Consistency beats everyone and everything at El Dorado Hills Jiu Jitsu

     Sorry everyone. I've been swamped with grad school, teaching Jiu-Jitsu, family life, teaching as a grad assistant, and the excuses go on and on and on! As a result, I've had to put off my online journal, my writing, or blogging as others call it. It's not that I don't enjoy doing it. I just have so many things going on each and everyday, by the time I realize I haven't done certain things its 10:00 o'clock at night. AND I'M NOT EVEN HOME YET! So, this year has started off with much thinking about how can I (and as a result, how can I help the people around me) be consistent. When I talk about consistent, some might think it only applies to training martial arts, jiujitsu, or self defense, but I hope these apply to many areas off the mat as well.

     Consistency is difficult when we never establish what we define as consistent. We really need to make things a priority in our life to be consistent at something. It doesn't matter if that we are consistent once a week, twice a week, or even once a month. Therefore, establish what you mean by consistency. Be able to know at the beginning of the week that you are going to do XYZ and be happy (give yourself a pat on the back) when you meet those consistency marks. That should be your first marker for evaluating whether or not you are doing a "good job." It's also important to know what your limits are. If you decide to train jiujitsu 5 times a week, but are going to be out of town where there is no jiujitsu school, then you are only setting yourself up for failure. In this case making slight changes will help you accomplish your weekly consistency marker. Instead of training jiujitsu be your mark of success, change it to train 5 times a week. Where training could include a hike, bike, swim, jog, etc. be creative with how you set your consistency markers. That is very important.

     Something that helps us establish consistency is routine. If you are able to establish a regular routine, some call it a schedule, you will begin to understand that consistency is less of a challenge. What makes things difficult is that most of us don't have a regular work schedule or school schedule that stays consistent. It is especially important for those that fit in that category to go over a schedule on a weekly or monthly basis so they know when they are doing what. Getting a simple planner to keep with you is highly recommended.

    If you're having a difficult time with this even after you start, don't worry. The important ingredient in all of this is to keep trying, and keep woking on finding consistency. There are many CEO and elite business people who have secretaries for this very reason. It can seem very simple, and even unimportant, but necessary if you are finding yourself in need of more time at the end of the day, or missing out of key things you would like to be consistent with.

See you on the mat! 

Eliot Kelly

El Dorado Hills Jiu Jitsu 

916.595.4064

2013 IBJJF World Championships: What I learned

The World Championships in Jiu Jitsu were another spectacular event this year. There were lots of exciting matches with a number of upsets, showing that jiu jitsu really is a sport for everyone! This was my first time competing as a black belt in the heavy (pesado) weight division and I had a blast! I won my first match by points against a tough competitor from Gracie Barra named Ulpiano Malachias by points and lost my second match to GFT (Gracie Fight Team) tournament leader Rodolpho Vierra. A great opportunity to learn and compete against the best of the best. This was my first tournament with the IBJJF and I'm looking forward to getting more competition experience heading into the second half of the competition season this fall.

     As a black belt, I felt my strength and conditioning was well prepared for the much anticipated 10 minute matches. Although it's only an extra two minutes from the 8 minute brown belt matches, it can feel like day and night when it comes to the heat of the battle. One distinct feeling I got in my match with Rodolpho Vierra was the overwhelming grip strength and explosiveness. Being able to control and fight the grips are an essential part of elite jiu jitsu competition I realized a few years ago as a brown belt when I had the opportunity to compete against Jiu Jitsu World Champions, Antonio Braga Neto, Andre Galvao, and Xande Ribeiro. They all had an elevated awareness for grip fighting and using their grips to dominate positions. I've been fortunate enough to have some world class Judo fighters help me train my grip fighting and set ups for attacks from about two years ago. This training has definitely paid off but it will be essential to continue to work on this area.

Eliot Kelly

(916) 595. 4064

EDH BJJ

This Week in BJJ high lights Our Instructor Eliot Kelly

     Our El Dorado Hills Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instructor Eliot Kelly was featured in a portion of "This Week in BJJ Part 28." The clip featured the finals of the Abu Dhabi Pro Trials in San Diego, CA. Eliot Kelly (YEMASO BJJ) vs Roberto Alencar (Gracie Barra) in the finals of the 202 lbs division. The clip shows both competitors trading advantage points on throws that were nearly completed. Roberto, most often referred to as Tussa, wins the match with about 20 seconds remaining in the match by executing a beautiful fireman's carry. Although Eliot missed the opportunity to step on the top of the podium and win an all expenses paid trip to the Abu Dhabi Pro Championships in April, he did improve on his third place finish from last year.

