About
Who is behind the Black River Invitational?
My name’s Al Hemmingsen. I’m a black belt in Cleveland training at Hurricane. I’m funding this event alone. My goal is to make the highest quality event possible at break even or at least not losing a titanic amount of money.
Why name it that way?
It’s not about me. When people name things after themselves it’s often from ego.
What’s the goal? Why do this?
The region needs a high-quality grappling event rooted in consistency and predictability. We hope to run the event each year in May, attracting some of the best athletes in the region.
Elevate the mat?
“Elevate the mat” is both a physical idea and a metaphor. An elevated stage combined with theater style seating on a slope creates optimal viewing angles for the audience. But it’s also a metaphor. The state of grappling promotion can become better
For the competitors: They put their bodies at risk, and deserve:
- To know their matches months ahead of time
- Months of active event promotion and marketing
- Well prepared commentators who know something about the competitors, can pronounce their names, etc.
- Professional quality photography
- To own their own match footage and not have it hidden behind paywalls
For the audience:
- Venue and viewing angles optimized for audience viewing
- Detailed programs and information about the competitors
- The ability to interact with and participate in the show. In the Black River Invitational, the audience is the 3rd judge and votes during the match via app.The audience also votes for competitor bonuses: best submission of the night, most inspiring competitor, etc.
For female grapplers specifically:
- The state of grappling promotion for women needs to improve even more.
- Female matches are often more technical, more mobile, and more interesting to watch than say, the 99+ KG men’s division.
- The Black River Invitational will make concerted efforts to highlight the talents of female grapplers by organizing matches at the high end of event cards that make for great audience viewing.