Gracie Barra Harrogate July Newsletter
After an action packed June, we’re moving full steam ahead with heaps of events scheduled over the coming weeks in and out of the academy.
First up, we’ve got our annual summer grading on the 19th of July. We’re really excited to celebrate the progress and effort of our members with some fresh belts being handed out after open mat and rolls on Friday the 19th! After, we’ll be heading to Roosters for celebratory drinks - don’t miss it!
We’ve also booked in the brilliant Ross Nicholls for a no gi seminar on the 25th of August. Ross’ seminar was hugely popular last time out, and we can’t wait to welcome him back to Harrogate to share some of his fantastic experience with us.
After some incredible competition experiences in June, we’ve got more coming thick and fast! We’ve got teams heading to the Empire Grappling Merseyside Open, quickly followed by the Tyne and Wear Open. Our coaching team will also be heading to the South Yorkshire Open in September, so if you’re new to competing, come along and enjoy a fantastic day out close to home!
See you on the mats,
Team GB Harrogate
Gracie Barra Harrogate Summer Grading - 19th July
We’re really excited to be hosting our annual summer grading this month on Friday the 19th of July. We’re running our usual open mat and rolls session which will also include our grading to celebrate the achievements and improvements of our adult members. Come down and support your training partners on what promises to be a brilliant night at the academy. The open mat will begin at 6pm, before we head over to Roosters for 7.45pm for celebratory drinks - see you there!
Ross Nicholls Returns to Harrogate - 25th August
We’re delighted to be welcoming back the incredible Ross Nicholls to Gracie Barra Harrogate. His last seminar was a huge hit and once again, he will be bringing his no gi game up to Harrogate. Ross is not only a high level competitor. He’s an ADCC European Champion, a 3x Polaris Superfight winner, an IBJFF No Gi British National Champion and the 2019 #5 Ranked (77KG) No Gi grappler in the world.
Based out of London Grapple, his knowledge and teaching style is not one to be missed - we can’t wait to see you all down on the mats on the 25th of August - don’t miss it!
Competitions Coming Thick and Fast
Empire Grappling are BACK with 2 events this summer. First up we’ve got the Merseyside Open, taking place on the 13th of July. A huge good luck to Aza, Jack, Dan, Eddie and Archie - you’ll smash it! Next up is the Tyne and Wear Open, taking place on the 11th of August. A big shout out to Aza, Jack, Dani and Wasim who are registered and ready to go! Late registrations close at the end of the month, so if you fancy giving competition a try - sign up here.
The Gracie Barra Harrogate coaching team will be heading to the South Yorkshire Open on the 8th of September. This is a great opportunity for first time competitors or our GBKs to get some competition experience at a relatively local event. If you’re interested or want to know more, feel free to speak to our coaching team, or sign up here.
Sula Seminar Success
A big thank you to everyone who attended our seminar with the brilliant Sula Mae Loewenthal in June. It was fantastic to have such a high calibre athlete talk us through her expansive closed guard game in the run up to her ADCC appearance. We hope everyone who attended took something away to add to their game, and we wish Sula the best of luck for ADCC next month!
Competition Success
A massive well done to everyone who competed across June! A big well done to Aza who headed over to CompNet and won gold in his division, as well as the fantastic team who went to Grappling Industries. Archie, Oscar, Harry, Jack, Aaron, Craig. Joel and Sam - congratulations not just on your performances, but for testing yourselves at new events and in new brackets - great work and we’re so proud of the way you represent the club.
Total Warrior Smashed for New Beginnings
We’re so proud and happy for our GB Harrogate women who took part in Total Warrior to raise vital funds for local charity New Beginnings Peer Support. Kelly, Dani, Sidney, Ellie and Rachel smashed the course and raised an incredible £940 for New Beginnings - an incredible achievement. We’ve caught up with Kelly on her experience as we discussed more about the brilliant services that New Beginnings provide - check it out on our YouTube here.
