Clarion MMA Academy Hosts Seminars With Jay Zeballos (03/12/15)

The Clarion Mixed Martial Arts Academy hosted two special seminars with instructor Jay Zeballos this past weekend (Saturday and Sunday, March 7th and 8th). Saturday’s seminar was for children and teenagers and Sunday’s seminar was for the adults.

Seminar participants

Seminar participants

Approximately two dozen youngsters attended Saturday’s seminar.

Zeballos is a Black Belt from California who studies there under lead instructor Jean Jacques Machado. This is the second year in row that Zeballos has traveled cross country to host the seminar.

Clarion MMA instructor Hillary LeFay, who directs the Academy with her husband Leo, said, “…We go out to California to train with Jay and Jean Jacque and lots of other Black Belts. But since we are so far from a lot of other Black Belts, in this area, we like to bring them here for this seminar.

“Our children’s program has grown and grown. We really like how (Zeballos) teaches the kids. We do this so they feel like they’ve got their own special seminar. And we do fundraising so that it’ s completely free for all of the kids that are here.” The fundraising is provided by way of a Chinese Auction, with many local businesses contributing. There is growing support for the program from the community.

Students working under the watchful eye of Jay Zeballos and Clarion MMA instructor Josh Williams

Students working under the watchful eye of Jay Zeballos and Clarion MMA instructor Josh Williams

Zeballos has a very low key way of teaching the children. Hillary LeFay mentioned reasons for this, “Maybe it’s because they are Brazilian (style) or Californian, the easy style and not much ego. That has its place too, but for the most part it’s a very humble sport.”

Zeballos demonstrated the various techniques with Leo LeFay and then had the kids work on them with their partners.

It was interesting to see that all of the students were attentive to their instructor and that you didn’t see any of them goofing around.

Commenting on their attentiveness, Hillary LeFay said, “That’s typical of martial arts in general. And because these are all kids who have trained with us; they know, they respect the mat. They respect the space. They still have their moments when they goof off, absolutely. But they understand that they need to be paying attention.

“They also tend to appreciate learning something new, learning technique. And they probably don’t want to miss much.”

She said of the young students, “They are all really, really good kids. We’ve had kids that have been hyper, had different kinds of issues here and there. But after they’ve been through some classes, they understand that they are part of a team. Even though they compete individually, they are part of a team and they want to do well by their teammates and their partners.

Leo LeFay demonstrating a technique with Jay Zeballos

Leo LeFay (top) demonstrating a technique with Jay Zeballos

“And the teaching of Jiu-Jitsu, you have a lot of control over your partner, but you have to have a lot of trust from them too, once you’re learning chokes and submissions and things. So that kind of helps to elevate the respect they have for one another. And they really listen because they want to take all that information in.”

The sport of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu can be a great confidence builder. Hillary LeFay said,  “We’ve watched kids completely transition. A lot of kids will come through the door because maybe they are being bullied at school or they have some self confidence issues and their parents want to just help them gain confidence.

“So we’ve watched some of the kids, some of them over the last four years. You can picture them walking down the school halls, getting picked on. Now they carry themselves differently. They become much more confident in themselves because of what they are learning, even if they are not using it. Most of them never have to use it. Which is beautiful.”

(L-R) Seminar Instructor Jay Zeballos, Clarion MMA Directors Leo and Hillary LeFay

(L-R) Seminar Instructor Jay Zeballos, Clarion MMA Directors Leo and Hillary LeFay

The Academy opened at its present location in 2011. Before that the LeFays did instruction in their garage at home, for a couple of years. It started with the LeFays working with a couple of friends. But then others joined and it got too big for their garage.

The current location is on Route 322, east of Clarion, just before the YMCA.For more information on Clarion MMA, call 221-0806 or email them at leo@clarionmma.com. www.ClarionMMA.com