Elite Training Center: Redondo

The more we train the more we gain. Krav Maga, Kali, Muay Thai Kickboxing, BJJ and MMA all work in conjunction when applied at Elite Training Center in Redondo Beach, CA. Time spent on the mat can lead to many discoveries not only from the physical side, but also from the mental. New ways in which to train are discovered and these ways must be shared by those making the discoveries.

You have immersed yourself in a world that few will understand and even fewer will attempt! Let us know some of the positive
things you have experienced since you began your journey. You could quite possibly have discovered something that lower ranking students are in search of. It is through self discoveries that keep people eager to learn more.

“Bullfight critics, ranked in rows,
Crowd the enormous plaza full.
But only one is there who knows,
And he’s the man that fights the bull.”
- Domingo Ortega

So excited for our fighters, Tommy and Roman! It takes an enormous amount of courage and heart to step into the ring or cage to test yourself…you both have trained hard and are doing something that few other people are capable of. While we all support you, few of us have actually been in your shoes. You’ve absolutely earned our admiration and respect, and we’re so proud of you. Go Team Elite!!

For every punch you kick. When kicked, punch. For every hit you take return with 3. Always much left, always move right. Always be the first to hit. Always be the last to hit. -Savate/Thai boxing cross training method.
-A. Haro

Great output from Tuesday night’s Muay Thai class. Everyone’s movement is getting so much cleaner and angles are becoming crisper. As these attributes are refined, you will witness your technique begin to shine.

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…

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.

What a treat to be able to teach Muay Thai in the snow for 10 hours! It is interesting to see how much the art itself evolves with time going from tropical to mountain terrain. Tommy and I were truly impressed with how well everyone picked up the information. Much respect to all my colleagues for a job well done and mostly to all of you who picked up a vast amount of information and retained it! Looking forward to our next expedition. -A. Haro

Elite Training Center’s Winter Survival Education Retreat was an enormous success. It’s taken a few days for the magnitude of the knowledge and experience to sink in, and I’m finally ready to share my thoughts.

To begin, getting a taste of what it’s like to fight in the snow with winter gear on was an eye opening experience! From kickboxing, to kali, to Krav Maga, to MMA and jiu-jitsu, students discovered how different it is to fight and defend themselves off the mat. It’s one thing to train in a controlled environment, and it’s another challenge entirely to adapt and apply those techniques in a more unstable and unfamiliar situation.

Besides training in martial arts, we learned survival skills that are so important yet so difficult to come by. Land navigation and orienteering, shelter building, fire starting, water purification, fishing/hunting/gathering, and first aid were just some of the topics. What made the information even more valuable was the real-world experience behind it; we had a former Army Ranger and former Navy SEAL as our expert instructors, and their experience and knowledge lent a unique perspective to each lesson.

On a personal level, I was privileged to witness some of the more subtle yet crucial necessities of survival at work. My team’s positive attitude, teamwork, and calm demeanor were critical to their success. It was also fantastic to watch them apply survival lessons learned at the last retreat, such as organizing effective search parties, and to see them have such success with those techniques.

I consider myself so fortunate to be a part of a school that teaches all aspects of martial arts. Martial arts, at the core, are about survival and defending those who are weaker and less able to defend themselves. An army defending the freedom of a nation cannot succeed if they can’t survive conditions long enough and well enough to actually fight. The same skills and mental fortitude can enable a family to survive if stranded in a snowstorm. I feel so much more prepared and equipped to handle such a situation. Elite is unique, and has enriched my life in immeasurable ways…I can’t wait to be a part of the next adventure!

Katie T.

In tonights class we explored the full potential of shadow boxing combatively. Repetition always creates success. Shadowing a technique over and over will instill it in your body over time. This allows your mind to begin to think under stress and as you begin to experience this, you can begin to gradually increase in speed, intensity and aggression. Along with this you will find conditioning and timing come to you. Consistant application of this method will allow you to perform any technique smoothly in the blink of an eye. Nicely done everyone, keep up the fantastic work!