Two words: Dan. Henderson. Need we say more? If this rabid gorilla uses this stuff then you should pay attention. You want to be a rabid gorilla on the mat, don’t you? You want to beat the stuffing out of Michael Bisping, don’t you? Exactly; that’s what we’re sayin’. But it’s not just for angry primates: Recent research suggests that maintaining a proper acid-base balance in the body is essential for good health, including bone density. Light Force Advanced High Energy Greens are a unique combination of 48 alkalizing organic and wild grasses, herbs, and vegetables designed to restore and balance proper pH levels in the body.

Pause for a moment and consider what you’re soaking in as you roll around that mat. That’s right: sweat, scum, bacteria, fungi, mat fur, cooties… like, euww! Athletic Body Care believes in prevention before infection. Founded by a black belt, ABC understands the special needs of the athlete and they deliver the world’s first complete performance skincare line to fill those needs. Products that protect the athlete’s skin, but never hurt its performance with greasy or drying formulas. Products that let the skin breath, perspire and perform.

The Doctor is in and she is smoooth, baby. Let Dr. Smoothie relax you with a blend of antioxidants and protein. Does that feel better, baby? Yeah, we thought so. Just put them feet up, kick back, and throw down an acai berry or pomegranate, or whatever blend of real fruit puree your little heart desires. Dr Smoothie’s blends contain no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives, and are enriched with an assortment of vitamins and minerals. Feel those phytonutrients rubbing your feet and getting rid of all those nasty reactive oxygen species. Ohhhh yeah.

Attention: Due to unforeseen circumstances, we had to cancel the post-tournament variety show. Sorry for any inconvenience. :(

So you came. You saw. You kicked their ass. Now what?

How about a fun evening of belly dancing? Drumming? Martial arts rope dart spinning? Hell yeah!

Grapple Girl Sheng, aka belly dancer Layla Hassam, will be putting on a post-tournament show on the evening of Saturday Aug 22, from 8-9 pm at Hannan’s Bellydance Studio (211 Danforth, between Broadview and Chester).

Come and see some wriggling bodies and shake your moneymaker! All for a good cause! Ooh la la!

Everyone — girls, boys, competitors, spectators, people off the street — is welcome! We’ll post more details as we confirm.

NOW magazine is Toronto’s weekly news and entertainment voice, published every Thursday. They’ve kindly offered us media sponsorship and we’re thrilled! Special thanks go to Gary McGregor, Manager at the Central Toronto Wrestling Centre and Assistant Coach of both the University of Toronto Varsity Blues Wrestling Team and the Central Toronto Wrestling Club, for being such a wonderful advocate of women’s grappling, and for making this possible.

Elevate Me! Natural protein and whole fruit energy bars made fresh daily by a family company “in a kitchen, not a lab!” Simple, natural ingredients: 24% protein and whole fruits. No fillers. Nothing artificial. Nothing comes between you and your Elevate Me! bars.

On the other hand, if your tastes are more high tech, big thanks also to Applied Delivery Systems (ADS), which “strives to deliver cutting-edge bioactive ergogenic compounds in a superior manner through the use of pharmaceutical delivery systems with the goal of maximizing the gains of serious athletes.”

If you’re looking for no-BS fitness training in a fun yet hardcore environment, Bang Fitness (three words: truck tires. Astroturf.) will beat the candy-ass hipster out of you. A private training facility oriented towards sport-specific and functional training, Bang serves both high-level athletes and average folks looking for an alternative to yet another spin class. Bang! Gets! Results!

Fight Planet is your one-stop shop for MMA clothes and other gear, events, media coverage, and news. As Chuck Norris is to awesome, Riccardo from FP is to asskicking. If Ric hasn’t shot it, it didn’t happen. If Ric doesn’t have it, you don’t need it. (And if the all-knowing Linda hasn’t given it her seal of approval, well… it’s like it never existed at all.)

Ever had that fantasy where a handsome, personable young man takes you by the hand and discusses the chemoprotective glucosinolates and isothiocyanates in broccoli with you as he guides you gently around the produce section of the grocery store? Yeah, me too.

Whether you’re looking to get ripped, get swole, or just get healthy, Kyle Byron offers personalized nutritional counselling and coaching in a nonjudgemental, supportive environment. He’ll even take you grocery shopping. *swoon*

Precision Nutrition, an industry leader in sports nutrition coaching and information resources, will be donating 2 each of their amazing books Gourmet Nutrition: The Cookbook for the Fit Food Lover and the Precision Nutrition System — the one-stop shop for transforming your body, improving your health, and increasing your athletic performance.

VJJ BJJ: Protect your VJJ with BJJ! Women’s BJJ news, views and reviews.

AllMax Nutrition: Some have called them “the best kept secret in the supplement industry”. We’re blowing their cover. AllMax applies peer-reviewed scientific research as the basis for the creation of every supplement, resulting in a line of products that has gained the trust of thousands of dedicated professional and amateur athletes, trainers and those who have chosen to make high-quality nutrition a part of their life.

Naka Herbs and Vitamins is the official supplement supplier of the Hockey Hall of Fame! (We figured, well, we fight too, so it’s a good match.) Utilizing the resources of a naturopathic doctor and master herbalist, Naka’s formulas are developed to provide consumers with the best supplements containing balanced, full-spectrum combinations of high-quality herbs and extracts.

Natural Factors is Canada’s leader in the development, formulation and manufacture of nutritional supplements for the natural health store market. And they grow their own echinacea!

Upset tummy? Consider RenewLife, the Digestive Care Company. Poor digestive health and high toxic load affect the overall health of many people and are the underlying cause of many serious health conditions. RenewLife’s mission is to help people by providing relevant information and formulating natural health products that positively impact your health.

Developed by vegan triathlete Brendan Brazier, Vega is a Complete Whole Food Health Optimizer, an all-in-one, natural, plant- based formula that provides 100% RDI of vitamins and minerals per serving.

We’ve been so busy organizing lately that we haven’t had a chance to cheer for our wonderful, generous sponsors. Here’s the list so far of the folks who are making it all happen:

• First Canadian Chiropractic: A kickass chiropractor in Toronto, Darcie Sinclair. She fixes all our boo-boos… and there are many. (We definitely bring her lots of owies.)
• Nature Clean: ‘Cause we do a lot of showering and laundry. And we care about the environment, even when we’re scrubbing out nosebleed stains.
• Omega Alpha Pharmaceuticals: Effective supplements through science. Omega Alpha is 100% Canadian owned and incorporated and manufactures and distributes over 100 natural health products, including herbal-based sports and fitness products as well as a line of natural health products for equine and small pets.
• Platinum Naturals: Top quality nutritional supplements that are made to be as close to nature as possible. Like nature, only better.
• S&H Health Foods: One of Canada’s leading retail chains of nutritional and natural products, dedicated to providing a wide selection of exceptional nutritional supplements at affordable prices.
• True North Nutrition: #1 choice for natural health product distribution in Canada.
• Hair by Miranda: Informally known as the best colourist in Toronto. She’s the woman you call if you want pink hair, purple hair, or something in between.

Alaina and Krista, sporting Miranda's hair handiwork

August 24 – 29, 2009

Felicia Oh, Emily Kwok and Val Worthington will be conducting a seven-day women’s grappling camp in Toronto. Don’t miss this opportunity to train with the best!