place in 1st, 2nd and 3rd in their division will receive a medal at the event. IBJJF will not mail medals after the event;
- It is mandatory to have an official picture Id at all times;

Each academy can only have two athletes in the same division bracket (of age/weight/belt). If your academy has problems regarding the number of athletes in each division, please send an e-mail to IBJJF - ibjjf@ibjjf.com.

There will be awarded academy’s trophies for the following groups:
Adult Male
Adult Female
Juvenile
Master

Any false information provided during registration such as, but not limited to, DOB, may lead to immediate disqualification. Such actions are subject to suspension or even banishment from future IBJJF events.

The registration fee is non-refundable.

If you are alone on your bracket you can contact ibjjf@ibjjf.com till the day before registration check day and request a change on your registration; IBJJF does not guarantee that the division you want to be moved to will have another competitor at the day of the event;

We try to accommodate as many athletes as possible in our events, but there is a limit on the number of athletes in order to guarantee a high quality event.

IBJJF reserves the right to close registration when we reach full capacity, or the appointed event date registration deadline, whichever comes first.

We strongly suggest the registration is taken care of, before any travel arrangements.

Before each fight, athletes will be asked to show their valid form of photo identification(ID) to the officials. Make sure you have it on hand.

The official weight measurements of this event is in POUNDS.

This tournament is organized by the USBJJF.

King Grappler in Madison Wisconsin March 1st

Join Spartan as we go to Madison for the King Grappler Tourney March 1st!

Spartan Martial Arts will be attending come support the "Best Jiu-Jitsu Gym in the twin cities!"

Jiu jitsu Tournament Info
March 1st, 2014 Madison,WI


 
Location:The Salvation Army Gym; 3030 Darbo Dr.; Madison,WI 53714

From I90/94 take hwy 151 south ( East Washington ave ), about 3-4 miles, when you see a big GREEN walk over bridge turn left on Marquette st, look off to the left for a big red brick building, follow road to the left like your going in the big parking lot of McDonald's. If you drive past Taco Bell you just passed the turn!

Marquette St. is at around the 2900 block of EAST WASHINGTON ave, just North of ELLA's DELI.

PRICE to COMPETE:

$60 at the door OR pre-reg and save money
PRE-REG by February 20, 2014 at $45

You must mail in forms and money, there is NO online paying, NO phoning in.

Registration Form

BOTH NO GI / GI are one price, pre pay or post pay!!

You may compete in one extra division, plus your own, so you can compete in NO GI (your weight,skill level) King Grappler divisions and GI if you desire, all for one price, if you only want to compete in one division the price in the same for one division or three.

SPECTATORS: $10 to watch, kids under 5 free, doors open at 7:30am, divisions will start at 9:30am
Adult Weigh-In's: Friday Night from 6:30pm - 8:00pm OR Saturday Morning starting at 7:30am-10:30am
Kids Weigh-In's: Friday Night 6:30pm - 8:00pm OR Saturday morning 7:30am - 9:00am(be on time)
Rules Meeting: 9:15am
KIDS COMPETE: 9:30am (be on time)
TEENS COMPETE: 11:00am appox.
ADULTS COMPETE: 11:30am appox.
SUPER GRAPPLING MATCHES: 11:30am - 1:00pm appox

AWARDS:
KING of KINGS will get $600 cash (this is the NO GI, NO time limit division)
KING OF GI's $600 (GI division, NO time limit) NEW DIVISION

QUEEN GRAPPLER will get $400.00 cash (this is the GI division, NO time limit division)
          PLUS  A customized glass award... picture available on King Grappler facebook page. 
                    (LIKE the facebook page when you are there please.)

Swords to winner of King Grappler NO time limit Divisions.
Metals 1st - 3rd
Swords to ADV. kids & teens
Special awards for: Fastest submission, Team with most members, plus more...
Metals and swords are picked up after your division is done.

HOTELS:
Howard Johnson
3841 East Washington Ave
Madison, WI 53704
2 miles from Tournament
Tell them you're with KING GRAPPLER
608-244-2481

There are lots of Hotels on EAST WASHINGTON AVE
all right off of I90/94
and about 3-5 miles straight shot to KING GRAPPLER

A fun tournament for all!



Go Team Spartan!


Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Stumbling onto it


Stumbling onto it.

