Results from Saturday's tournament!!!

The HardCore Gym and Team Praxis combined forces yesterday to create Team Georgia. THCG brought 9 competitors ranging from beginners all the way to Pro grapplers. I am so very proud to announce that almost all of THCG grapplers placed either 1st, 2nd or 3rd in all divisions entered with some members placing in multiple divisions.

Two of my team memebers won outstanding grappler awards. Jim Stoudemire competed in both the excutive and men's beginner no-gi divisions (170ish). He took first place in both divisions winning a total of 5 matches, three by way of submission (all americanas from either mount or cross-side). Jim is 38 years old, married with children and has been training with us for about 4 months now. So freaking proud!!!

Not to be outdown by a newbie, Forrest Griffin went 6-0 with 5 submissions on his way to winning both the Pro division Heavyweight tournament and Advanced divisions. His only win by decision was in the finals of the pro division agaist a Royler Gracie black belt. Not only did Forrest win 6 matches but he was beating some monsters along the way.

I was running around to every mat coaching and screaming all day while my brother reffed on another mat. Boy was I worn out. What I remember:

Mark Capagna and Dustin Kirby placed 1st and 2nd in the Advance no-gi ?-194.9 division.

Rory Singer and Buckner Nesheim placed 1st and 3rd in the no-gi Advanced 195-214.9 division.

Buckner placed 2nd in the intermediate no-gi 195-214.9 winning two matches by armbar and then losing on points in the finals.

Nate Horsley place 2nd in the advanced no-gi superheavy division.

Nikkie Czechowski placed third in what turned out to be a women's no-gi absolute division. She has been training all of maybe a year and competed against girls with 8 years of experience each. She went 2-1. She is awesome.

Rory Singer won the purple belt combined division 190-215.

Lastly Chad Shaffer, who in my opinion is the best pound for pound grappler at my gym did not place. He has some competition anxiety when he gets on the mat. He is 2-0 as an amatuer MMA fighter and an awesome grappler. He just hasn't put it together yet in competion. But when he does, look out.

Rory Singer did not place in the Pro division in which Forrest won. He went 1-1, submitting his first opponent by triangle and losing on points to the Royler Gracie black belt later beaten by Forrest.

Not a bad day if I do say so myself. Cam will have to post the results of our other half. I do know they had some great success as well. Team Georgia was awesome!!!