Cagewarriors FC

Southern Open Mat for the Tsunami Appeal

Press release by Symon Jenner/Ian Dean

Special Thanks go out to Symon Jenner, Ian Dean and Cagewarriors.com for the following article:

The events recently seen in Indonesia have touched the hearts and minds of all of the world’s nations. In

response to one of the most significant disasters of the century many have made the effort to support and

fund relief for the people affected by this devastating event.  

Tenki-Ryu Ju-Jitsu representative Symon Jenner has organised an Open mat to be held at the Riverpark

Leisure Centre, Gordon Road, Winchester. The event is to take place on the 22^nd January between 4-6pm.

The fee is a £5 donation and all proceeds will go directly to charity.  

The idea behind an Open mat is for the MMA (mixed martial arts) community to get together and have a

session swapping techniques and submissions. Grappling has become the lifeblood of a new breed of sport.

For this to happen under sad circumstances is a shame but it gives people the chance to give something

back.  This also shows the character of the people involved in U.K. MMA as the community has been quick

to support the charities who have been backing the relief effort by providing aid for the sufferers.  

Similar events have been cropping up all over the U.K. Stevie B’s gym in Birmingham held a 12-hour sparring

session. The Wolfslair MMA academy is also holding an open mat on the 22^nd of January. Another event

has been organised to take place at the University of York on Sunday 30th January from 11am to 3pm.

The organisers of the southern Open Mat were also lucky enough to have several backers who have helped

them establish this event as D.C. Leisure has agreed to help support this event by releasing their facilities for

free. DC Leisure is a U.K. company that operates Riverpark Leisure centre on behalf of Hampshire County

Council.  Upon hearing the plans, Jo Cook the company bookings co-ordinator was happy to support this

charitable event. 

Other contributors include Dougie Truman the owner and promoter of the Cagewarriors Fighting

Championships who was more that happy to support the event. Mr. Truman donated instantly to support

Ande Roberts at the Birmingham event and has given his full backing to the Southern Open Mat.  Also local

Brazilian jiu-jitsu instructor and professional MMA competitor Alex De Souza has also offered his support to

the session. Alex runs classes at the Bulldog gym in Bournemouth on Saturdays and on a Wednesday

evening at the Millbrook gym in Southampton. Alex’s BJJ team are highly successful in local competition

and to have their presence at the mat is greatly appreciated. A generous act from a great teacher and

competitor Alex’s experience will be an asset for anybody attending the session.  

For more information check out Alex’s BJJ academies @: www.desouzabjj.com

I am sure I speak for all organisers when I invite everybody to take part in these sessions.  For more

information please contact: 

Symon Jenner @ symonj@hotmail.co.uk or Pm SymonJ on www.Cagewarriors.com.

(1/18/05)