This month's Kid, Student Spotlight goes to Mr. Jameson Olliff!!
Can Jiu Jitsu help with Football and other sports?
Jameson is involved in EVERY SPORT and has experienced all forms of coaching and activities. This young man is the definition of ACTIVE and continues to see improvement on the GRID-IRON and the mat!
WANT A FREE JIU JITSU LESSON WITH A REAL BLACK BELT?
Emily and Josh Olliff, were both born and raised in Odessa. Their son, Jameson, is seven years old and has been training at Vagabond for a little over a year.
We've never told Jameson "No." to any sport he wants to try. We let him try and see what he likes and what he is good at. He LOVES Jiu Jitsu, the first week we tried it, that's all he talked about.
Clay's coaching style is not typical of what one would expect in such a physical sport. He's calm and firm with his tone, he doesn't have to yell and scream to get the kids to do what he wants them to do. From the FIRST day a new kid steps on the mat they learn about respect, and they will continually learn that day after day.
Jameson is a VERY active child, Jiu Jitsu is a great outlet for him to put all that energy into something constructive. It has helped in football! The double leg take-down, for example, has been used numerous times while playing football. The discipline he learns in Jiu Jitsu carries over to all the sports he competes in. Another lesson that he's learning that he doesn't realize, is that he is learning something that he can use the rest of his life. At some point he will have to stop playing baseball and football but he can do Jiu Jitsu for the rest of his life.
He LOVES to compete and he HATES losing. When he does perform poorly, he immediately associates that with "I need more training" or "I need some private lessons". He doesn't blame the ref or the other kids, he holds himself personally accountable and we didn't teach him that. When we started doing tournaments, he just wanted to win a medal, now a year in he wants the 1st place medal, I like that.
When Jameson received his belt promotion after about a year in. The students know that they have to earn their new belts and or stripes on their current belt. Jameson had been in Jiu Jitsu for about a year and had earned a few stripes on his belt, and was working hard to earn a new belt. He had been to a few tournaments and had been attending regular classes as well as several private lessons. One night there was a belting ceremony and Jameson was so excited, he was really hoping to get a new belt. That night in class Jameson DID earn his grey and white striped belt. He was so excited, He came running though the door when he got home to tell me all about it! During the belting ceremony Clay made sure to make it personal for each kid, he named the things that Jameson had done to earn the belt, He was so PROUD.
THIS IS A GYM FOR ALL WALKS OF LIFE. We love eoach and everyone that attends class. They welcome everybody with open arms. Clay truly cares for each and every student he works with. He wants to see everyone excel in Jiu Jitsu and be as passionate about it as he is!