Another packed house at this past weekend's Hayastan Grappling Challenge held in Charlotte, NC.  Competitors and spectators alike traveled from as far north as New York and New Jersey to as far south as Florida and as far west as Indiana.  This was truly an entire East Coast event.  Competitors from near and far competed for their chance to achieve gold and a few chosen made their bid for the Champion's Absolute belt and prize money.  To the victor goes the spoils.  Congratulations to Keith Baldwin of Scott Shields Martial Arts from Charlotte, NC for winning the Absolute Championship.  The Team Championship went to Gokor's Team Hayastan with all of the fighters of that team fighting out of Xtreme Karate & MMA Academy(Gokor's affiliate school in Charlotte NC) There were many stand-outs at this event.  Just to mention a few, Bobby Sellars and Joo-Mien Choi, both of Gokor's Team Hayastan and train under Paul Booe at Xtreme Karate & MMA Academy in Charlotte, NC.  They both took 1st in their divisions and showed excellent skill in the Absolute division fighting other fighters that had close to 100 lbs. on them and almost taking the win.  Other stand-outs would include former Absolute Champion Pat Sweet of Hanebrink Martial Arts in Rock Hill, SC for his battle in the Men's Advanced 161-175 lbs. category.  Which he ulimatly took 2nd place.  There were many others who shined at this tournament but none quite like the 3 foot-nothing super-kid, 5 year old Isaac Bibee of Team ROC.  He fought in the 5-7 year old division which had all other competitors standing a head taller than him.  This was his first tournament but he fought with the ferocity of a pro.  He ultimately took 2nd place and we look for great things from him in the future. 

All competitors who took 1st, 2nd or 3rd place in their division will receive their points and will be listed in the HGC Competitor Points Standings which is a system that tracks competitor's points for the entire season.  These points will qualify competitors to be able to compete in the championship brackets after the regular tournament which will be held on September 13, 2008 in Charlotte, NC.  Every winner of the adult weight-classes in the championship brackets will receive a championship belt signifying that they are the 2008 over-all champion of their weight-class.  There are 2 more qualifying events:  One in N.Y on August 30, 2008 and the other in Charlotte, NC on September 13, 2008 the same day as the championship brackets.  

 For the full results of the June 7, 2008 tournament, click here

To see the overall year point standings click here