Competition Behavior Expectations

Foundation Chicago affiliation team members have been busy the past two weeks competing across two states. They’ve displayed great technique, heart, and support for their training partners.

Prof. Elias and other coaches have also noticed areas where we can improve our representation of ourselves, our art, and our teams. In the below video Elias discusses some finer but important points of how members of our affiliation should know we expect them to behave at competitions.

In short, we need to think beyond the moment and ourselves and show empathy and awareness for others’ experiences. Our world-facing politics that we’re so proud of don’t mean much if we’re rude to others, and if we’re kind and supportive of others as well as our own training partners we can show people that the martial arts world can be kind and safe, and create more friends along the way!

MMA Mini-Camp Day 3 Coming Up: Conditioning, Sparring, & Promotions!

On night two of this week’s MMA Mini-Camp Foundation Chicago athletes drilled reactive takedown entries, explored the inside-outside wall trip paradox, worked on three different types of lower body pin controls on the mat against the wall, as well as pairing that with upper body traps and wrist controls from the top to facilitate effective ground striking.

Tonight, the last night of the MMA Mini-Camp, Foundation Chicago athletes will do a half hour of field conditioning, power striking drills on the ground and hanging bags, full MMA sparring, and then we’ll close with belt stripe promotions. We’re so proud of our participating athletes for not just committing to their own improvement but also for supporting our Kids Jiu-Jitsu program through their MMA Mini-Camp registration fees.

The MMA Mini-Camp registration fees go to support our Kids Jiu-Jitsu program and scholarships and are tax-deductible through our supporting 501(c)(3) organization, Pilsen Defense & Access. If you’d like to take part in the final night of the camp, you can Register Here, and receive your tax receipt after doing so!

MMA Mini-Camp Day 1 is in the Books!

This week Coach Elias is running an MMA Mini-Camp for Foundation Chicago athletes. Night 1, Monday, focused on proactive takedown entries, setting and breaking patterns with strikesn the feet, and takedowns against the wall.

All proceeds from the MMA Mini-Camp go to supporting our kids program and the cost of Athlete Passes are tax-deductible. If you’d like to attend one of or both of the remaining days, Click Here, and purchase your Athlete Pass.

Tuesday night (7:30pm) the camp will focus on reactive takedown entries, pins against the wall, ground strikes, and get-ups. Wednesday night (7pm) we’ll have a half hour of outdoor conditioning, sparring, and belt promotions.

All attending athletes receive film study and notes as well as a summary of each day’s drills and principles covered to review and study.

Congrats to all the fighters!

Last weekend Foundation athletes competed in Kickboxing and Jiu-Jitsu to benefit the Deaf Defy organization which helps hearing impaired children impacted by imperial violence.

We were honored to be a co-sponsor of the great event hosted by Mission MMA & Fitness in the West Loop and we’re so proud of how everyone tested themselves! We’ll update with photos and footage from the competition, soon!

Go Watch Your Teammates Fight, June 8! Adult Classes Canceled, Saturday

Adult classes are canceled Saturday so that coaches can go corner Foundation Chicago members competing at the Deaf Defy charity Jiu-Jitsu and Kickboxing scrimmage event in the West Loop. We are co-sponsoring this great event to benefit kids with special hearing needs who have also been negatively impacted by empire.

Proceeds from fighter registration as well as spectator tickets go to support the Deaf Defy organization. If you haven’t purchased your ticket to watch, yet, do so here.

The event will take place inside Mission MMA & Fitness at 1620 W. Carroll Ave, Chicago, IL 60612. Kids competitions start at 9am and adult Jiu-Jitsu competitions start at 11:30am, followed by adult kickboxing at 1:30pm.

Since there won’t be adult classes at Foundation Saturday we encourage you to take the opportunity to let your body rest and go watch your teammates compete while supporting a worthy cause. Watching teammates compete is a great way to bond as a group, and it also helps you emotionally prepare for your own future competitions.

Foundation Class Structure & Philosophy

We’re making some tweaks and improvements to our Jiu-Jitsu classes this year. If you’re a member you may have already noticed more positional sparring and the dreaded guard sit-ups!

Professor Elias recently sat down with the Foundation coaching staff over video to discuss the changes and reasons for them. Now, we’re sharing with the team so you all are plugged-in to what the staff is up to and why.

In short, we want to help offer every student, even those that only train once or twice a week, as much consistency in curricula and challenging physical conditioning work as possible to help facilitate retention. In the video you’ll also learn why Elias thinks being tough is more important than being good, and what “tough” really means for the every day student.

Check it out, let us know if you have questions, and get to class!

2024 Class Philosophy and Structure

Prof. Elias discusses with Foundation Chicago’s Coaching team the adjustments we’re making this year to help support our wonderful students and their goals even more. Give this video a watch to help you prepare yourself for what’s coming in classes, soon, and then get to class with your friends!

Congratulations to the Foundation Chicago Jiu-Jitsu Competition Team!

A week ago eight awesome Foundation Chicago members competed in a Jiu-Jitsu tournament together, testing their skills and enjoying a great bonding experience! A few other members got injured during training camp and couldn’t make it, unfortunately, but some of them (like Stephen!) still came to support and help root on their teammates.

Congrats to everyone who competed - Braeden, Enrique, Victor, Heidi, Rashad, Evan, Kyle, and Wes -and thank you to all those who helped them prepare for and enjoy the day! Competing is such an important part of training.

A number of last week’s competitors were first-timers or competing for just the second or third time. The wins are nice and the losses are always tough but the real value from the intense training exercise that is competition is 1. setting a goal and working towards it in disciplined fashion, 2. assessing what you need to work on both before and after competing, 3. giving yourself an opportunity to be brave in a direct, kinetic way, and 4. doing something hard and rewarding with your teammates.

We’re proud of every one of you and can’t wait until the next one!