     Some other notable moments of the Abu Dhabi Pro Trials in San Diego were Eliot defeating Eduardo Telles (99) on Saturday in the semi-finals that put him in the championship finals on Sunday. Although Eliot pulled through the semi-final match with an advantage point, he showed great skill competing against a seasoned veteran and legend of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. For those who are not in the know, Eduardo Telles is renown for his turtle guard attacks and has published several technique series on his mastery of this unorthodox attacks and counter attacks. 

     Another instructor competitor from El Dorado Hills competing for Yemaso BJJ was Garrett Aldrich. Garrett, also known as Sensei Garrett, instructs the Judo classes and holds a black belt in the martial art. He has some very dynamic throws that he has incorporated into his Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, winning the world championships as a white belt in 2010. Congratulations to both competitors for the accomplishments at the Abu Dhabi Pro Trials. We are looking forward to more success in 2013! 

     

EDH Jiujitsu 

(916) 595. 4064

Wrestling, Judo. Jiu Jitsu.

Wrestling Dojo: Pursuing Victory with Honor and Integrity

Wrestlers Training at the Wrestling Dojo JAN 2013

     The Wrestling Dojo of EDH Grappling hosted it's second group of wrestlers from 2013 this week. These middle school wrestlers are all competitive wrestlers looking to make some big improvements as they get deep and deeper into the heat of the season. The 1 hour session focused mostly on mat wrestling, using shoulder pressure, and getting the ultimate goal in wrestling, the pin. While coach Eliot Kelly instructed the larger group, coach Beau Weiner had instructed a smaller group rotating every 10 minutes. This allowed for the wrestlers to receive some individualized attention while training in a large group setting.
     In addition to the technical instruction by both coaches, the session emphasized the importance of respect. Respect for themselves, their training partners, coaches, and extending that respect off the mat as well. Respect to teacher's, parent's, family, and women. Although the Wrestling Dojo is a training site for grapplers of all levels to take their training and performance to the next level, the ultimate goal is building citizens of within our community with honor. Our philosophy at the Wrestling Dojo in El Dorado Hills, CA is that training and technical development without respect and honor is the only way to attain victory!

Wrestling Dojo

EDH Grappling

(916) 595 4064

Village Life Features EDH Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Student

January 07, 2013 | Posted by Julie Samrick

Boy knocks down disease symptoms with Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Eliot Kelly of Folsom, right, owner of El Dorado Hills Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, practices the Flying Arm Bar with student Nico Libby, 12. of El Dorado Hills. Libby started Jiu-Jitsu to help combat Tourette's symptoms. Village Life photo by Shelly Thorene

When Nico Libby was 10, debilitating seizures disrupted his life every day. The Libby family, living overseas at the time, then received the diagnosis: Tourette’s Syndrome.

They got on the first plan back to the United States. “We knew the United States would have the best care for Nico,” said Nico’s father Fritz Libby. ”We just wanted to come home.”

Yet it wasn’t so easy once the family moved to El Dorado Hills. Last year Nico still suffered anxiety attacks at Marina Village Middle School so severe his parents were called every school day for 52 straight days to help calm him down.

“It was a very stressful time,” said Nico’s mother Christine. “I never left the house during the day for fear the school would call.”

Doctors suggested rigorous exercise five to six days a week could help ease Nico’s anxiety and Tourette’s syndrome, but it was hard to find the right fit. “We tried every sport there is, but it wasn’t until last April we stumbled upon something that finally helped Nico start to get better,” said Fritz and Christine.

Now the Libbys want others to know about El Dorado Hills Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, something they call “the hidden gem of El Dorado Hills.”

Under the guidance of Eliot Kelly, El Dorado Hills Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has operated out of West Coast Martial Arts in the Business Park since 2010. Kelly, 28, who first learned Jiu-Jitsu while growing up in Japan and wrestled at UC Davis, said Jiu-Jitsu is “a grappling, self-defense martial art. There is no striking in Jiu-Jitsu, but the fighting is taken to the mat.”

Nico signed up for a free 30-day trial last spring but wanted to quit after three sessions. His parents said they’d allow it if Nico told Eliot Kelly himself — that conversation changed everything.

