Elite Training Center: Redondo

Lots of people recognize that Elite Training Center’s staff is “always here.” This is true. In order for us to truly relay the necessary information to the students we must stay current. By staying current means, up keep on not only techniques from Krav Maga, Kali Silat, Muay Thai Kickboxing, MMA and BJJ, but our own fitness and health as well. We must simply “practice what we preach.”

The above is not to say we are perfect as mentioned before in other blogs, perfection is something unattainable. NEVER give up in the pursuit of it though.

Really great to see all of the various martial arts careers unfold and progress at Elite Training Center. The movement and commitment the instructors have been witnessing continues to impress and make us proud. I’m eager to keep moving forward and continue to evolve with you all in the future. Great job yet again students of Elite Training Center, Redondo Beach, CA!
-A. Haro

  Think Big – Dream Big – Achieve Big!
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Think Big…Dream Big…Achieve Big…is all about seeing a bigger picture of what you really want to achieve in life. Big Goals demand our best effort,
energy and focus. They bring out the best in us and force us to grow. We need to have goals when training whether it be within Krav Maga, kickboxing or Thai Boxing, Mixed Martial Arts, Kali or Brazilian Jiu Jitsu…
 
To experience a QUANTUM LEAP YEAR you must strive for achieving BLACK BELT EXCELLENCE instead of accepting MEDIOCRITY in any area of your life.
 
Do you want to be an A-rated student or be satisfied as a “B” or a “C”?
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Would you rather be wealthy -or- poor for the rest of your life?
 
Which goal would motivate you to stay focused and take more action?
 
When you think big and strive to achieve big, it’s much more exciting and causes you to take more positive action than when you think small and aim for easy targets that are set low.
 
Think Big…Dream Big…Achieve Big and make a Bigger Difference in the lives of others as well.
 
Training to be an A-rated Black Belt Champion is a big, exciting and purposeful goal. It’s a goal that has life long lasting benefits and causes people of all ages to transform their habits, attitudes and actions. It will change and improve their mental, physical and emotional well being.
 
Similar to any big achievement, it’s not what you get, it’s what you become.
 
In our Goal Setting for Greatness series, we encourage you to…
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THINK BIG – DREAM BIG – ACHIEVE BIG…
 With this mindset you will not fail when training within  Krav Maga, kickboxing or Thai Boxing, Mixed Martial Arts, Kali or Brazilian Jiu Jitsu…or anything else you set your mind too..
Nobody suddenly becomes a World Class athlete or achiever.
 
Make 2012 your Best Year Ever by staying  focused on your BIG GOALS and GO FOR IT!

Let’s Get To Work
Shihan Brian Rauchbach

Hello Elite Training Center Friends,

This week’s classes in the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu program saw us practicing techniques in combatives and self-defense focusing using the guard to influence and control the distance against punches, elbows and headbutt strikes by the top fighter. After this instruction, we moved on to additional submission attacks from the bottom position using the triangle choke & kimura armlock.

During the punching defense classes from the guard, we continuously practiced the understanding of making it extremely difficult for the top fighter to land successful strikes in a series. If the top opponent is hitting you effectively, you are not influencing the control of the distance. The middle position in the guard is the major factor of control. When the top fighter can stay in the middle position with good posture, it is going to be a difficult day for the bottom fighter. This is the start of effective guard passing and striking attacks for the man on top.

The basic strategy was to keep the opponent very close (Closed Guard) or very far away from you (Open Guard). This is a similar concept that relates to the standing clinch and closing the distance in jiu-jitsu. We need to keep in mind, our opponent will be bigger and stronger than us in a ground fight; therefore, you will not be able to hold a position for ever or a long period of time. When your opponent attacks with a strike or a punching technique, you will need to move at the right time in this situation to counter it. Using too much strength or wasted energy will quickly make you tired. Move at the right times and use your whole body: Mostly your hips and legs to control the bigger opponent.

Later in the week we continued our understanding of the kimura armlock and the triangle choke from the guard. Some of my observation saw many of the students trying to understand the details of the triangle choke. The kimura was easy to perform after a basic review. The triangle choke had many of you making adjustments to finalize the technique. And adjustments in the details are exactly what you have to do to making all jiu-jitsu techniques and strategies work for you: not just the triangle choke.

Keys to success in finishing the opponent with the triangle choke for the guard are: Getting a good bite on the opponent’s neck with your leg; controlling the opponent’s arm to bring it to the correct side of your body; controlling the posture on the opponent’s body by controlling the head; making body adjustments with your foot on the opponent’s hip to get the best angle to finish the technique; and finally, using a figure-four lock with your legs with the foot behind the knee to squeeze the opponent’s neck for the choke hold. Extra details to finalize the leg choke triangle is to pull downward on the opponent’s head with your hands, squeeze your knees together and lift upward with your hips. This is done at the same time and making for a three directional pressure.

For many of you this was the first time really learning the triangle choke. All the details will get easier: I promise you! There are 15 partner drills I can think of that will help you improve this technique; plus, you will also get a nice workout while improving your jiu-jitsu!

Be ready for next week!

Best,

Prof. Tony Pacenski

Elite Training Center

Do not forget how important this time of year is for self defense. With the amount of people doing holiday shopping, good people must be on the lookout.

At Elite Training Center in Redondo Beach, CA we encourage all of our students to use situational awareness each and every day. Krav Maga, Kali Silat, Muay Thai and Jiu Jitsu all focus on identifying and anticipating movement of an attacker or opponent. With the “silly” season upon on it is important to recognize the dangers that lie within.