I will always remember the line in the movie “the Matrix” where Neo is about to start his combat training.  Keanu Reeves is laying there on that uncomfortable looking chair and he says “Jiujitsu? I am going to learn jiujitsu?”  The operator doesn't say anything he just winks at him and begins the download.  That scene started me on a path.  On a path that I am still traveling today. 
             Lets start with the background of why I was watching “the Matrix.”  I was about 17 years old.  I had just broken up with my high school sweetheart.  She was this crazy bohemian girl which is something I have always been into.  (she eventually got dreads)  I had a few girlfriends during my high school years but she was the major one.  She was the one I took to prom, snow dance, all those memories were with her.  Plus she was a hot blonde and I made the mistake of drawing confidence from having a hot blonde girlfriend.  I know, rookie mistake, I know.  But, I was really down about it.  I was moping around the house and my dad noticed.  I told him that I had broken up with the girl I took to prom and he looked me in the eye and gave me advice I will never forget.  He said “Well, what are you sad for?  The only difference from yesterday is that now you can date whoever you want.  I didn't really like her anyway.  You acted femme when you were around her.  You don’t even stand up straight anymore.”   So to summarize my situation, my high school flame had just broke up with me and my dad had just called me a pansy.  I decided that was a good time to retire to my room and contemplate my next move. 
             That night I watched “the matrix” I was inspired by the story of this unathletic, pale looking guy who wears black all the time.  He wakes up one day to find out that his entire life is a lie, he learns jiujitsu, then goes on to save his mentor, the entire world and get the girl in the end.  I decided I needed to do something similar. 
              At that time in my life I worked as a life guard at the local YMCA.  Everyday I would show up to my job at around 5:45 am then sleep till about 9.  Flirt with whatever girls happened to come to the pool that day.  For a teenage guy it was a dream job.   That day as I was leaving the ymca I saw a sign that would change my life.  It read “Japanese jiujitsu.”  I stopped in my tracks as though the universe itself was calling to me.  I stopped, looked at the sign and was so moved that I uttered out loud the word “yes.” I saw the time, Wednesday at 7pm and knew I would be there.
            That Wednesday I walked onto the grappling mats for the first time.  I saw a few other guys there wearing what I thought looked like thick, bleached white pajamas.  I later learned that this is properly called a kimono or “gi.”  The class began and I was very quickly disappointed by the lack of karate chops or kicks.  I learned basic judo techniques of how to fall, break grips, twist an arm, and throw an opponent to the ground.  It was cool….I guess.  But it didn't seem like something I would want to stick with.  About 45 minutes in the instructor announced it was time for “randori.”  I had no idea what this term meant but I saw that people were picking new partners and sizing each other up.  I asked one of the instructors what was happening and he said “it is basically wrestling sparring.  Try to throw your partner or pin him.”  I paired up with a 50 something year old grey belt who was much smaller than me.  I noticed that he had bound his ankle in duct tape and I thought to myself “I hope I don’t hurt this guy.”
            The round timer started and we latched on to each other.  I didn't think I was leaning forward but he pushed me then pulled me with perfect timing, hitting a footsweep that made it look like I had jumped over myself just to fall flat on my back.  I grabbed onto his leg from my back and he was happy to keep going.  This cycle of getting thrown and then pinned repeated itself 3 times before the five minute round had passed.  He patted me on the back and without saying a word moved on to another partner. 
            My next partner was a college kid slightly older than me.  I looked at his white belt and felt my spirits rise.  I was exhausted, but he looked tired too.  I looked around the room and even the most in shape men didn't look fresh.  We grappled for the next five minutes going to the ground a few times more as a result of us tripping over each other than one person getting a clean takedown.  It was exhilarating.  I didn't beat him but what mattered at the time was that he didn't beat me. 
I was hooked.  Right at that moment I became hooked on the infinite puzzle that is grappling.  Jiu-jitsu is one of the best things that ever came into my life.  I am a better person physically, mentally, and spiritually because of my time spent on the mats.  There will be more to follow on this with my next entry. 

By Rob Falk | Spartan Martial Arts
Feb 12, 2014

Monday, February 10, 2014

Join Minnesota's Spartan Martial Art's Gym at the Midwest Submission Challenge in Minneapolis, MN.

Go Team Spartan!

Midwest Minneapolis Submission Challenge!
Takes place Feb 22nd 2014.


  • Pre-Registration only $40.00 until midnight Feb 5th
  • Regular Registration starting at just $50.00 Feb 6th – Feb 20th
  • Late Registration $60.00 online by 8pm or from 6:30-8pm in person February 21st.
  • There is no Day of Registration. Registration closes Friday February 21st 8pm.



  • Early Weigh ins: Friday Feb 21st 6:30-8pm 
    Day of weigh ins: Saturday Feb 22nd 8-9am 
    Rules Meeting 9:30am Click Here for Rules 

    Spectator Passes 
    pre-paid only $5.00
    at the door $10.00



    Thank You From Spartan!
    MN Best Jiu Jitsu