NO HOLDS BARRED

On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman once again spoke with Rose Gracie.

The next event she will be involved in running is the Gracie Regionals Chicago 2015.

It will take place Saturday, May 2, and Sunday, May 3, in conjunction with The FitExpo Chicago, at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, 5555 North River Road, Rosemont, Illinois 60018.

This will be a submission-only Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competition, with both gi and no-gi tournaments.

Saturday, May 2, will have the gi tournaments for both kids and then teens and adults. Sunday, May 3, will have the no-gi tournaments, also for both kids and then teens and adults.

We spoke with Rose Gracie by phone Thursday.

Noting that there are more and more submission-only grappling tournaments being held since she started running events under these rules three years ago, she said, "When I started this whole thing, my goal was for people to be able to follow these rules and do these events everywhere. So I'm very happy to see and it gives me really great joy and fulfillment to know that they're doing this."

She added, "It's going on its own. The machine is running. The car is turned on and it's going. So I don't think there's any stopping to it and it's getting bigger."

The submission-only format is catching on so much that "people really love these rules" and more such events are planned for this year, including in San Jose and Anaheim, California, as well as elsewhere, she said.

We also discussed how working with the FitExpo "adds value" to both events; eventual plans to establish a non-profit federation for submission-only grappling that will "give back to the athletes"; the importance of getting more kids involved in these events; the need to improve the school system; plans for women's superfights; and much, much more.

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Labels: BJJ, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Chicago, Eddie Goldman, education, FitExpo, grappling, No Holds Barred, Regionals, Rose Gracie, submission only