He is the first student coming out of the Gracie Academy since Royce to fight in MMA.Jarrod Kwitty is 23 years old fighting out of the Gracie Academy in Torrance. He is the first student coming out of the Gracie Academy since Royce to fight in MMA. He weights 185 pounds, and he is 5’8″. Jarrod is Ryron’s best friend, so it is no surprise that he became part of the family.
About a year ago he got the itch to start training MMA. This was also right about when Javier Vazquez started to train with the Gracies from time to time. Jarrod has since then realized that there are only two ways to go about this sport. You are a teacher, and just teaches classes day in and out, or you become a fighter. Jarrod has chosen the latter for right now, and decided to try his hand at MMA, and see how he can handle himself in the cage.
It is impossible to walk into the Gracie Academy in Torrance, where Jarrod also is an assistant instructor, and not laugh with his wonderful sense of humor and witty comments.
I wanted to sit down, and get some of Jarrod’s thoughts on his upcoming MMA debut fight at WEC XXIV: “FULL FORCE” on October 12th 2006.
Steve: What first drew you to martial arts?
Jarrod:I went to High School with Ryron, so I had to learn it.
S: What is your background and training style?
J: My background is Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, and now I’m working on my MMA skills too.
S: What is your current belt level?
J: I am a brown belt.
S: Who do you train with on a consistent basis?
J: Ryron Gracie, Javier Vazquez, and Kevin Casey.
S: What is your regular training and preparation schedule like?
J: I train Jiu-Jitsu in the morning, boxing in the afternoon, and more Jiu-Jitsu later on at night. Then I fall asleep, and note there is no food in the schedule. just train and sleep. I feed on training.
S: How are you feeling right now, as far as being mentally and physically prepared?
J: How do you think I feel with Javier and Ryron beating me up everyday? Basically I’m getting stronger and stronger every day, after getting dominated all the time by these guys.
S: How did you get the nickname “Light Switch”?
J: Rose, Ryron’s sister and Javi’s baby mamma, oh wait they are married uhhh yeah Rosie Posie!!! Well made up that stupid nickname, but only selected girls will find out the truth behind it.
S: Who is your biggest influence?
J: Dr. Robert Rey, Flava Flav, and Tareq Azim for doing such a great job in over in Afghanistan ( I love you buddy!!)
S: Who are your favorite fighters?
A – Rickson, Steven Seagal and Chuck Norris of course.
S: Why do you want to fight?
J: Because I want to get girls, especially if they are hot ring girls.
S: What can we expect from you in your first fight?
J: Me going out there like an animal, a pitbull, and kill somebody.
S: What do you think of your opponent?
J: I never seen him before, but I heard that he is an amazing fighter.
S: How are the students at the Gracie Academy responding to your fight?
J: All the people down there think I am going to win of course.
S: We all know that the Gracie Academy is mainly self-defense. How have you make the transition to MMA fighting?
J: It’s not all self defense down there. I train with Ryron, Rener and Ralek. They are fighters you know, and not just Jiu-Jitsu, but MMA too. Plus Rorion talks to me once in a while, and that is all I need to be good.
S: How do you think the Gracie Academy Jiu-Jitsu differ from Jiu-Jitsu at other academies?
J: We have folded towels, and you can also rent gi’s for a great price. There is also the museum there. Sometimes I go there and I reflect too, you know…
S: Who are your coaches, and how do they influence your style?
J: Ryron Gracie, Javi Vazquez, Rener Gracie, Ralek Gracie, and Kevin Casey. I take bits and pieces from all of them, and I will become a super fighter, and eventually I will have my own comic book who knows the sky is the limit.
S: Provided you win, what are your immediate plans with the WEC?
J: Do they have a belt?? If they do I want it!!
S: Have you been contacted by other organizations like PRIDE, the IFL or UFC?
J: Yes, all 3 of them want me desperately, but I decided to go with the WEC to get my feet wet, and also because it’s such a very well respected organization.
S: Well, good luck in your upcoming fights – before we finish, have you got any words for your fans out there that may be reading this?
J: The switch is coming and girls please give me a flick.
S: Jarrod it was a pleasure talking to you, and you have a great sense of humor! Good luck on your fight this Thursday.