Competitions

Big shout out to Ant and Kyle who will be representing Black Country Combat this weekend. Ant is once again taking on all comers at Grapple & Strike Fight Night 4 in Nantyglo, Wales Saturday night 17th May. Kyle will be making his mma debut at Hereford's Open Combat Sports Trial (2nd leg) on Sunday 18th May. Good luck to both of you, and make sure to report back to me with plenty of photos!

BCC Beer outing...

Give me a fucking Stella... and some scampi fries.

The sun is shining, the birds are singing, the boys are sweating in the heat while climbing the ladder of rest and doing stair sprints. What better way to cool off and enjoy the weather than with a cool refreshing beer... or 2? Previous trips to Worcester etc have been a success with taxis working out at about £5 a piece (source: Paul Dunn 2008), and it has been suggested doing something similar elsewhere. Bridgnorth perhaps? Obviously I would be very interested in that since I live there, as well as the pleasant surroundings and plentiful pubs. Anyone got any other suggestions or comments?

Grappling competition

The UMA (United Martial Alliance) is holding a no-gi grappling competition on Sunday 18th May, which is not fair off - however the deadline for entries is Wednesday 14th May. Click on the link below for more information and the entry form to print off/email back to UMA.

http://www.umauk.co.uk/UMA_II_UK_OPEN_GROUNDFIGHTING_CHAMPIONSHIPS_NO-GI_SUNDAY_18TH_MAY_2008.doc

Eddie Bravo seminar

I don't smoke cigarettes, I don't smoke cigars, I don't smoke a pipe, pipe, pipe...

Interested in performing the Jiu Claw, Crackhead Control, or the Cock Block? Then head on over to Walsall on 7 June. Wolves MMA are hosting an Eddie Bravo seminar. Advanced tickets are a mere £40 a pop, so I'm thinking of buying 3 so there's a bit more space on the mat.

Follow the link: http://www.mmauniverse.com/events/SS9150

Wanted: Dead or Alive - My pads

Still AWOL since last year: my knee and shin pads. Perhaps an unwise move in hindsight, I lent these cherished items to Lee "unprepared" Bates during the G&S final, only for Lee to then take an early retirement and not be seen since for some weeks. Lee is now back training, but not before handing my equipment over to someone else first. I think Paul "The Animal" Holmes now has them held prisoner in his car boot, and is refusing to hand them over. If you see Paul before I do, get him to give them to Rob instead!

Birthdays

What's this got to do with training and fighting? Don't ask me, but I've been asked to put this up so that we can have even more excuses to go out and get battered, on top of the weekly beers, and basically undo all that good work that we've done in the cage.

5th Apr - Chris "Old Cheese" Smith

30th Aug - James "The Chosen One" Steele

5th Oct - Aaron The Pest

Do you have a birthday? You do? Then let me know!

UFC 1

Here's a UFC event that Aaron might be able to actually get some correct predictions out of. I reckon that the karate guy will win - how can anyone resist the "wax on wax off" technique? Unstoppable!

Upcoming MMA competition

Combat Sports Open Trials - 2008: 1st Leg

10 Feb 2008

Hereford

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Grapple and Strike Wales 2008: Round 1

9 March 2008

Deepest darkest Wales

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I'm going to have a year off.

YOU, however, need to get involved! Grab an entry form - use the link on the right to get to MMAUniverse or Grapple and Strike.

Christmas holiday

Christmas time is upon us again, and Rob wants at least 3 weeks holiday! This means that the last training session will be Thursday 20th Dec, reopening again on Jan 2nd.

We woz robbed!!!!

The event attracted a lot of local attention

Welsh Grapple and Strike Finals 2007

Having arrived at 5pm when we should have been there at 4pm and missing the rules meeting (Lee to Heath Gait: "We missed nearly all of that, could you go over it again." No!), BCC eventually starting getting ready for their fights, despite being scolded by the Welsh women at the desk for being so late.

First up, for a change, was James "Headshot" Steele, who obviously misunderstood the situation, believing this tournament to be amateur. However, 3 smacks to the face from Falcon MA local boy Corey Hanson soon cleared that up. Luckily for Corey, the ref and judges were also from Falcon MA, so no disqualification. First round was "a bit iffy" according to Roger, although I did manage a neck crank, armbar and finally mount. Second round not so good, with the slippy floor preventing any half decent shoots. Decision went to the local boy. Shock of the century.

Next up was Glen "I don't want to brag" Cross against Rob Taylor who had beaten him in their last encounter. Despite wanting to keep it standing, Rob was able to take Glen to the floor and start working for a kimora.

Last of the BCC clan was Lee "Prepared" Bates who had to borrow shorts from Roger, and knee and shin pads from James, and for one scary moment thought he had forgotten his gum shield! However, I missed this fight because I'd already left in disgust at my own fight. Having text Paul Holmes for an update on Lee's fight his response was "Don't ask!" which I think sums up the whole night!