Our family project, Empowering Women and Children with Martial Arts, is a personal survival story of how we overcame challenging times using the teachings of Jiujitsu and Wrestling. These teachings not only helped us survive but also empowered us to reach our full potential and thrive. Our goal was to share this gift with other women and children, helping them overcome their unique challenges and emerge victorious.
My 15-year-old daughter, Ceola Kelly, a two-time Canadian National Champion, and I, TJ Sidhu, a multiple-time IBJJF World Champion in Jiujitsu, were scheduled to instruct a two-hour seminar at Kaizen Martial Arts on December 7, a week before my NoGi World Championship in Vegas! That same weekend, Ceola was called upon by her school, Collingwood School, to coach the up-and-coming Grade 8/9 girls at their first-ever wrestling tournament. This was a crucial job, as the very first tournament for these young girls could determine their future love for the sport.
Initially, I planned to lead the seminar with my own Jiujitsu teachings. However, my 12-year-old son, Liam Kelly, a Jiujitsu grey belt and gold medallist himself, stepped up to the task. He added his own unique twist to the Jiujitsu teachings, making the seminar truly memorable.
Another challenge arose when, despite distributing brochures and social media advertisements and having the capacity to host 60 people, only one wonderful woman attended the seminar. We made her day special by giving her two-on-one private instruction and a free rashguard, making her experience even more memorable.
Next year, we aim to improve our advertising efforts, which was our biggest challenge, and reach more members of the community so they can experience firsthand the many wonderful attributes that martial arts can offer.
