GR Hosts the Second Annual Jr MMA Sleep Over

Get ready Jr MMA students, it’s coming fast, the best event of the Summer - the GR MMA Sleepover 2014!  On Friday, August 8 as many Jr MMA’ers as we can cram into GR will gather, train, eat, play games (the new UFC Game on the PS4 is in) and finally bed down in the gym.  This year attendance is limited to Jr. MMA students only (9 to 16 years old).

The sleepover  includes an hour of self defense and anti-bullying training, then food and games.  Jason Dent, and a few of the GR instructors will present the training.

This sleepover is limited to 25 kids so sign up as soon as possible.  We will need parents to volunteer to attend and spend the night with the kids.

Action Automorive is the official sponsor for the sleepover.  Action will provide a grill, food, snacks and softdrinks to the participants.

What: Jr. MMA Sleepover
Date: Friday, August 8, 2014
Where: GriffonRawl MMA Academy
When: 7:30 drop off time.
Tickets: $20

DROP OFF TIME: 8:00PM (FRIDAY NIGHT)
PICK UP TIME: 11:00AM (After SATURDAY'S 10:00AM Jr. MMA class.)
THINGS TO BRING: sleeping bag, pillow, PJ'S, work out clothes, change of clothes, toothbrush, hairbrush, etc...

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
7:30 PM Drop off
9:00-10:00 PM - 1 HOUR Anti-bullying / Self Defense
10:00 - 11:00PM Games and activities
11:00 - 11:30PM - Pizza, hot dogs, snacks and drinks
11:30 - 1:00AM - Open gym / Video games
1:00AM - Attempt to go to sleep
2:00AM - Put all children still awake in sleeper hold (LOL).
9:00AM - Breakfast / clean up / open gym
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM - Help/Assist Coaches with Kids MMA class
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM - Morning Jr. MMA class
12:00 PM - Pick up your worn out children

Since Kids MMA will overlap with the pick up time for the Juniors, this is a valuable opportunity for the Juniors to interact with the Kids MMA class and help the coaches.



Written by: Bob Donaghy

GR's Kids/Jr MMA Teams up with TMNT!

 T-U-R-T-L-E POWER!!!

 GR's Kids/Junior MMA programs will be teaming up with the TMNT on Sat Aug 2nd. The studio is sending us some FREE tickets for an advance screening, posters, and other fun novelty/memorvilla. No guarantee on how much stuff they are bringing but last time we worked them they treated us pretty good.

All classes are scheduled for the same times as always and we hope to have a LARGE turnout and hope you can make it even if you have not been around in a while. We will be playing some of the original TMNT movies on the flat screen, possibly theming some classes around the movie, and hope to take some pictures of the classes at the end of each class.

We always train hard but there is no reason we can't have some fun from time to time!



Written by: Jason Dent

Caged Madness Comes to Akron

GR heads South to Akron in July to see two of its newest take to the cage for Explosive Fight Promotions Caged Madness 30.  Cody Lewis, already a Team Fighter at 135 lbs, will gear up to fight Marquis Johnson (1-4) out of Columbus, and Logan Urban will make his long delayed cage debut for GR, against Desmond Ford (1-1), and try to earn his place on the team with a win.

Cody Lewis

What: Explosive Fight Promotions 30 “Caged Madness”
Date: Saturday, July 26, 2014
Where: Tadmor Shrine Center 3000 Krebs Dr Akron, OH 44319
When: Doors open at 5 pm, first bout at 6:30 pm
Tickets: Contact Logan Urban or Cody Lewis on FaceBook for tickets

Logan Urban

Even though Caged Madness is one of the longest running fight series in in the state this is the first time a GR fighter will cross the threshold of its cage.  Make the trip with the GR Fight Team and support these two warriors,



Written by: Bob Donaghy

Level 1 T.B.A. Muay Thai Test

This test completes the series started with the TBA Training Clinic on May 10th.

Anyone that is already a Student Level 1 or higher under the Thai Boxing Association of the U.S.A. is encouraged to still come and will be FREE of course. The cost of this test will be $25 and the test will be 2 hours in legnth. Remember you must also have registered with the Thai Boxing Association of the U.S.A. to even be eligible to test. If you have any questions your should direct them to Kru Aaron Juice Veverka please.

What: Level 1 T.B.A. Muay Thai Test
Date: Saturday, July 19, 2014
Where: GriffonRawl MMA Academy, 6090 Pinecone Dr. Mentor, OH 44060
When: 1 pm to 3 pm
Tickets: $25

Participants are EXPECTED to know the material and will be failed if not prepared. Kru Aaron Juice Veverka has hand outs of the material required and GR's Assistant Muay Thai Coach Russ Herbert is also available Thursday nights to answer questions as well.

#1 requirement is that you are a member of the Thai Boxing association, because they will be the ones holding your international instructor rank after you qualify by taking these classes and work shops.
Log on to www.thaiboxing.com and sign up!



Written by: Bob Donaghy

Coveted Fighting Championships Debuts in Mentor

Coveted Fighting Championships, a successful South Carolina based promotion holds their inaugural Ohio event at the Mentor Civic Ice Arena on June 21st.  The event will feature many local pro and amatuer favorites against talent brought in specifically for this event.

GriffonRawl has signed on as the official sponsor gym for the event and will host the traveling fighters for last minute training.

The weigh in will be at the Happy Moose Bar & Grill open to the public on Friday, June 20, at 5 pm.

What: Coveted Fighting Championship 3
Date: Saturday, June 21, 2014
Where: Mentor Civic Center 8600 Munson Road, Mentor OH 44025
When: Doors open at 5 pm, first bell at 6 pm
Tickets: $25 General Admission.

Always buy your tickets through the fighters.  It will cost you the same, but they get a cut of every ticket they sell.  So pick your favorite and show support . Click on the fighter's name below and message them through FaceBook for tickets.  They all have them in stock now.  Get your tickets now. Cageside seats are already gone, and table space is filling fast..

• Bryon Mccroskey
• Cody Lewis
• George Comer
• Logan Urban
• Nikolai Gionti

The main event sees Chris Curtis (9-3) face off with Tiawan Howard (11-11) at 185# in what is bound to be a stand up war.  Both are Bellator veterans and two of the areas most explosive fighters.

GR’s own George Comer fights in the co main event.  His opponent will be one of the midwest's best, Joe “Superhero” Lile Jr  (5-1 pro, 5-0 amature).  An experienced and successful wrestler, Lile will present a mature challenge to Comer.  Many other GR fighters will grace the card: Cody Lewis, Bryon Mccroskey, Logan Urban, and Nikolai Gionti will all fight, but do not have opponents yet.

The GR lineup for Coveted Fighting Championship 3

Intimidation Clothing will introduce the latest George “Bonsaw” Comer signature shirt.  The new shirts will be available for sale at the event.




Written by: Bob Donaghy

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