MAASIF SOUTHERN OPEN TOURNAMENT SUCCESS

By Jon Pepperell

A sunny Bank Holiday Sunday found me driving the couple of miles to Medway Park Sports Facility in Gillingham Kent for the MAASIF Southern Open Tournament.

The Martial Arts All Styles International Federation hold their tournaments every couple of months and with over 100 categories including Hard/Soft Forms, Light Continuous and Strike and Grapple (Amateur MMA) it is a busy day especially trying to decide what to actually watch.

With so many categories you may be excused for thinking it is going to be a slow day with a lot of standing around. As a competitor many moons ago I can remember the times I stood waiting for hours on end especially if you got through to the finals or were in the team events.

Not so the M.A.A.S.I.F. as things move along at a good pace and with four matted area's being utilised by organiser Leo Alderman and his team of helpers keep things moving nicely.

There are going to be three more tournaments this year so if you have a club or you are an individual that would like to compete in the next tournaments make a note of these dates and give Leo a shout to book your place.

28.07.13 MASSIF Summer Open - Gillingham, Kent
15.09.13 MASSIF UK Open - Gillingham, Kent.
16.11.13 MASSIF BRITISH Open - Gillingham, Kent.

New sections for these events.. No Gi Grappling/Wrestling and Nunchucku Sparring. More info on these and all sections very soon...

The refereeing is of a good standard although I expect that somebody will disagree as happens at such events but to be honest I can't say I heard anyone complaining and It was good to see top ref Dan Movahedi a regular on Cage Amateurs UK, and resident ref/matchmaker for Fury MMA  among other shows taking control of the Strike & Grapple part of the tournament with partner Helen timekeeping and generally keeping the order of fights and other such things from becoming a bit of a mess.

The paramedic had a quiet day (A good result for all in my book) with only a couple of bloody noses and one slight injury during the Strike and Grapple after a take down with one young man being left somewhat dazed. He was up quickly ready to carry on after the medic had taken a look at him but for obvious reasons Dan did not allow him to continue.

The possibility of an injury is always a real threat during any combat sport but it has to be said the referees kept a tight rein and the fighters showed good control and technique which minimised any such incidents.

It's always nice to see a friendly face amongst the clubs attending so it was good to see Chris Foran and the Premier MMATeam in attendance in large numbers and doing the business as usual winning a very respectable amount of categories.

Shihan Darren Murphy , who runs the Spartan  MMA Kyokushin Centre, Gillingham, Kent, also completed a 50-man kumite, so he knows a bit about fighting, was there to support his fighters and what with a few guys that I recognised from Fighting Lions Martial arts Academy which is Leo Alderman's club in Whitstable, things were good for a bit of catching up during the very few breaks in the action.

Numbers were down slightly from the last time I attended but this in no way should be taken as a reflection on the tournament as personally I think this one pretty much has it all by way of quality competitors, good organisation with a decent venue and as a bonus the car park is free. Happy-days.

To contact MAASIF contact Leo on MAASIF's Facebook pageAlso on The Fighting Lions Martial Arts Academy's Facebook page 

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REGIONAL NEWS

"CRIPPLED" JUDO INSTRUCTOR FILMED TRAINING

By Martial News Reporter

A JUDO instructor who claimed he was suffering crippling back pain was secretly filmed by undercover benefit fraud experts.

David Roberts, 47, a Judo 5th Dan, falsy claimed around £18,000 n disbility benefits before he was rumbled by by an uncover team for the Department of Work an Pensions.

They filmed him not only training but lifting mats into his car despite claiming he was virtually wheelchair-bound.

Roberts pleaded guilty to the offence at Warrington Crown Court according to local media.

The judge sentenced him to six month sentence, suspended for one year. He was also ordered to do 200 hours of community service.

The court heard he had paid back around £2000 but still owes £16,000 to the DWP.

He had claimed to be crippled with arthritis and a bad back and could not wash himself or go to the toilet unaided.

Yet he was teacvhing classes at his  Go Dojo Judo club in both Frodsham and Runcorn, Cheshire.

He was filmed throwing students around the mats as well as lifting equipment in and out of his car.

When questioned by policee, the court heard, he first denied the allegations, only changing his story after he was presented with video evidence.

The court heard in his defence that he did have medical conditions but that he had exaggerated. It was said that he did do Judo for money but that it was a voluntary position for the benefit of the community.

It was claimed that the break down of his first marriage lead to huge debt and the fraud was committed to help pay that debt off.