Strong Style Fight Team and East Coast Martial Arts present the

2007 Midwest Grappling Open

January 27, 2007

Progressive Martial Arts Training Facility

Independence, Ohio

- Special Thanks go out to Greg Kalikas (Prokarateweekly) for the following:

Cleveland, OH: The Strong Style Fight Team in conjunction with East Coast Martial Arts and PKW Live is

pleased to announce the 2007 Midwest Grappling Open. This tournament is scheduled for Saturday, January

27th, 2007 and will be held at the Progressive Martial Arts training facility (home of the Strong Style Fight

Team) located in Independence, Ohio……just 15 minutes south of Cleveland. The 2007 Midwest Grappling

Open will be the first ever submission grappling tournament of it’s kind to be held on the North Coast and will

be open to competitors of all age groups and skill levels.

“With the growth of sport jiu-jitsu and submission grappling globally combined with the number of great

martial arts camps in our region; it only made sense to bring them all together for what we feel will be a day

of spirited competition among friends in the sport.” said founder and head trainer of the Strong Style Fight

Team, Marcus Marinelli.

Steve Hindman, owner and chief instructor of East Coast Martial Arts in Canton, has little doubt that the

tournament will be a welcome addition to the area, “Up until recently any competitors looking to test their

ability would be forced to drive out of state or fly to the west coast for a tournament. We want to provide our

students and competitors in our region the opportunity to compete close to home and in an event they know

will be organized and properly run.”

The tournament will include twenty three divisions in all including an absolute division and children’s divisions

featuring “position grappling” a new concept created by Marinelli and Hindman aimed towards the youth of

the sport. “In position grappling there will be no tap outs or submissions for kids eight years old and under”

said Hindman. “Kids will be judged on their aggressiveness, technique, effort and sportsmanship to

determine the winners which we feel will encourage children to stay involved in the sport and competition.”

All competitors in the “position grappling” divisions will receive awards for their efforts.

- From Greg Kalikas (Prokarateweekly) with a little editing from us (highlights, etc...)

(12/13/06)