"This is what I want to do" - Danielle Kelly shares how she regained confidence after lengthy break from BJJ
Danielle Kelly didn't always eat, sleep, and breathe jiu-jitsu like she does today.
There was a point in time when the inaugural atomweight submission grappling queen took a long break from 'The Gentle Art' during a rough stretch in her teenage years.
While her passion for the sport drew her back in, the time away from the mats took a hit on Kelly's confidence.
However, thanks to a North American Grappling Association (NAGA) tournament, the 28-year-old BJJ ace rekindled her fire.
The Silver Fox BJJ student narrated in an appearance on the Few Will Hunt Show on YouTube:
"I have such a weird journey. Because at the end of my senior year, I did a random NAGA tournament. My mom was busy with work or something. So my coach at the time and Daniel Gracie were just coming to Philly. We all went to this tournament and signed up for the advanced division. I just wanted to put it past me and start competing again."
Danielle Kelly soon found herself against elite competition, which quite frankly, brought out the best in her. The Philadelphia, Pennsylvania native continued:
"[My opponents] were the pinnacle of jiu-jitsu, they were beating every kid and every adult in the area. My second-round match-up was a world-champion girl in Nogi. I actually posted it on my story, I finished her. Basically, after that, I did a tournament and submitted both my opponents. One, I had my confidence back and [I realized] this is what I wanted to do."
Here's the interview in its entirety:
Danielle Kelly says career success is a tribute to his deceased father
Danielle Kelly wouldn't have risen to the top of the grappling scene if not for the support of her doting dad.
While her father eventually passed due to sickness, the atomweight submission grappling champ knew his old man would be happy to see her succeed. Kelly added:
"I didn't start thinking that until it [felt] weird. I knew I wanted to stick with jiu-jitsu after my dad passed."
Meanwhile, Danielle Kelly's first world title defense will take place on August 2 at ONE Fight Night 24 against the credentialed Mayssa Bastos.
This epic grappling fest will air live in US Primetime from Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, free for Prime Video subscribers in North America.