This week EDHBJJ started the FIRST Women's ONLY Jiu-Jitsu Class!
Instructor's Todd Jones & Eliot Kelly will be leading the class to introduce the value of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to the female's in our community. We had Eliot & Todd answer a few questions about the class....
1) What are the benefits of a Women's ONLY Class?
Todd: The benifits of a women's only class is that it provides women with an opportunity to learn BJJ in an environment that does not require physical contact with the opposite sex. Learning the art of BJJ at times requires "up close and personal contact" with one's opponent, which can be intimidating for some. Removing that barrier opens the art of BJJ for these individuals, empowering them to apply it in any situation.
Eliot: First of all, I wanted all of our female students to feel safe. Speaking from an educational perspective, not much "learning" takes place when you feel threatened or are distracted by potential harm. Secondly, by having a class just for women, I feel women will be more comfortable to ask questions, share information, and go hard when rolling.
2) Why should women learn Jiu-Jitsu?
Todd: Women should learn BJJ for the same reasons men should learn BJJ: not only is it a fantastic form of exercise, but it can be a life-changing experience to know one possesses the skills to overcome an opponenent that is bigger and stronger and intent on doing harm.
Eliot: Well, in my opinion, Jiu-Jitsu is an awesome total body work out, where flexibility, balance, strength, endurance, and technical ability are tested. It's hard to find any other workout that can challenge all that at once. Women need to learn
Jiu-Jitsu because it's as close to a real life
Self-Defense situation as it gets. Jiu-Jitsu teaches us how to escape some of the most compromising and precarious positions, and therefore could result in the difference between life and death. Also, one of the core philosophies behind Jiu-Jitsu is for advanced technique to out smart power. I think that fits right into why Women should learn Jiu-Jitsu.
3) What is the idea behind the class?
Todd: The idea behind this class is to provide women with the opportunity to come together and learn one of the most effective and fastest growing martial art in the world today, get in fantastic shape, and have a blast doing it. Eliot: After observing several self-defense workshops and doing some self guided research, I noticed there is a very serious problem with teaching the idea of
Self-Defense. I found that many
Martial Arts Instructors were so intent on teaching how their "ART" was the best, that it was more of a sales opportunity than a Self-Defense lesson. After working with
KJN Gary Merlo and KJN Johnathan Calazar of West Coast Martial Arts EDH, I finally found an alternative teaching method, and that Self-Defense needs to be treated much more seriously than a simple sales opportunity. The idea of our class is to educate our Women on both the
SPORT of Jiu-Jitsu and
SELF-DEFENSE of Jiu-Jitsu. Since the IBJJF SPORT rules are derived from the "spirit of self-defense," we will explore what ideas cross over into self-defense and what does not. The idea is to focus on solid basic technique from specific positions, raise awareness for the sport, and understand how to avoid potentially dangerous situations. Finally, I think Jiu-Jitsu is something we understand by doing. Even if they never compete in the sport, parents, Mother's, Wives, Sisters, and daughters can be better supporters if they have had some prior training on the mat!!! The idea behind the class is... GET ON THE MAT!!
"Jiu-Jitsu is for WOMEN TOO!"
My personal take on seminars is that they are a great opportunity to learn something new, AND (even better) a great time to make new friends! I'm glad I was able to attend the session and make a new set of Jiu-Jitsu friends in the Rocklin area. Thank you Jeff for welcoming me and leading an exciting seminar!
