New Zealand Grappler Seriously Injured During BJJ Competition

[fiftysvn]

This is sad.

New Zealand Grappler Seriously Injured During BJJ*Competition - Bloody Elbow

This was just passed along to me by ICNZ promoter Neil Swailes:

In the last few seconds of the last round on the Saturday 12th December, Haydn Clasby from Submission Martial Arts (NZ) suffered a serious injury to his neck. This injury was sustained in a controlled BJJ environment and was a freak accident.


Haydn broke one of his vertebrae in his neck and damaged his C5, C6, C7, he is paralysed from the shoulders down at present. At the end of this week they will operate and put a plate into his neck.

At the moment the Doctors are providing worst-case scenario information to us, but due to the complexity of the injury it is going to be a wait and see. So as we all sit here with all our fingers and toes crossed, the initiative has been taken and an account has been opened in Haydn's name at Kiwi Bank.

The aim of this account is to provide funds towards the costs of Haydn's recovery and to help his partner Gen and family as they take extensive time off work to support Haydn during his recovery.

Any contribution no matter how small would be greatly appreciated.

Geoff Grant of GSW Martial Arts has set up a Haydn Clasby Recovery Fund page where anyone can donate any amount they wish via PayPal. Bank account details for direct deposits are also available there for any of Haydn's fellow Kiwis looking to help out.

That URL again: Haydn Clasby - Recovery Fund - Paypal donation

I'm sure I speak for everyone on the BE staff when I say godspeed to Haydn as he sets out on his road to recovery, and best wishes to his family during this ordeal.

[Pierced7681]

wow. my condolences to him and his family.

[fiftysvn]

John Will's blog:

John Will: BJJ Black Belt, MMA coach, Author & Life Coach: John's personal Blog

Some mat battles are Real ...

In stepping onto the mat each day - we engage in our practice and become stronger and more resilient as a result. But sometimes life and chance throws us a Real fight - just like the one that Haydn Clasby of Auckland (New Zealand) is in right now. Last Saturday, in the last round of training for the year, Haydn suffered a freak injury on the mat - breaking one of the vertebrae in his neck leaving him paralysed from the neck down. At this stage, he is prepping for surgery, during which he will have a plate put in his neck in the hope that his spinal cord may heal. The thoughts of the BJJ community downunder are with Haydn and his family - and we are hoping that the wonderful support that has been thus-far forthcoming will continue to pour in from the wider BJJ community beyond our shores.

Here is a link if you care to make a financial donation to assist Hayd and his family to fight this real fight - no matter how small, any help would be greatly appreciated:

MAKE A DONATION

Here is another link to the Haydn Clasby support page on Facebook.

Best wishes everyone - and on behalf of Haydn - thank you for all your wonderful, much appreciated - a

Also, if anyone is in South Australia, this might be a great way to help:

Terrafirma MMA - modern techniques, traditional values

When Terrafirma learned of this tragedy from John Will's Blog, we knew we had to help. We are all one big family in BJJ after all. Here is what we are proposing to help raise funds for Haydn's recovery and his family:

Terrafirma MMA is going to run 12 BJJ workshops, 1 per month in 2010. These will be called the Hayden Clasby Workshops, with all money raised through the year donated to Hayden and his family. The cost will be $25 per workshop and we are looking for a minimum of ten students per session. They will be on the last Saturday of each month, starting Sat Jan 30th at 10:00am and will go for 2 hours.

I invite all school owners to give this idea great thought as a way that we can all help Haydn and Gen in their time of need. Through this next year, it will cost you only 2 hours a month but we will, together, make a world of difference for our brother in BJJ.

If any one in South Australia is interested in attending these workshops please contact Darren Cartwright.

Hang in there we have your back.

Darren & Kylie Cartwright, and all from Terrafirma MMA

[OhNoes]

Poor guy. Hope he gets better, this is bad.

[Throatpoker]

Hoping for the best, my thoughts are with him and his loved ones.

[jyork***]

wait, have they explained how it happened?

[Gerbiljiujitsu]

wow that is horrible ...I am at a loss for words. I wish him the fastest recovery possible.

[Mike Wilson Jr.]

Terrible tragedy. Sending well wishes to his family.

[thedicamillo]

My fellow New Zealander.

Such a shame.

[revad3]

terrible, how can this happen?

Neck crank?

I wish him the fastest recovery as soon as possible.