For almost 20 years Grant Ratcliffe of Tweed College of Martial Arts in South Tweed has wanted to put himself to the ultimate Martial Arts test, but a chance conversation with his wife at the local hospital has turned this into an even bigger challenge than he expected.
Grant is set to take on the “The Hundred Man Mixed Martial Arts Kumite”, the ultimate test of human spirit and determination.
As well as that, Grant is taking on raising almost $50,000 (if you ask he’ll tell you the exact amount down to the last cent) for the Tweed Hospital Auxiliary to get them the top few things on their wish list – including a much needed Birthing Bed.
And while sitting in Tweed Hospital waiting for a family member to be patched up after an accident, Grant’s wife suggested that he use the event not only to challenge himself but to help others and in particular, the local hospital.
As he explains, it’s a place we will all need at some time and we won’t pay for it.
Since then he has had “two challenges” – getting fit (five hours a day on his own fitness, as well as teaching) and going to local businesses to get support and raise the money.
So for those of us that aren’t 6th Degree Black Belts in Goju Ryu Karate, Purple Belts in Gracie Jiu Jitsu and don’t have a decade of experience in coaching Thai Kickboxing, what is he doing?
“I’m doing a hundred rounds of sparring, martial arts sparring so not fighting, not cage fighting, it’s martial arts sparring,” Grant explained.
“Its professionals who do it every day and I’m doing 100 consecutive two minute rounds and I get up to a one-minute break maximum. So if I’m good to go after 30 seconds after one round I can start straight away if I want to. But I can have no longer than a minute break.
“At the moment it is looking like I’ll have a dozen opponents. You have to use professionals and the professionals we are using for this challenge are people from the Dojo.”
The event, on April 20, and will take five hours, starting at noon with a presentation of the cheque to the Auxiliary – so he has a time limit – just six weeks to raise the money. Already he said the support has been great, with businesses including SAE, The Red Hot Thai and Enterprise Collision Centre all giving major support for the project.
He said times are tough for businesses but people were still willing to help .
“It’s a full tax deduction,” he said.
“To become a sponsor, please contact TCMA on 07 5513 1429 or email info@tcma.com.au.”
A cover charge of $10 will apply on the day for the event, which will be held at the Tweed College of Martial Arts in Enterprise Ave, South Tweed but Grant said he’d like that money to be a “bonus” for committee.
