Jorge Pereira Seminar at GR

Save the date, Saturday June 7th for a rare BJJ training treat.  While on vacation in Florida, GR BJJ instructor Tony Reel trained at Rio Hero, one of the best BJJ gyms in the world.  He was so impressed by the training provided by Prof. Jorge Pereira that he decided to convince Jason to bring Prof. Pereira to GriffonRawl.  It didn’t take much convincing.

Master Jorge Pereira is a Coral Belt - 7th Degree Black Belt (Graduated by Rickson Gracie and Carlos Gracie Jr.) He is Certified by the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation & by the Confederation of Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paolo. Former World Champion in different Styles and now instructing in Rio Hero South Beach. For more on Jorge Pereira click HERE

Aside from his BJJ credentials, Prof. Pereira holds a 9-4 MMA record. Not surprisingly, all of his wins are first round submissions.

The seminar will be in two parts.  No gi, and then gi.  Each session will last two hours, with a half hour break in the middle.

What: Jorge Pereira Seminar
Date: Saturday June 7, 2014
Where: GriffonRawl MMA Academy
When: 11:30 - 1:30 pm Gi, 2 - 4 pm NoGi
Cost:
Pre-pay: $75 for one session, $100 for both
Day of: $100 for one session, $125 for both

Tickets: Contact Jason Dent at GR

Reel’s Auto is the primary sponsor for this event

Update May 1st, we've added two sponsors:

Intimidation Clothing

Defense Soap

A sample of Prof. Pereira’s training

By Popular Demand Krav Maga is Back

April 4th GriffonRawl hosted Krav Maga Black Belt Sarah Fox for its first Krav Maga Self Defense seminar.  The event was a big hit with the membership, and Jason resolved then and there to bring Sarah and her years of  teaching experience  back to GR several times per year. 

Friday, July 11th Jason makes good; Sarah will conduct another 2 hour session on the main mat at GR.  The focus of the training will be practical, effective and efficient techniques to end trouble before it escalates.

What: Krav Maga Self Defense 

Date: Friday, July 11, 2014

Where: GriffonRawl Academy 6090 Pinecone Drive, Mentor OH

When: 6 pm - 8 pm

Tickets: Paid in advance: Members $20, Non-members: $30.  Add $10 to pay at the door.

The first seminar sold out, with over 40 attendees.  Don’t be left out, space will go quickly, so reserve your slot ASAP by calling: 440-358-9371

Fight Fit Krav Maga site is HERE

As before this seminar is sponsored by Action Automotive

Written by: Bob Donaghy

Ahmad Douglas v Tobiaus Taylor at FNF 10

Ahmad Douglas climbs in the cage for the 4th time in less than a year this time to face off with Tobiaus Taylor, the younger brother of former NAAFS Lightweight Champion Torrance Taylor.  Ahmad has kept a busy schedule.  Running his record to 3-0 since his MMA debut last October, he’s also managed to squeeze in a couple of wrestling tournaments and a smoker or two (and he doesn’t miss classes).  One of the youngest members of the GR Amateur Fight Team (he’s actually still under some age restrictions), Ahmad, faces different challenges from his older team members.  Aside from a full study schedule at Lakeland Community College, Ahmad puts in long hours at his family’s restaurant.

What: Fight Night in the Flats 10
Date: June 7, 2014
Where: Jacobs Pavilion, 2014 Sycamore St Cleveland OH 44113
When: Doors Open at 5 PM, Event Starts at 6 PM
Tickets: Contact Ahmad Douglas through GriffonRawl or on Facebook HERE

Ahmad’s opponent is Tobiaus Taylor, a 4-1 lightweight out of the very tough Rising Dragon camp.  A striker like his older brother Torrance, Tobiaus likes to grind out the wins, working a careful and technical game.  Three of his wins are Unanimous Decisions, the other being a 2nd round TKO.  His sole loss was a late 3rd round armbar to the much more experienced RJ Buck (11-4 at the time).  This will be a very competitive fight.

GR always sends a strong contingent to Fight Night in the Flats.  We’ve been the main event there more than once.  Be sure to contact Ahmad either at GR or on his Facebook page for tickets

Intimidation Clothing will sponsor Ahmad for this fight:



Written by: Bob Donaghy

Where There's Smoke There's Fire

GriffonRawl will host it’s first Open Sparring Night on Friday, May 30th at GriffonRawl Academy.  Jason has invited teams from Vanyo’s Martial Arts, Evolve, World Kickboxing Academy, Marvin William's Fearless All Stars and Rockhard MMA.  He’s already received confirmation on some of the participants and made matchups with GR members.  Check out the event page on Facebook for updates.

Public Open Sparring Night HERE

What: GriffonRawl Open Sparring Night
Date: Friday May 30, .2014
Where: GriffonRawl MMA Academy 6090 Pinecone Dr, Mentor OH
When: 8 pm to Whenever
Tickets: It’s FREE!

What, exactly, is a Smoker?

