BadBoy and The Part Time Grappler join forces

http://www.badboy-uk.com/blog/2013/07/liam-wandi-how-i-started-in-gracie-jiu-jitsu-the-part-time-grapplers-story/

The Part Time Grappler will be a monthly feature on BJJ, MMA and Surf sport super-brand BadBoy's european / UK website. Here's their introduction of the collaboration:

Bad Boy provides martial arts athletes with the most innovative, high quality, performance products designed to benefit the athlete in both training and competition. We support the dedicated athlete in the pursuit of his passion and the full realization of his abilities. We support the sport of MMA and the lifestyle associated with MMA so that the world can appreciate the skill, intelligence, desire and dedication demonstrated by these world-class athletes.



Bad Boy began in Jiu Jitsu in the early nineties by sponsoring Rickson Gracie, son of the legendary founder of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Helio Gracie, for a seminar that he was giving in Rio de Janeiro. That seminar made the cover story in a national magazine and the cover photo featured Rickson Gracie wearing a Bad Boy Kimono. As Jiu Jitsu continued to grow in Brazil, attracting athletes from around the world to the no-nonsense academies peppering the Brazilian coastal cities, Bad Boy continued to sponsor both the Gracies and Jiu Jitsu tournaments.


Other martial art academies in Brazil became all too aware of the success and popularity of Jiu Jitsu and a war of words began, wherein Jiu Jitsu was often denounced as a fad and not as effective as was publicized. Tired of the bickering among students and masters alike, the first Mixed Martial Arts tournaments sprung up throughout Brazil and Bad Boy was first in line to support the burgeoning sport.

This new sport required new rules (none, at the beginning), a new stage (octagons replaced square rings that allowed fighters to be thrown or the ropes used against the fighters), and new clothing (Kimonos were rapidly declining in popularity, as they also proved to be a weapon). So, the Bad Boy Fight Shorts were born. Named the “Sungão,” which is the Brazilian word for the swim briefs favoured on Brazil’s beaches, the Bad Boy Fight Shorts added “legs” to the garment and was made of a highly durable, water resistant and flexible material that has yet to be equalled by any other brand. Often imitated, never duplicated, the Bad Boy Fight Shorts continue to be the most sought after product by Sprawlers, Grapplers, and Wrestlers to this day.

15 years of dedication to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts has paid off in a loyalty to Bad Boy that is unparalleled in the world of MMA. We have had the privilege of having Bad Boy worn by the greatest fighters in the world. It is difficult to go to an MMA event or tournament without seeing a Bad Boy logo on a pair of shorts or permanently tattooed on a fighter. We are sincerely honoured by the many fighters who have been part of the Bad Boy family over time, many of which are still loyal to Bad Boy. We are equally grateful to the hundreds of fighters we have never met who adopt Bad Boy as their moniker, their persona, their brand.

Now Bad Boy is poised to accomplish in the USA what we have already accomplished in Brazil and Japan; we will take the message to the masses. In Brazil, Bad Boy was the first lifestyle brand to make everyday apparel that both popularized and legitimized Mixed Martial Arts to the general public.

 Now, Liam Wandi is here to take Bad Boy back to its roots, back to where is all began, and explore the world of BJJ. We are happy to introduce this dedicated and passionate coach and writer as our new guest blogger. As his own personal grappler blog (The Part Time Grappler) has gone from strength to strength, he will be providing our readers with tips on training, his personal experience, and our product reviews. Don’t miss this professional and insightful blog appearing every month in our Bad Boy Blog

I'm very excited about this collaboration. One thing I set out from the start of this blog is to reach out to a community. Part Time Grapplers are not a minority. We are the majority and I'm so happy that I can, in my little way, help spread the message of our beautiful art in such a collaboration with a legend in the sport.

This is going to rock!
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ZHOO ZHITSU IS FOR EVERYONE!

Liam "The Part Time Grappler" Wandi

Proudly sponsored by Predator Fightwear: Built for the kill and Brutal TShirt: Made By Grapplers For Fighters

2 comments:

Ines said...

This is gorgeous!

Liam H Wandi said...

Ha! I'm suspecting some serious spamming :)