Team Paul Mitchell was not always known as Team Paul Mitchell.

The original team started out with a group of fighters and kata competitors from the New England area. The Team represented a company called Spider Brand which at the time sold heavy bags, equipment bags and a variety of other supplies.
Spider Brand was around for a short period and the team would eventually have to start looking for a new sponsor. Don Rodrigues, promoter of the Ocean State Grand Nationals and coach of Team Paul Mitchell, said “We were in a position where we needed a new sponsor and we sat around the table talking. Two of our players knew companies that might be interested in getting involved with our team.” It was through a relationship that Steve Babcock had that the team would get the support they were looking for. Don Rodrigues added, “Little did I know than that a phone call would change all our lives.” That phone call was from John Paul DeJoria, CEO of John Paul Mitchell Systems and titan of the Professional Hair Care Product Industry.

It was a conversation that not only changed the lives of Don Rodrigues and the Spider Brand team but also the future of Sport Karate. Prior to the emergence of Team Paul Mitchell and even in the earliest days there were a number of top ranked teams such as Trans World Oil and Metro All Stars, to name a few. All had great talent but only Team Paul Mitchell was successful enough to defy the odds and stick around for so many years. Perhaps even more profound is the talent that has been a part of the team over the last twenty-four years. When recalling the best in the industry and some of the biggest the innovators most where a part of Team Paul Mitchell. Team Paul Mitchell’s standard is not just for talented martial artists but truly amazing people. This is unique for sport karate and one of the most important reasons the team has survived all these years.

The team started at a time when things were simpler than today. There were only three categories to compete in; forms, weapons and fighting. Don Rodrigues said, “The who’s who of martial arts has been a part of Team Paul Mitchell. They are talented people but more importantly they are amazing people.

I’m very proud of to be a part of this family and I look forward to what the future will bring.” Team Paul Mitchell will celebrate their 25th Anniversary in 2012 and continues to foster some of the world’s top athletes.

http://www.teampaulmitchellkarate.com/

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