Mixed martial arts – known as MMA – is one of the fastest growing sports in the world. Ideas in Motion Media wondered what it is that makes it so popular, so we decided to get some answers straight from those who know it best: the people who live it.
Anyone even passingly familiar with sports has no doubt heard of the Carlson Gracie Jiu Jitsu Team. With local affiliations in most states across America, as well as in South America, Europe and even Asia, the Carlson Gracie Team is one of the most widely-recognized MMA academies in the world.
And we were lucky enough to get a friendly invitation to sit in on one of their recent training sessions at a local Crown Point gym.
At the front desk inside Spark Fitness in Crown Point, we were directed to a 3rd floor walk-up gym where the Carlson Gracie team sets up shop, complete with heavy bag, speed bag, wall-to-wall floor mats for grappling sessions, even a full-on cage for cage fighting practice, and mirrors to check balance and form. On the far side of the gym we noticed an impressive string of championship belts hanging near the ceiling, evidence of the team’s fighting spirit.
After a brief warm-up period, the team broke up into one-on-one sparring partners and got down to business. Fighters circling each other, looking for opportunities, openings, trying to find any way to get an advantage over their opponents for a quick takedown. The energy quickly rose as they grappled, practicing locks and throws.
We were able to pull a few of the team members away for a minute to ask them some questions and find out more about what MMA means to them and just what makes it such a great sport.
Lisa Bernau, project engineer for ArcelorMittal, told IIMM that she found a home with the team.
“I’m originally from Las Vegas. I moved here about 4 years ago,” Lisa told IIMM. “When I moved here, I didn’t know anyone. I came across Steve Colon’s gym… they were already a Carlson Gracie affiliate... and figured it might be a good way to meet some people and make some friends, and that worked. These people have become my family”
Lisa says that she started out with boxing, but was invited to sit in on one of the Gracie Jiu Jitsu workouts and was immediately hooked.
“I was already an athlete, but with jiu jitsu, it’s not only a workout, there’s a lot of technique involved, a lot of analytics. It really teaches you a whole new way of observing your surroundings, being more able to identify and deal with situations as they arise. It’s really helped with my confidence not only in the gym, but in the world and even at work.”
Fellow team member Adrienne Einikis agrees.
“I grew up in Crown Point, playing sports – I ran, lifted weights, even played soccer back in high school, so I’ve always been athletic. A few years ago, I signed up to try boxing with Steve, just like Lisa did. One day, we stayed after boxing to catch a jiu jitsu class and loved it. It’s tough. It’s challenging. It’s made me a much stronger person, a much tougher competitor,” Adrienne says, smilng. “Jiu jitsu really pushes you to your limits and then beyond. It opens your eyes to what you can do, but it’s good for all ages, from children to older people. Any age. It’s gentle, but physical, so you can really tailor it to your particular level. And of course, the strategy is amazing. It’s like chess – a thinking game – and I’ve really learned how to deal better with pressure, which has helped my mental acuity.”
Adrienne paused to give a hug to Steve Jr. the instructor’s young son who wandered over for to visit. “He loves me,” she told IIMM. “He’s like my little brother.”
Finally, we were able to catch up with Malik Elliott, black belt and trainer at Carlson Gracie, as he was wrapping up his workout and getting ready to leave.
“I’ve been doing jiu jitsu for 9 years,” Elliott said. “I also came from boxing originally. I immediately took to the technique, the transitions, the movements and was hooked. It helped me deal with stress. It helped me to learn how to maintain balance in the storm, challenging my flexibility, my agility… timing… ability to deal with resistance, which leads to a whole other level. It taught me how to find the necessary counterbalance to be able to overcome any adversity.”
Elliott says that jiu jitsu is particularly useful for law enforcement, helping them learn how to better subdue suspects with the minimum amount of force necessary to prevent harm.
“I would recommend jiu jitsu to anyone looking to learn a new skill, improve their level of physical fitness and be better able to protect themselves at the same time. I really would recommend it for anyone – men or women. It’s almost like a combination of weight lifting and yoga in terms of physical conditioning.”
Elliott nodded, wiping the sweat from his neck with a towel. “There’s a sense of sportsmanship, a sense of trust in your teammates. I’ll probably always do jiu jitsu. It’s really just an amazing sport.”
Seeing the broad smiles on the faces of team members as they packed up their gear and headed out the door, we have to agree.