"That's why I stuck with it" - Danielle Kelly recalls how BJJ helped her cope with rough upbringing
BJJ queen Danielle Kelly has opened up recently about how she got through the toughest of times growing up as a child.
At a very young age, Kelly was often a victim of bullying in school. They picked on her mainly because she was shy, quiet, and smaller than the average kid.
It got so bad for her that going to school every day felt like a nightmare. Things at home didn't make her problems any better. She went through the pain of losing another parent again after watching her father lose his battle with cancer.
Hitting rock bottom, Danielle Kelly says she found no better refuge or other form of escape than committing herself to Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
Speaking on The Few Will Hunt Show this week, Kelly recalled:
"I didn't understand as a kid, but now I'm older, I'm like, well, that's why I stuck with it, because I had no friends. I was getting bullied, I had some bad stuff at home, and now, this is my outlet. Then those kids became my friends."
Years later, through hard work and determination, Danielle Kelly has been able to prevail all and achieve her dreams. She's in the history books now as the first-ever ONE women's atomweight submission grappling world champion.
"Great rounds with @gabrielleczernik" - Danielle Kelly brings out the big guns to prepare her for world title warfare with Mayssa Bastos at ONE Fight Night 24
Danielle Kelly has brought out the big guns to fight camp this week to prepare her for her first world title defense against IBJJF gold medalist Mayssa Bastos.
The American superstar is pumped to showcase an array of submission techniques that she learned from fellow BJJ savant Gabrielle Czernik. The 35-year-old athlete is a master of quick submissions, which is exactly the training Danielle Kelly needs in her corner to help her garner the victory on August 2.
Thanking Gabrielle on Instagram after a tough training session, Kelly wrote the caption:
"Great rounds with @gabrielleczernik always pushing me for this camp."
ONE Fight Night 24 will air live in US Primetime, free of charge for Prime Video subscribers in the United States and Canada.