Found this to be pretty cool. Vets can move it in AR or Politics if they'd like.

Monday, March 19, 2007
Israeli Athlete In Arabic Wrestling Tournament
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Report by:
Matthew Boone

E-mail:
[email protected]

Posted on:
03/17/2007 @ 06:11 PM



Source:




Haim Gozali sent along the following:

Hello my name is Haim Gozali from Israel


I am writing this letter to announce my participation in the 2007 ADCC Submission Tournament which will be held in New York City on May 7th.

The ADCC (Abu Dhabi Combat Club) Submission Wrestling World Championship was created by Sheik Tahnoon Bin Zayed Al Nayan, son of Sheik Zayed, former president of the United Arab Emirates, on suggestion of Renzo and Royler Gracie. This grappling tournament is widely considered to be the peak tournament in the submission grappling world. Significant prize money is awarded to winners, and athletes who have been successful at the highest levels of competition in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, wrestling and mixed martial arts regularly participate.

The tournament has been highly influential Arguably, the rapidly developing modern art of Submission Grappling has been based upon the ADCC, and thousands of tournaments around the world use elements of the ADCC format and rule structure. To date, every ADCC champion has had experience studying the art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

I believe this is a very big accomplishment, not just for me, but for my country as well as an example of how there is hope for peace in the middle east. I am the first, Israeli ever to be invited to participate in ADCC



I am an Israeli athlete, and I will be participating in a tournament that is run through Abu Dhabi , run by Sheik Tahnoon. I believe this to be a direct example of how through the median of sport, two peoples from quarreling nations may get together and participate in something creative rather than destructive.



The Abu Dhabi Combat Club (ADCC) Submission Tournament is the #1 tournament in the world of Submission Wrestling, much like the World Cup of submission wrestling.



Coming from Israel , I have first hand seen much violence, yet through sport (my sport being Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Submission Wrestling) two people (Jewish and Arabic) can get together, compete, and leave the mats as friends when both live in a situation where the world knows us as enemies.



Through sport I believe we can pave a way to co-existence where we notice one another as competitors and friends rather than enemies.



The ADCC, has an amazing history of bringing peoples from around the world together to compete in the sport of submission wrestling, and this year will be action packed, and full of happiness for me, for I am fulfilling my dream as a competitor.



If you are interested in my story, and this amazing sport of submission wrestling, feel free to contact me anytime, I will be more than glad to speak to you.



Biography:
HAIM GOZALI is a black Belt under RENZO GRACIE the first one in Israel A former Israeli soldier in the Israeli border patrol and specializing in military hand combat Backgrounds in stand up fighting as well 2nd degree Black belt in Karate and experience in Boxing and Muay Thai.
Haim is representing RENZO GRACIE Association in Israel .

Titles and Awards:
Haim is an ADCC 2005 veteran and a gold medal 2005 2006 PAN AM of submission grappling Gold medal in NAGA and 2007 Gold medalist at the European BJJ Championships. NHB Record: 14-2-1 is Israeli champion in karate and vale-tudo grappling and an Israeli champion in the organization W.P.K.L