Violent attacks and muggings occur around this time often out of desperation. Take this time to recognize what is going on around you. Utilize these simple steps to utilize situational awareness:

Don’t text while walking back to your car from a busy day of shopping. Keep your head up and move with purpose.

Don’t disengage your car alarm until you are at your car. Don’t make a steady line towards your own vehicle if you are alone. Move in the direction of another vehicle and then make a quick move.

Don’t hold onto too many bags which can inhibit your vision and mobility. Shop simply and smart.

Be sure to lock up your belongings and don’t leave anything in view worth stealing.

One more thing…don’t be a bad person. Santa’s watching…

     Justice should not only be used in the perception of government and law. It can be implied in all ways of life. A just man or woman uses justice to always put their friends needs and the needs of life above theirs. A just person does not indulge themselves in selfish acts but more in the well being and betterment of those around them.  How does this pertain to us at Elite Training Center? Whether it is Krav Maga, Mixed Martial Arts, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Kali or Kickboxing, using such a principle as being a just person, you will always strive to the success of those around you. In turn this forms the best possible training environment for all. For there is something to be said about the lessons learned in teaching someone a step behind you. Grab a student who’s been here for a shorter period of time and you have taken a step forward.

-Rome

We are proud when each and every one of our students performs well on and off the mat. To reinforce positive behavior we must instill positivity in each student. This is important in the early stages of the martial artist’s path.

Last Friday the Youth Krav Maga students had a promotion and test along with the Youth MMA students. To see each and every student perform not only technique but exercise proper etiquette was rewarding for the instructors. But without signing praises for behavior as well as execution of technique would be a disservice to all that Elite Training Center is about.

We expect our Youth programs to carry over into the areas of life that coincide with societal contributions i.e. school, groups, teams, and family activities.

Never settle for less than your best! Again, fantastic job!!!

At Elite Training Center in Redondo Beach, CA we challenge students to not only work towards achieving goals on the mat, but to take that same work ethic and apply it in everyday life.

Being a successful martial artist is about what you’ve done to benefit others at the end of the day. It isn’t simply about mastering a technique. It is about being able to share what’s learned and give to those less fortunate.

Krav Maga, Kali Silat, Muay Thai, and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu are all very challenging martial arts. If this is the chosen path, the challenge is the reward.

Although beautiful days are not a rare thing in Redondo Beach, yesterday was exceptionally gorgeous.  There’s nothing like the crisp, clean air after it rains, and there was a light breeze off the ocean that made the salty smell in the air even stronger than usual.  Days like yesterday make me feel alive, so naturally they’re usually the perfect days to work out…

But for some reason I just wasn’t feeling it, coming up with every excuse in the book to delay it.  Finally, after a guilt trip from my husband, I headed out to train.  My plan was to start with 15 minutes and see how I felt, but within 2 minutes of hitting the pads and hearing that solid “thwack-thwack” of punches and kicks, it no longer seemed like a chore, and I felt like I could continue for hours.  Afterwards I was happy, calm, proud that I’d made that first step, and ready to enjoy the rest of the beautiful day.

Taking that first step onto the mat can be hard to do sometimes, but it is probably the most important part of health and training.  We all have mornings when hitting the snooze button again feels like the best idea in the world, and we all have evenings after a long day of school or work when all you want to do is head home and collapse in front of the TV.  Working out or training feels like another chore…but I don’t know anyone who has said, “That was a waste of time and now I feel worse,” after forcing him or herself to show up at the school or gym after a long day (or short night)!  We all struggle with motivation at times; life can be complicated and exhausting.  Work, school, spouse, kids, finances, health, etc…all of these things can be overwhelming.  But through it all, martial arts will support you, and everyone at Elite is here for you.  All you have to do is take that first step.

Elite has a schedule that makes it easy to stop by and take a class at convenient times, such as before or after school or work.  And the classes are offered in such a way that you can choose your speed or discipline.  Not feeling up to a cardio-blasting Extreme Kickboxing class?  Perhaps a more mentally challenging Jiu Jitsu class fits your mood better.  No matter what class you choose, by taking that first step onto the mat you have already succeeded, doing more and pushing yourself more than most people do.  Recognize it and be proud of it.  We are proud of each of you.

See you at the school!

Katie

Some people say, “don’t sweat the small stuff.”  Those are the same people who haven’t experienced a street fight. Paying attention to detail can be the difference between success or failure.

Although the above is stated with tongue in cheek, it is very important for people studying martial arts at Elite Training Center in Redondo Beach to pay extra close attention to detail when learning. Through the various martial arts at Elite defensive position with hands up by the head are integral to staying protected.

In Krav Maga and Muay Thai / Kickboxing focusing on the hands and arms staying flush against the head and covering the back of the neck is paramount! This although seemingly trivial tactic keeps the brain stem and carrotid artery protected from impact and edged weapons as well as fists and kicks.

In Kali Silat neglecting proper hand positioning can make or break a tactic within this all emcompassing combat system from the Philippines. Again, likening it back to keeping your hands up and at the ready when dealing with either an armed or unarmed combatant.

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and MMA, although rooted in more sport aspects of combative mixed martial arts must also adhere to the hands up and by the head in order to stay safe practice. Head kicks and punches if landed in any open spot around the head can have a major effect on the outcome of a competition.

Regardless of the system you study, we encourage everyone to “sweat the small stuff.”