Japan NoGi National Champion

2 Gold Medals from Japan

August 21, 2011 

    We had an unlikely entrant in the Japan No-Gi Nationals this weekend. Our instructor, Eliot Kelly traveled to Japan to train with Japan's National Wrestling team in preparation for their 2011 World Championships. In addition to wrestling, he had the opportunity to visit some local MMA and Jiu-jitsu academies, do some sightseeing, and compete in the Japan NoGi Nationals. In Suidobashi, a mecca of Martial Arts, Eliot got to visit and train at Master Japan. Master Japan is lead by head instructor and former UFC fighter Hironaka Kuniyoshi, who just claimed the Shooto World Welterweight Champion Belt in July. 

    At the Japan No-gi Nationals Eliot won his weight division and absolute (open weight) division. In addition to training at Master Japan, the majority of Eliot's training in Japan took place at the Ajinomoto National Training Center, where the Nation's top athletes train to compete in the World and Olympic Championships. Eliot was noted saying, "Not only did I get to train with the best in Japan, but also I got to experience & learn new warms ups and drills to implement in class. I got to eat dinner with an Olympic Gold medalist in Wrestling, Sauna with a 2000 Olympic Silver medalist in Judo, and learn from champions at the national and world level. Talk about being surrounded by Champions!" When you get a chance, make sure you ask Eliot about his experiences in Japan!