This year marks the 4th edition of the
Thailand Open. It has become one of the premiere grappling tournaments in Asia for many reasons: quality, location, kickass afterparty (if you can name any other place I can get video footage of BJJ black belts and professional MMA fighters riding a mechanical bull, pole dancing with strippers, and cavorting with shemales and I will BE there). On a serious note, they use the Strongvon system for applications and bracketing with makes things run very smoothly from start to finish. That is a MUST when you have 300+ competitors attending. They also waive entry fees for all brown and black belts competing, and host black belts for free at the tournament-sponsor hotel Golden Palace. AND they shuttle you from the Golden Palace to the Lumpini Park hall! I love Thailand.
Here's a snapshot of last years' event. This is only about a third of the competitors who stayed long after the final day's awards ceremony to put away the mats.
If you are worried about the recent flooding in Thailand and wondering if there will be any complications with the tournament, BJJ Asia has assured us that Bangkok is safe, dry and accessible. For the less-fortunate Thais in areas outside of Bangkok who have suffered great losses, this year's Thai Open will be strongly supporting them with proceeds and a charity seminar:
The BJJAT gives aid to the flood victims in Thailand through this years
Thailand Open. While we continue be safe and dry here in Bangkok, many areas of Thailand are suffering from record floods. Many families now homeless and businesses unable to continue, the association is doing the following to help:
-100 baht from each competitors' tournament-fee will be collected and donated to flood-relief.
-At registration, we will be accepting additional donations from competitors in either cash or food donations (rice).
-Following the tournament, the Monday black-belt seminar is now a charity seminar where cash and food donations will be accepted at Q23 Academy. Please refer to the poster for details.
Along with cash prizes for winners, a number of sponsors are supporting the tournament this year. So expect goodies like kimonos, fight tickets to
DARE 3/11, and other nice things for lucky draws also. The hall will be full this year, so the exhibition booths have to be moved out and will be next to the Golden Palace hotel.
BJJ Spirits
SEABJJ
MMA in ASIA will see you there!
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BJJ Asia. Thanks to BJJ Asia and Luke Chaya for continued support and development of this site and the entire community of BJJ and MMA enthusiasts in Asia!
