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david_webb
19-12-2009, 10:32 AM
Ladies,

For some time now we have seen a number of posts, threads and groups written and set up specifically to address the distinct lack of support, direction and appreciation for all women within the grappling fraternity here in the United Kingdom.

It has been established time and time again that the opportunities open to women in our sport of ‘grappling’ are far behind those of their male counterparts; an issue that is indicative in the wider context of the sporting environment. Nevertheless, great inroads have been laid and foundations have been set for women’s grappling to achieve it full potential not only in the UK but also across the world as a whole.

A number of groups have been set up across the world for women to converge, learn and be inspired by other women. To support, direct and appreciate women’s grappling with like-minded individuals. Work has also been done here in the UK with ‘women only’ classes at most of the big academies up and down the country and a number of smaller groups meeting on a monthly/bi-monthly basis to train and exchange ideas in an environment that is suited and much more comfortable and convenient for women to learn.

The UK has some terrifically talented female grapplers and we are able to boast high-level athletes from the fastest growing sport in the world today – Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and also a crop of Olympic Judoka that are amongst the upper echelons of their respective weight categories. In 2010 this talent pool and sphere of knowledge is set to be tapped into in such a way that every women involved in grappling [whether a professional athlete or weekly hobbyist] will have the chance to train on a number of camps specifically designed and organised with women in mind.

This post is meant as a general feeler to acquire feedback for any upcoming camps and or seminars, the first of which is scheduled within the first quarter of 2010. Please reply to this post with a message of support so we know exactly where we are in terms of interested parties for such an event. Planning for such a camp has passed the general brainstorming phase, female instructors have been confirmed and venues (along with dates) are being negotiated so watch this space for further developments from the first couple of weeks into the New Year.

Women’s grappling is definitely something that needs our support for further development and with your encouragement and backing improvements and provisions for the future will certainly develop.

Over the next few weeks we will continue to post updates on where we are with the logistics and scheduling for our proposed “UK Training Camp for Women” but in the meantime why not join our new Facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=236373450188 to show your support for our project and share some of your views and enquiries with other female grapplers.

We look forward to hearing from you,

David Webb & Darren Currie

http://www.combatsport.co.uk
http://www.kombatclinic.com

DCurrie
19-12-2009, 01:24 PM
Like Dave says this has been a long time coming so I'm hoping to get the support it deserves.

All other info to follow so keep checking back

DC

Femme-ma
20-12-2009, 09:11 AM
Great idea. Good luck with it.

You may want to look at the tone of the posts. It came across as slightly patronising to be honest.

Frodocious
20-12-2009, 04:31 PM
Sounds like a great idea, I'd definitely be interested. I hope there'll be camps in the north, rather than just in the London area.

Levo
20-12-2009, 08:13 PM
Got a couple of girls who'd probably be interested.

If there's any way I can help let me know.

Nathan

mmamomma
22-12-2009, 07:44 AM
I'd definately be interested, please keep us posted! :D

kieronhufc
22-12-2009, 01:33 PM
Interested

MikeyL
22-12-2009, 10:20 PM
I would be up for covering this if it was a seminar type thing?

Send me pm if interested.

Mike

david_webb
23-12-2009, 08:34 AM
Guys,
Thanks so much for all your support, it is much appreciated!

Mike: You have a PM mate

Cheers,

DCurrie
24-12-2009, 10:33 PM
Great idea. Good luck with it.

You may want to look at the tone of the posts. It came across as slightly patronising to be honest.

In what way patronising?

creonte
31-12-2009, 10:01 AM
You may want to look at the tone of the posts. It came across as slightly patronising to be honest.

this what happen if you try be nice to girls.it jus make them hangry.

MikeyL
31-12-2009, 01:36 PM
*insert Ian Butlin quote here*

Femme-ma
03-01-2010, 01:10 PM
this what happen if you try be nice to girls.it jus make them hangry.

Girls? I'm 34. I'm two decades past puberty!

Femme-ma
03-01-2010, 01:20 PM
In what way patronising?

I felt the post read a lot as if female grapplers needed to be marginalised into female only groups and treated in a gender specific way to excel. Yet the majority of female competitors have reached where they are today by training in normal, mixed sex gyms, normally with a large male:female ratio. It feels a little patronising if you've been down that route.

I like what you're doing. There's no substitute for training with other women for genuine competitive development.

DCurrie
03-01-2010, 07:20 PM
I felt the post read a lot as if female grapplers needed to be marginalised into female only groups and treated in a gender specific way to excel. Yet the majority of female competitors have reached where they are today by training in normal, mixed sex gyms, normally with a large male:female ratio. It feels a little patronising if you've been down that route.

I like what you're doing. There's no substitute for training with other women for genuine competitive development.

Hey

The post nor the camp is meant the way you read it, the women who will be instructing/coaching have gone the route of the mixed sex gyms and would loved to have had the opportunity to train with more women in the past.