Ask ten people and get ten answers, but the one that matters most in Ohio (and for our purposes) is what the Ohio Athletic Commission says.  To them, a Smoker (can’t be called a Smoker!) is a competitive exhibition
of skills conducted for the entertainment of the public within the rules of a specific combat sport as overseen by a qualified representative of the Commission.  In practical terms, the gym owner has to inform the commission of the Smoker, can’t call it a Smoker when advertising it, must provide a qualified referee, though the referee must not declare a ‘winner’ in any of the competitions, and the gym owner may not charge admission to the public.

For the rest of us non-combatants a Smoker (known from now on as  “Public Open Sparring Night”), is a fun evening out.  For the fighters the results of the fights are not recorded and do not appear on their record.  Since these aren't official fights, it is not necessary for a participant to be a member of a formal fight team.  It is, however, full contact fighting in front of an audience, making it excellent experience for a novice fighter to get used to public performance without the pressure of full event preparation.  More experienced fighters use Open Sparring Nights to stave off ring rust in the long lags between fights.  It’s also a great way to get exposure to other fighters and other skills.  It’s too easy to become complacent when you spar with only your friends week in and week out.

Fearless All Stars

Written by: Bob Donaghy

Thai Boxing Association Level 1 Testing and Training Clinic

GriffonRawl’s seminar program keeps on growing.  Saturday, May 10th sees the start of formal clinics provided by the Thai Boxing Association.  This clinic provides instruction leading to certification as a Level 1 boxer.  In the next few months a follow up clinic will feature testing for the certification.

What: Thai Boxing Association Level 1 Testing and Training Clinic

Date: Saturday, May 10, 2014 

Where: GriffonRawl Academy, 6090 Pinecone Drive Mentor, OH 44060

When: 1 pm to 3 pm

Tickets: $20 at the door, or Free to anyone already certified at Level 1 or a member of the GR Professional Fight Team

All of GR's Professional Fighters are URGED to attend. This seminar/clinic will improve your attention to detail and polish up your already lethal abilities so please be there. Sign Ups have started at the counter for this Level 1 training clinic. 

One of our many long term goals is to have Master Ajarn Chai at the GriffonRawl MMA Academy annually to conduct a seminar for us. Lucky for us here at GR our very own Kru Aaron Juice Veverka has been working his way up the ranks for years by training, traveling, and studying up under Master Chai and this can very well become a reality. 

This seminar is sponsored by:

Intimidation Clothing

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Written by: Bob Donaghy

Friday Night is Alright for Fighting

May 30th GR will host its first ever Boxing/Muay Thai open sparring night. This event is open to the public at no charge. The matches will be in our full size Mixed Martial Arts cage and some of the areas best gyms will show up to throwdown.  We expect a full house and this event will be a great experience for both the participants and spectators.

What: GriffonRawl  Public Open Sparring Night
Date: Friday, May 30, 2014
When: 6 pm to 11 pm
Where: GriffonRawl MMA Academy, 6090 Pinecone Dr, Mentor OH
How Much: It’s FREE

The evening will consist of both Boxing & Muay Thai match ups.  With 4 matches set, we need 6 more.  Professional photographer Jack Jones will shoot the event, and New Life Church will set up a table to sell pizza and soft drinks.  It will be an action packed night of intense sparring and fun.

Jason Dent is limiting GR participation to members with experience in Smokers/Thai Fights/MMA Fights.  We are setting this limit for our inaugural event but we will open it up more when we do the second one.

We have 4 matches set so far:

• Thai match - Dave Osborne vs. Dave Awbrey
• Thai match - Brad Bukovics vs. Billy Callabrase
• Boxing match - Tim Stafford vs. Billy Freedson
• Boxing match - Annie Payne vs. Briana Coubrough

Four girls face off

Exhibition Bouts - not official of who is matched with who but the four girls are - Brooke Da Burr, Mariah Maynard, Masda Diaz and Kaylee Maynard

Matches will be refereed by the very experienced Mark Feaks who has done events for both Evolve MMA and the World Kickboxing Academy!

We are looking for match ups for Matt Hopkins 170lbs, Cody Lewis 145lbs, Allan Turner Heavyweight, Nikolai Gionti 135lbs, George Comer 155lbs, Jim Payne Heavyweight, etc, etc.

If anyone with with Muay Thai, Boxing, or MMA experience out there wants to get in some heavy sparring in front of a pretty BIG live audience to add some much need experience to their game please contact Jason Dent as he is handling the matchmaking for this event.

Keep up with updates to this event on its Facebook page HERE

Written by: Bob Donaghy

GR to Host Krav Maga Self Defense Seminar

GriffonRawl will host a practical self defense seminar on April 4th.  It will be a two hour introduction to the street fighting tactics and techniques of Krav Maga by the owner & operator of Cleveland's Fight Fit Krav Maga, Sarah Fox.

Take advantage of this opportunity to add some of the street tested techniques of this great art to your arsenal taught by one to the regions best instructors

This seminar is sponsored by Action Automotive

What: Krav Maga Seminar (ages 10 and up only please)
Date: Friday, April 4, 2014
Where: GriffonRawl Academy
When: 6 pm to 8 pm
Tickets: Members: $20, non-members: $30 (add $10 if you buy at the door)
Call: 440-358-9371 for tickets

Fight Fit Krav Maga Website

Written by: Bob Donaghy