“I’d still like you to come for the rest of the 30 days and watch class; you don’t have to take part,” Kelly told Nico at the time. “You (Nico) looked me in the eye when you signed up for the trial and you shook my hand. Honoring your commitment is part of being a man.”

Used to others letting him off the hook because of his challenges, Kelly’s words started to help Nico get stronger mentally and helped raise his self-esteem. From that day forward he has become one of Kelly’s best students, and the school hasn’t called his parents once so far this year.

Nico has learned to master his moods under the guidance of Kelly and has also grown stronger from taking on the responsibility of helping others, a major tenet of Jiu-Jitsu, said his parents. This, in turn, has helped with the physical symptoms of Tourette’s and anxiety. His parents said they believe the transformation they’ve seen in Nico is nothing short of a miracle.

“JiuJitsu is a lifestyle approach,” said Kelly. “We focus on the whole person.”

At the end of every class Kelly spends a few minutes talking about issues beyond the mat.  Sometimes it’s bullying, other times it’s a charity opportunity in which he’d like his students participate.

It takes six to 10 years to go from beginner to earning a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt.

And what has Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu meant to Nico thus far? The 12-year-old sums it up in one sentence: “It’s made me a better person.”

For more information about El Dorado Hills Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu call (916) 595-4064 or visit edhbjj.com.

Some Bullying I Encountered Long Ago

     I've been doing a lot of reading up on bullying this summer, and I guess it would make sense to share a personal story of mine about bullying.
     When I was in the 2nd or 3rd grade I was living in a country town in Japan. My family was one of the few foreign families living in Japan at the time, and needless to say I stuck out like sore thumb. In Japan, public schools don't have any janitors and at the end of the day there is about a 15 to 20 minute time where the students disperse in groups to clean their designated areas. On this particular day, we were in charge of the long hallway. Our job was to take wet rags and run them down the floor in a "bear crawl" type of position. I can't remember exactly what happened, but all of a sudden, my back was against the wall with a 6th grader standing over me. Then from no where he slapped me across my face! I looked right back at him and slapped him back, jumping up to reach his face. This definitely caught him off guard, but he proceed to pummel me against the wall, throwing a stream of body shots. I didn't know what to do, so I just curled up in a ball and managed to take the punches until he took off running down the hallway.
     I don't remember much about how thing were resolved. I do remember a teacher talking with me. Asking me if I was ok, and assuring me that I would never have to fear something like that happening again. I do believe one of my friends in the cleaning group reported the incident to a teacher who swiftly took action.  Although this is with a little delay, THANK YOU cleaning friend, THANK YOU teacher, for taking action and helping me feel comfortable enough to stay in school.

Eliot Kelly

EDH Grappling

916 595 4064

See how our Jiu-Jitsu program can help your child deter bullying.

The Wrestling Dojo of EDH Grappling

     The Wrestling Dojo is a unique and innovative concept designed and developed by Eliot Kelly. The idea behind the system came from his experiences as a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instructor and Martial Arts mentorship from 7th Degree West Coast Martial Arts Black Belt Gary Merlo. The system is designed with the idea of applying the spirit of MARTIAL ARTS towards the sport of WRESTLING.
      In general, wrestlers are told what they need to work on in practice and each team has some type of curriculum in place for the wrestlers to learn. However, what's missing is a system to help identify the current level of the practitioner, other than the number of years they have wrestled. The first step would be in creating a ranking system that reflects a wrestler's technical skill, experience, and dedication.
    Also, the spirit of Martial Arts is much more than simply the accumulation of knowledge. It has to do with the shaping of CHARACTER, LEADERSHIP, and INTEGRITY. The Wrestling Dojo would provide the opportunity for students to apply what they learn on the mat off the mat. A ranking system that successfully incorporates the Martial Arts spirit will help the older/experienced students mentor the younger/newer students as well. As a result, building a sense of community and the spirit to help others in their progress towards success.
     Finally, The Wrestling Dojo would give wrestlers from multiple schools an opportunity get together, train, learn, and go back to their schools to win a State Championship. The more we can do to raise a community of wrestlers who want to 'make a difference' on and off the mat, the more success we will find at the higher caliber of wrestling.

Eliot Kelly

Creator of The Wrestling Dojo

(916) 595. 4064
EDH Grappling