Elite Training Center: Redondo

Recently a young boy and his brother enrolled into Elite Training Center’s Kids Jiu Jitsu program. Whenever a new student joins us we always ask them to think about 2 or 3 goals that they want to achieve. The older of the two, 8 years old had 3 goals.

—Learn how to kick
—Learn self-defense
—Learn how to defend others

To grasp the gravity of the 8 year old’s goal is essential to truly understanding the martial way. We continually instill in the students, whether 8 or 80 how important it is to think of others rather than the self. To wholeheartedly give yourself to something bigger is how martial arts endure.

Krav Maga was created out of a true emergency situation. So many people saw the importance of learning the system that citizens and military personnel alike were more than willing to share this particular skill set. Being surrounded by countries who hate you spurred an entire country to buckle down and get focused on the task at hand.

Kali Silat, having it’s lineage close to 2000 years old, actually hid their combat system in dance and other celebratory styles from Spanish conquistidors. However, Kali endured because the culture deemed it as a true representation of the island nation’s spirit.

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu or BJJ is derived from Japanese Jiu Jitsu. Although not as old as the Japanese system, BJJ really came to the forefront of the martial arts world in the last 20 years due to the success of the Gracie family in the UFC. It is so very well established now that it is considered one of the most practiced martial arts in the world.

Muay Thai kickboxing, although a national sport and an integral part of every successful MMA fighter’s repertoire is to this day shared and trained at very early stages. The country of Thailand teaches a militarized version to its soldiers.

Live for something bigger. Take on the responsibility of giving back and passing the information on to those responsible. If an 8 year old can do it…

Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey last Saturday night was exciting to watch. It’s great to see female fighters exhibiting the skill and technique that up until recently was only really seen in the men’s fights. At Elite Training Center in Redondo Beach, we have a large number of women participating in all of our classes, from jiu-jitsu, to Muay Thai, to Kali, to Krav Maga, and so on. We even have a mixed martial arts class especially for women. Whether your goal is to be in the cage, gain self-defense skill, or simply get healthier, every woman should give it a shot. All female Elite students are welcome! We learn a lot and have a great time…hope to see everyone there!

Hit first, hit last! Words that we encourage all students at Elite Training Center to adhere to.

Krav Maga, Kali Silat, BJJ, Muay Thai Kickboxing, and MMA all express the importance of timing. To wait or anticipate is too late.

In no way are we condoning to go and punch someone in the event of any altercation. The idea of waiting for someone to throw the first punch can lead to…wait for it…wait for it…BAM! You just got punched! Be aware! This is a judgment call. If all exits and reasoning have been exhausted then it is time to act.

Don’t be beaten to the punch.

Stand up for something! Fight for what you know is right! Be something more than a faceless drone in the sea of billions!

Martial arts were developed to protect the practitioner and his/her fellow warriors. The battlefield is what brought the martial way to the forefront. It was because people stood up for something. This isn’t to say that all armies of old were standing up to something evil. There have been many instances where invading armies did not have the best of intentions. But in order to change anything, it takes the will of one.

All of the martial arts taught at Elite Training Center in Redondo Beach, CA were created by people who stood up to or for something.

Krav Maga, Muay Thai, Jiu Jitsu (BJJ), and Kali Silat were all at one time a component for change or protection. These martial arts all stood for something.

All martial artists come to a plateau at some point during training. It is important to recognize why the burnout is occurring.

At Elite Training Center in Redondo Beach, CA we encourage cross training. Cross training often leads to new perspectives. The instructors at Elite whether Krav Maga, Kali Silat, Muay Thai Kickboxing, MMA or BJJ (Brazilian Jiu Jitsu), encourage everyone to partake in as many systems as possible. The “old” way of thinking was to “focus on one art.” This way of thinking is closed minded and somewhat archaic. To resist gaining knowledge on your martial path is a true disservice to the arts. Whether the instructor is giving proper information or improper at least there is something to be learned.

In the event you are “burning out” on Krav Maga, then work on BJJ. If you are “burning out” on Muay Thai, then work on Kali Silat.

As mentioned in previous posts Elite’s systems will blend together. Although you may be doing similar techniques, hearing the perspective of another instructor or training with different students may be the water that pushes out the mud of your regimen.

Truth is in everything, but there are no absolutes other than what is being trained at the moment.

When we learn to read, we don’t immediately jump into books with long, complex sentences. First we learn our letters, the formation of each and the sounds they make. Once those are mastered, we are taught how to combine them into words and then how to put those words together to open worlds of stories and knowledge. The martial arts are similar. For example, in basic kickboxing, we are taught how to perform a proper jab, cross, hook, uppercut, parry, elbow, knee, and basic kicks. We practice these individual techniques over and over again, embedding them in our minds and muscles so that they become second nature. So when we move to the more advanced program we are ready to learn how to combine these different elements to form a seamless flow of techniques as well as tactics and strategy. Those initial basic building blocks of movement are essential to every piece of our journeys. Although kickboxing was the example, this is true of all martial arts. At Elite Training Center, we are very proud of our programs (Muay Thai kickboxing, MMA, Jiu Jitsu, Kali, and Krav Maga); each of them has a defined and comprehensive basic training curriculum that truly prepares students for the large amount of knowledge and challenge present in our advanced programs. Our students succeed and progress because they are so well equipped with the fundamentals.
There is a time when reading clicks…when those letters cease to be seen and sounded out individually. We see the whole word and even phrases without even thinking about it. This is how martial arts skills evolve as well. Enjoy the process!

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

Naturally we all come to a plataue in our martial arts training. Sometimes information can leave us feeling frustrated and confused. Take this holiday season to relax and reassess your goals. Realize that although you may struggle with the comprehension of new material, it is this struggle that makes the reward of knowledge so sweet.

Krav Maga, Kali Silat, Muay Thai Kickboxing, and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu all came to fruition through hours upon hours of practice. It is important to understand that through trial and error that the arts ultimately found a platform to work from. This said platform will still be reworked as most martial arts should be. To not maintain a consistent push to make techniques and arts more feasible to the masses defeats the purpose of training. If anything is to improve it must be broken down and built back up to be stronger, faster and more effective.

As a student living the martial way the realization and acceptance of this process will only lead to a more positive outlook on your martial path.