This month we caught up with Eliot Kelly
1. How old are you?
30
2. How long have you been training in Brazilian Jiujitsu?
First Gi class was July of 2008
3. What is your academy name?
I teach and train at El Dorado Hills Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
I train at Yemaso BJJ.
4. Who gave you your black belt and when did you receive it?
Marcos Torregrosa, November 2012.
5. Do you have any other martial arts training?
Wrestling from middle school (I started after I didn’t make the basketball team in 8th grade…LOL!) through college at UC Davis and a few years after, trying to make the national team in freestyle.
I’ve tried to get involved with Judo, but can’t seem to find anyone that lives and teaches around El Dorado Hills.
6. What got you started training in brazilian jiujitsu?
I was living in Japan at the time, working as an assistant English teacher at a public high school. I was also coaching wrestling at the high school and local University. When you teach conversational English, every textbook has a lesson that will ask you about hobbies. When students would ask me what my hobby was, I would give them an answer, but deep down realized I didn’t have a true hobby I enjoyed, so I started looking for one. I had heard of jiujitsu but thought it was only for those interested in MMA. I heard about Helio Gracie training into his 90’s a realized jiujitsu had potential to be a life long hobby.
I had two reasons for wanting to learn jiujitsu. The first was to have a healthy hobby I might enjoy when I was done with wrestling. The second was to learn how to move better on the mat to help my wrestling.
When I first started I took the train for about 90 minutes and walked for about 30 minutes to get to the gym. After a few times, I found out there was a gym about 30 minute train ride and 15 minute walk from my house, so I started going there.
7. We have seen you at many tournaments. What is the value in competition?
I didn’t even know there were competitions when I first started learning jiu-jitsu, I’m glad I found out! Competition is an investment in yourself, an opportunity to make new friends, and embrace the challenge of discovering yourself. Indirectly, competitions provides the best form of “self defense” training, in healthy weight management and in physical training since most organizations follow rules that adhere to the spirit of self defense.
As an instructor, I bring back everything I learn from tournaments, especially what people do to me in competition. I feel their tuition at our school is an investment towards them learning some of the most unique and innovative tricks from someone who has experienced it in action first hand.
7. Who has been your toughest match? What can you tell me about it?
To be honest, every match as a black belt has been tough. One of the more recent matches was with Roberto Alancar, Tussa, of Gracie Barra in the absolute division of NoGi Worlds. I had previously lost to him by a takedown at the Abu Dhabi Pro trials in the gi, but came back from a 2-0 deficit to get the takedown with about 5 seconds left and win by advantage. I was constantly motivating myself in my mind as the time ticked away. It was a really fun and exciting match!
9. As a frequent competitor at your level you undoubtedly compete against many of the same people. What keeps you driven to compete against these same opponents over and over?
Every match, just like every training session is a unique and separate experience. I try to apply this idea with life both on and off the mat. There is a unique phrase in Japanese that says ichi-go-ichi-e （一期一会）which basically means one opportunity one meeting. Just like training with your teammates never gets old, competing with the same competitors is very similar.
10. What is your favorite tournament memory and/or your favorite memory of brazilian jiujitsu?
I realized jiujitsu was special right away. As a white belt we were at a tournament and I lost in the finals of the absolute division to a person named Hideki Sekine (Shrek) there was a controversial call where I wasn’t awarded back points and I lost. After the match I thought we were going to get into a huge brawl with the other team, there must have been 50-60 people yelling at eachother…. Thankfully we didn’t, but I realized there was a sense of pride in your team competing. As I walked off the mat, not really knowing what was going on since everything was in Portuguese and a bigger crowd beginning to form… One of the black belts on our team noticed me somewhat confused and disappointed after the loss and came up to me. “Smile Eliot, you are a champion.” I feel like that has left a strong impression on me as a competitor till this day. Every team is composed of unique individuals. I love that about Jiu-Jitsu!
11. Who is your favorite fighter?
I like watching everyone compete. Budovideos has a superb collection with blasts from the past to the most recent competitions. I love it! I think Aj Agazarm and Gianni Grippo have a great unique style, I think Keenan Cornelius is unstoppable. Nate Mendelsohn has a really cool passing game. These days I watch a lot of Murilo Santana and Bernardo Faria. It’s cool to watch Marcos Torregrosa because I can almost anticipate his next move, as I tell myself de ja vu! Caio Terra and Woolf Barnato are the lighter guys I always try to watch at tournaments. Everyone has their unique style on the mat and I can appreciate them for that. I got hooked watching Arte Suave with Andre Galvao, Marcelo Garcia, and Xande Ribeiro
12. What tournaments can we expect to see you at in the upcoming year?
I have to finish up my thesis next semester for grad school, so my schedule is going to be hectic, but count me in for Master Worlds, Asia Open in November, the Pro League in December and the BJJ Tour next year! I’m really motivated to make a run for the ADCC next year as well!
