BIG PROBLEM!!The BJJ BRITISH OPEN ORGANIZATION HAS MESSED UP WITH THE ORGANIZATION.The competition was supposed to take place from the 14-15th of May, today and the tomorrow.We received the "Pre-Schedule of the fight at 00h32am in the night of Thursday to Friday.
This was not it, The schedule was then changed on Friday at 3pm, distorting all the last minutes arrangements possibly made by the competitors...
IN PROFESSIONAL BJJ, SOME FIGHTERS RAISED THEIR VOICES REMEMBERING THAT MEDALS DONT PAY BILLS!
We are amateurs who are paying to take part in BJJ competitions, in order to do so we have to make sacrifices, arrangements to be able to do what we like, which is to practice BJJ.
The last thing we need is the organizers of the competitions to mess up with the organization!
WHY AM I PISSED OFF?
I haven't heard of a BJJ competition where the fighters don't have any idea of when they fight the afternoon before the competition.
But on the other hand we receive a Do and Don't set of rules, like being there 1h30min before the start of the bracket or food bag check...
THE QUESTION IS WHY?
The answer is simple, QUANTITY DOES NOT ALWAYS MEAN QUALITY!
The organization of the tournament proudly stated that we are 1600 participants, but because of the lateness of the information (schedules), the abusive time certain brackets are starting some of the competitors like myself will not be able to attend.
As an example some brackets start at 9am when the doors open at 8.15am ( we have been advised that their will be a bag check!) and you have to drive 3 hours to get there and you didn't have the time or money to book a hotel nearby or when your brackets starts around 8pm assuming there are no delays, which means you will be home around midnight...
WHAT I TRY TO SAY IS, THAT EVERYTHING ABOUT THE COMPETITION IS FOCUSED ON MONEY AND NOT THE FIGHTERS.
LATENESS OF INFORMATIONS, LATE START OF THE BRACKETS: All that lead to extra costs in hotels, work arrangements or etc...
SECURITY CHECK OF THE BAGS TO STOP PEOPLE FROM BRINGING FOOD: I understand that they want to sell their own food, nevertheless if the fighters are expected to be in the venue 1h30 minutes before the start of their brackets and the doors open at 8.15am WITH ON TOP OF THAT A SECURITY CHECK...IT IS CLEAR THAT THE TOURNAMENT MAY NOT BE ON SCHEDULE!
As a customer who paid for a service, my sole interest is to be able to enjoy the service I paid for. After weeks of hard training and dieting I will not be able to compete because we are 1600, a number that the organization of the tournament could not handle!
**ATTENTION ALL COMPETITORS**
Thank you once again for your amazing support, we have well and truly smashed last years numbers with over 1600 competitors in total competing over the 2 days.
Please make sure you read all of this email as it holds some very important information for the upcoming weekend.
Firstly, if you need to get in touch, please DO NOT reply to this email as it will not get actioned.
The timed schedule has now been confirmed and attached so you can see what time your category will be called to the ball pen.
**PLEASE NOTE THE TIMES GIVEN ARE AN APPROXIMATE TIME. ALL COMPETITORS MUST AIM TO BE AT THE VENUE AT LEAST 1HR 30MINS BEFORE THE TIME GIVEN INCASE WE ARE RUNNING AHEAD OF SCHEDULE**
This year we are planning on opening the doors at 8:15am on Saturday, this is to ensure that everyone gets inside with enough time to get changed and warmed up before the first fights at 10am.
Upon arrival of the venue, there are 4 doors at the main entrance, door 1 and 2 will be for the competitors and coaches (who have requested a coach pass) and door 3 and 4 will be for ALL spectators. Parents, please note that 1 responsible adult can wait in the competitors line with your child and can pay as a spectator at the competitors registration desk, you will not be expected to join the other queue once your child has registered. However all other spectators that have travelled with you will need to queue up in the designated spectators queue.
**THERE WILL BE A SECURITY BAG CHECK UPON ARRIVAL, THIS IS REQUIRED BY THE VENUE BY LAW SO PLEASE BE READY TO CO-OPERATE WITH THE VENUES SECURITY STAFF AND HELP US TO REDUCE THE DELAY OF GETTING INSIDE THE VENUE**
Food and drink (fizzy drinks) will NOT be allowed inside the venue unless it is for medical or dietary requirements, therefore, if this is the case please make sure you tell the security when they are checking your bags.
The venue have confirmed that fruit, water, protein drinks & healthy snacks WILL be allowed.
I hope you are looking forward to the weekend as much as we are.
Good luck everyone and we will see there!!
British Open Team
Last and only time I won the British Open... I won't repeat this year for sure!!