I would imagine that the women that will be attending these sessions agree with having the opportunity to train with more women otherwise they won't attend.

Hopefully these camps will attract more women that maybe aren't confident enough yet to do the large male:female ratio gyms.

As you say there is no substitute for training with the very same type of people you will be competing against.

I guess we will see where we are after the first session.

Femme-ma
03-01-2010, 07:58 PM
Hey

The post nor the camp is meant the way you read it, the women who will be instructing/coaching have gone the route of the mixed sex gyms and would loved to have had the opportunity to train with more women in the past.



I didn't think it was meant that way at all. I only gave that feedback so you could consider it in case it helps get through to more of your audience. It may well just be me being spikey.

I really do think that this is a great initiative and I hope it works out brilliantly.

DCurrie
03-01-2010, 08:06 PM
I didn't think it was meant that way at all. I only gave that feedback so you could consider it in case it helps get through to more of your audience. It may well just be me being spikey.

I really do think that this is a great initiative and I hope it works out brilliantly.

No probs, I appreciate the feedback.

creonte
03-01-2010, 08:19 PM
Girls? I'm 34. I'm two decades past puberty!

my fren you still a girl,no?

Femme-ma
03-01-2010, 10:19 PM
my fren you still a girl,no?

No my fren, I am a haggard old woman. :D

david_webb
04-01-2010, 02:51 PM
Hi all,
Many thanks for your support thus far for our UK training camp for women. The New Year is now upon us and if what we have got planned comes off then 2010 should be a fantastic year for female grapplers in the United Kingdom.

Firstly, let me address my original post that may have been construed as being somewhat “patronising” in content. The whole premise of delivering ‘women only’ training camps in the UK was born out of the fact that over at KombatClinic.com I have posted a number of interviews with female grapplers from the worlds of BJJ and Judo. One interview, yet to be uploaded, is a joint interview with Emily Kwok and Valerie Worthington whom, together with Felicia Oh have begun to hold “women only” grappling seminars/camps throughout the US and Canada that have gone down a storm.

Without delving into what the interview covers (you’ll have to read it), suffice to say that speaking with these world champions definitely has opened my eyes to the plight of women’s grappling in the UK. Couple this with a number of posts I have read and conversations I have had with Darren Currie whilst interviewing his wife Helen for my site we have decided to act in a similar vein to the camps across the Atlantic. My post was by no means meant as a patronising attempt to address women athletes, far from it, but apologies for making you feel that it was.

The idea for a UK training camp for women has been devised solely for female participants in the sport of grappling and has been based somewhat on the results that similar camps across the world have achieved. I have spoken with a number of you lately in answering the many questions you have come up with regarding the scheduled camp(s) but up until now not been able to confirm any details including dates, times, venues and camp instructors.

There are still a few minor issues to be confirmed on the basis of schedules that may clash but I am delighted to announce the following for you ahead of further confirmations planned over the next two weeks. March 2010 (specific dates TBC) is set to be the biggest event so far in the UK for women’s grappling and with two of the UK’s most celebrated and successful competitors/instructors female athletes are not to be disappointed.
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Camp instructors:
Helen Currie
Is the UK’s ONLY female Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt, possess a top-level brown belt and Judo and is also runs the Combat Base Academy with her husband Darren in Pontefract, North Yorkshire. Helen has trained in a number of combat sports and was awarded her black belt in BJJ by Machado black belt Chris Haueter.

Rosi Sexton
Rosi is the UK’s most successful female mixed martial artist and has held this accolade since female MMA found its way to our shores. Combining her MMA career with studying for a degree in osteopathy and a PhD. in Mathematics Rosi has fought in the UK and beyond on a number of world-class shows including the Bellator Fighting Championships and Bodog Fight events where she has fought [and beaten] some of the worlds best female MMA athletes including Gina Carano and Debi Purcell. Rosi, a PhD. supplements sponsored athlete currently boasts a 10-1-0 professional MMA record.
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Well, there you have it. The first details confirmed and your two instructors for our inaugural camp that is set for March 2010. Please keep watching this space for more information on venue, times, dates and of course costs as we will be confirming all over the next two weeks to give you plenty of time to make arrangements to attend our UK training camp for women!

In the meantime get over to Facebook and join our group for more regular updates as they happen: http://www.facebook.com/#/group.php?gid=236373450188

Regards,
David Webb & Darren Currie
UK training camps for women

Frodocious
04-01-2010, 04:54 PM
Sounds like it will be a really excellent event. I hope I can make it!

david_webb
11-01-2010, 07:45 PM
Hi all,
After juggling a few things around our end so there are no clashes with the scheduled Welsh and British BJJ Open at the beginning and end of March (respectively) the date has been confirmed for the first UK seminar/camp.

So please pencil in your diaries:
Instructors: Helen Currie and Rosi Sexton.
Date: Sunday 21st March 2010
Times:TBC
Venue: TBC
Cost: TBC

Many thanks,
Dave & Darren