Translated from original article in L’Express by Clément Daniez dated 13/06/16. Read here: http://www.lexpress.fr/actualite/sport/mma-une-salle-menacee-de-fermeture-faute-de-profs-diplomes_1800849.html Pictured: French IMMAF World Champion Iurie Bejenari at the 2015 Amateur MMA World Championships At a time when the small world of MMA is being officially explored by a deputy and a senator, a club based in Rennes is threatened with closure. This is yet another illustration of the regulatory issues that arise from the practice of mixed combat in France. The mission on the practice of MMA in France, entrusted to the two members of parliament, does not constitute a truce. Pursuant to a direction order[1] dated November 2015 from the Ministry of Sports, disclosed by L’Express at the time, a gym has been sent an official threat of closure. A first in the country. “Fight’Ness Gym Rennes” is not a small organization. Claiming 1,200 members, it is the parent company of a network composed of around 10 franchise gyms specialising in MMA. A combination of all combat sports, from wrestling to judo and Thai boxing, MMA allows strikes to an undefeated opponent on the ground during competitions. Because of this technical characteristic, this discipline has always faced the wrath of the highly influential French Judo Federation (FFJ) and the Ministry of Sports. The founder of the gym based in Rennes, Yovan Delourme, was heard in May as part of the mission entrusted to deputy Patrick Vignal (PS) and senator Jacques Grosperrin (LR) in April by Prime Minister Manuel Valls. They must report their findings in September. A meticulous control The Fight’Ness case offers them a perfect illustration of the current regulatory aberration regarding MMA. Escorted by two policemen, two officers of the Departmental Directorate for Social Cohesion and Protection of Populations of the Ille-et-Vilaine department carried out a particularly meticulous control of the facilities of the gym on April 22. This control was followed by a final demand with threat of closure within 15 days on May 18. All the failures, such as the failure to display the instructions for use on fitness equipment, have since been corrected, ensures Yovan Delourme to L’Express. Except for one failure: according to the order from November 2015, instructors teaching mixed combat in return for remuneration are required to have a judo, karate, wrestling, full contact, kick-boxing, or Thai boxing state-approved diploma. This means, more or less, requiring a tennis instructor to have a squash diploma in order to teach tennis. Following the final demand period, Yovan Delourme came up with a provocative Facebook post against Patrick Vignal, who happened to be in Rennes for a conference that day. Cornered, the deputy went to the “Fight’ness Rennes” gym to discuss. “I saw very clean and organised facilities, but it is necessary to comply and present a state-approved diploma owner if asked to do so, he said. In this situation, the administration must demonstrate flexibility, there are 21 jobs at stake.” The deputy in favor of the creation of a MMA diploma All the gym’s instructors intend to complete a state-approved Thai boxing diploma. Meanwhile, they need to find someone. “The three Thai boxing state-approved diplomas owners and the only state-approved karate diploma owner of Brittany are occupied, so we keep seeking one, admits Yovan Delourme. But the one we are to find will only be there for compliance matters, which is absurd.” Patrick Vignal hopes for an end to be drawn to this nonsense. “I’m a judo instructor, but I am unable to teach MMA. It is necessary to create a specific MMA diploma, the deputy said. The mission is ongoing, we need time to make propositions.” [1] Note de service n° DS/ de 2015 relative aux contrôles des établissements et manifestations publiques de sports de combat proposant du combat mixte]]>
MMA in France – MMA gym threatened with closure by local law enforcement
