Grappling Hall Of Fame
The Official World Grappling Hall of Fame was founded in 2004 by Brian Cimins, Founder of Grapplers Quest with help from some amazing standout people who believe in our sport and respect it enough to help us recognize our sport's living legends and fund an amazing project in the making for nearly 7 years now become a reality. For the inducted athletes or coaches, this is not an end to their career by any means, but the start of a whole new journey in the sports of mixed martial arts, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Submission Wrestling or Grappling.
THE OFFICIAL SUBMISSION GRAPPLING & BRAZILIAN JIU JITSU HALL OF FAME
Presented and Sponsored by: Bad Boy, RevGear & Grapplers QuestThe Sports of Submission Grappling and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu have grown at an extraordinary pace over the past decade. In order to recognize the efforts that made it all possible, the World Grappling & Jiu Jitsu Hall of Fame was founded in early 2004 at the 2005 ADCC Canadian Trials as a simple discussion between some top level american grapplers and I about how cool it would be to have a "Baseball Hall of Fame" style building or traveling grappling history memoirs to help write the stories of grappling's past, 80-100 years from now. We took and ran with it and it's one of the best feelings in the world watching someone be appreciated in such a grueling sport, as a coach, referee, fighter, competitor and sometimes all at the same time. These men and women are extraordinary individuals, we are all lucky and proud to have amongst us.
Grappling, after being granted approval from FILA is now a recognized international wrestling style. We are archiving thousands of photos, signed apparel for charity and much more through this traveling Hall of Fame.
The mission of the Grapplers Quest Submission Grappling & Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Hall of Fame is to honor and recognize men and women, past and present for their loyalty, dedication, determination and efforts within the sport of Grappling. As fighters and or trainers and by the example of their lives, on and off the mats, or inside or outside of the cage, they all personify the warrior spirit within the sport of Grappling, and to enshrine such individuals into Grappling''s History.
THE WORLD''S FIRST SUBMISSION
GRAPPLING & BRAZILIAN JIU JITSU
HALL OF FAME - Sponsored by Grapplers Quest
The 2009 Inaugural Class were inducted on Saturday, March 21st in the Wyland Building at Del Mar Fairgrounds in Del Mar, CA. was:
Greg Jackson
Coach to UFC Champions,
Rashad Evans & Georges St. Pierre
6-Time Overall Grapplers Quest Team Champions
Diego "Nightmare" Sanchez
7-Time Grapplers Quest Champion
Ultimate Fighter Season 1 Champion
Saulo Ribeiro
2-Time Grapplers Quest Superfight Absolute Champion
Multiple-Time Abu Dhabi World Champion
Coach to Thousands of Students Around the World and main studio in San Diego (http://www.unijj.com)
Multiple-Time World Jiu Jitsu Champion
Gazzy Parman
14-Time Grapplers Quest Champion,
Winner of the TapouT Most Technical Fighter Award in 2002 at 2nd Grapplers Quest West winning her Weight Class and Absolute Divisions
#1 RATED Female in Grapplers Quest History
In 2006, She as named: The Best American Female Grappler in the World"
Owner of LVL5 Martial Arts & Fitness in San Diego
Earned Her Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt in 2006
Pan-American champion
National Champion
California State Champion
World Champion
Most Experienced Female Referee in the World
World renowned Grappling Coach (her Team won Overall National Team
champion''s for 3 years in a row)
Kurt "Batman" Pellegrino
Undefeated 4-Time Grapplers Quest Superfight Champion
2-Time Fighter of the Night Award Winner at UFC
2011 Grappling Hall of Fame Inductee
Rafael Lovato, Jr.
2nd American Black Belt World CBJJ Champion
Frankie Edgar
UFC Lightweight Champion (5 title defenses)
FUTURE INDUCTEES IN 2010-2011:
Ricardo Liborio
Marc Laimon
Brandon "The Truth" Vera
Dean Lister
Joe "Daddy" Stevenson
Jeff Monson
Eliot "The Fire" Marshal
Alexandre Ribeiro
Kenny Florian
and many more to come!
