USA Wrestling is holding a historic training camp for the 2007 U.S. Grappling World Team, which is training to compete in World Wrestling Games in Antalya, Turkey, September 9.

The training camp is being hosted at the USA Wrestling National Training Center for Grappling and Sombo, which is located at the No Limits Mixed Martial Arts facility in Irvine, Calif. The camp will run from August 28 - Sept. 3, and the team members and coaches will leave for Turkey on Sept. 4.

The No. 1 athlete in each weight class on the U.S. Grappling World Team were invited to participate in this training camp. In addition, other athletes are at the camp as training partners, including some grapplers who will be competing in Antalya on the U.S. squad.

The World Team Coaches for the 2007 World Grappling Team are Bob Anderson of Redondo Beach, Calif. and Jason Townsend of Las Vegas, Nev.  

"The athletes have responded tremendously," said Anderson. "They are open to new things. The women are working as hard as the men. They are working together as a team and getting to know each other as individuals. There is a real positive attitude."

"The camp has been a success," said Townsend. "We have a good group of athletes, both with a wrestling and jiu jitsu background. They help each other. They have learned from our coaches, working with the rules used in international Grappling. Camaraderie has developed. The team spirit is high. They are tickled pink to be part of this team."

Juliano Prado, the Head Coach for Jiu Jitsu and Grappling at the USA Wrestling National Training Center for Grappling, has been important in helping prepare the athletes for competition.

A special guest, 1980 Olympian and past NCAA champion Gene Mills came out to Irvine to work with the team and provide training advice and support.

The training camp has been made possible through support from No Limits Mixed Martial Arts of Irvine, Calif., the Official Sponsor for the U.S. World Teams for Grappling and Sombo.

According to the coaches, the historic camp has put the U.S. team in position to do very well at the World Championships in Turkey.

"Every one of our athletes have a chance to take home a gold," said Townsend. "They are that good. They are training very hard. I am sure we will bring home a chest full of medals."

"I think they will have success in Turkey," said Anderson. "We may not have the depth that some other countries may have. Our athletes are looking very good in training. They are very excited. They are making history. They are training hard and are here to win World medals."