Written by Nathan Schafer
One year ago, Eric “Red” Schafer won the 2010 Grappler of the Year for Wisconsin going (19-1). Of those 19 wins in 2010, he managed to win 17 of them via submission using 10 different types of submissions for a finishing ratio of over 89%. In 2011, he managed to outdo his 2010 performances in all categories. Despite training for two MMA fights last year, Red was still able to compete in grappling 21 times going undefeated at (21-0) for the year. He managed to submit every opponent but one, increasing his finishing ratio to over 95% this year, a 6% increase over the previous year. In 2011, he submitted 20 opponents using 13 different submissions. In 2010 his most utilized move was the Von Flue Choke with which he won 3 matches, but in 2011 his most utilized submission was the triangle choke with 4 victories.
Red started out 2011 by competing at the King Grappler X in January. He defeated his first two opponents with a front choke and a heel hook. In the finals of the +175lb division he then faced Filipe Barbosa, a BJJ brown belt under Marcello Monteiro. He again utilized a front choke to defeat the Brazilian. The King of Kings is then determined by taking the winner of the +175lb division versus the winner of the -175lb divison. Red faced TapouT reality star and multiple Bellator tournament winner, Pat Curran of Curran Martial Arts in Illinois. Red was able to secure a rear naked choke to win the King of Kings and take home the $500 cash prize.
Less than a month later at Combat Corner Grappling Championships – Volume 6, Red returned to the mats to capture the +170lb absolute division, a field that consisted of 13 grapplers including UFC stars such as Anthony Pettis and Pat Barry. Joe Ruiz of Submit Sport was submitted with a leg scissors choke and Jim Fritz of SUDA in Illinois was tapped with a triangle choke. He also was able to defeat Matt Jukkala, an All Guard Combatives Tournament Champion and purple belt out of Guerilla/Alliance BJJ in Minnesota with a Von Flue Choke. Red Schafer Mixed Martial Arts grapplers, Dave Kleczkowski and Tony Senner rounded out the division finishing 2nd and 3rd place respectively. They split the $400 cash prize provided by the tournament sponsor, Concede Fightwear.
In March, the Red Schafer Mixed Martial Arts grappling team faced off in a dual meet against Kenosha’s Gracie Barra school. Red dressed as the comic book superhero, Spiderman and was able to submit Rob Carbajal with a triangle choke while the Red Schafer Mixed Martial Arts grappling team took home the team victory with a score of (59-6).
King Grappler XI took place in April in Madison. In the first round of the +175lb absolute division Red defeated John Peralta with a triangle choke. In the second round Red faced Raphael Barbosa, an LCCT BJJ black belt. The Brazilian utilized a conservative closed guard to take the match into deep water but after over 60 minutes Barbosa was submitted with a rear naked choke. In the finals of the 175+ division, Red faced off against Mario Roberto’s top student, Dan Leckel, a purple belt from Rochester, Minnesota, who was submitted with a straight armbar. The King of Kings is then determined by taking the winner of the +175lb division versus the winner of the -175lb divison. Red faced Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, Joao “Mosquito” Bosco of LCCT. Red was able to secure a foot lock to win the King of Kings and take home the $500 cash prize.
The Waukesha Open 3 occurred in May of 2011. In the first of two cage grappling matches he submitted Rob Keller, a BJJ blue belt, with a Peruvian Necktie. He then defeated Justin Hutter, a brown belt from Waukesha MMA with a straight armbar before bowing out of the tournament. Tony Senner, Red’s wrestling coach went on to win the Waukesha Open absolute division.
In July of 2011 at the C3 “Patriot Games” in Gary, Indiana, Red competed again in the absolute division. He defeated Mitch Banic of Corral’s Martial Arts with a kimura and Quinton McCoffell of 11th Dimension with a triangle choke. In the finals, Red faced off a very tough Mark Vujovic. Vujovic is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu brown belt, multiple time NAGA champion, and instructor at Carlson Gracie BJJ in Chicago. Red won on points in the only match of the year that he was not able to secure a submission and took home the $400 cash prize.
In September, at a NCGA team dual meet, the Red Schafer Mixed Martial Arts grappling team faced off against the Waukesha MMA team and won with a team score of (33-28). Red squared off against Craig Caliendo and won with an armbar.
In the final King Grappler of the year in September, Red cruised to the victory in the +175lb Absolute Division defeating Badgerland grapplers with triangle choke and arm bar victories before facing his teammate Chris Senner with a guillotine choke in the finals of the King of Kings where Senner had won the -175lb Absolute Division.
2011 Quick Stats (21-0) undefeated grappling record 95% finishing ratio 20 submission victories with 13 types of submissions Competed in 8 events Won 6 different divisions and defeated 2 black belts, 3 brown belts, and 2 purple belts
To read Red’s 2010 Grappling Year in Review click below:
http://redschafer.com/blog/?p=633
For more info or to watch matches go to:
http://redschafer.com/
http://www.youtube.com/user/redschafer
http://twitter.com/redschafer
