Frequently Asked Questions

These are some of the most common questions we receive regarding the Grapple Den parties:

Q: "How many people will be at the party?"

A: Since most attendees purchase admission at the door, it is impossible for us to know in advance how many people will attend a given event. However, judging from previous events, we can expect anywhere from 20 to 50 people throughout the course of the evening.

Q: "What will the ratio of men to women be?"

A: Since this is a community event that is open to the general public, and since we never know exactly who will be coming to a given party, we never know in advance. The event is open to people of all sexes and genders.

Q: "What age will attendees be?"

Similar to the above question, we won't be able to know ahead of time. The minimum age to enter the event is 18 years old. There is no maximum age. Judging from previous parties, the age range may stretch from 20 to 70, and everything in between.

Q: "Can I take pictures or videos?"

A: General attendees may NOT take photos or videos inside of the main party space. If you want to take a picture with someone, you must first get that person's permission and then take the photo in the lobby area.

Q: "I'm a single guy, and I'm coming by myself. I'm only interested in wrestling with women. What should I do?"

A: If you're looking for wrestling partners during the party, we recommend chatting with people you might want to wrestle, building a little rapport, and asking that person if they'd like to hit the mats with you. If they feel good about you, they might agree. However, please be aware, everyone at the event has a Right to Refuse any request to wrestle.

If you are shy, you can try asking one of our party staff Match Makers (circulating in the space, usually wearing glow-necklaces) to help you find a potential match.

Q: "What sort of wrestling goes on here?"

A: Most attendees engage in friendly-competitive submission grappling, submission wrestling, or no-gi jiu-jitsu. A small number of people sometimes try pin wrestling (such as scholastic style wrestling). However, please note, due to the crowded nature of the mat space, participants may not begin a match with standing takedowns; only one participant in a pairing may stand at a time and matches must begin on the ground.

Most people wrestle for submissions. A few people wrestle for points. Some people engage in pro-style cooperative bouts. Some people engage in bondage wrestling bouts. Some people engage in semi-competitive, playful, or otherwise stylized bouts. Many options are possible (discuss with your referee). But, above all, the most common is competitive submission grappling.

Q: "How is parking in the area?

A: For the event on 14th street in Manhattan, parking can be difficult. You will most likely not find street parking immediately near the venue. If you are used to parking in Manhattan or New York City, then know that you might be able to grab a spot just outside the area, such as in the West Village or Chelsea. Just leave plenty of lead time to look and then come to the venue.

If you are not used to parking in Manhattan, you might consider using one of the paid parking garages in the area. There are several near the venue.

We hope those help!
If you have other questions, please e-mail: GrappleDenNYC@gmail.com