Felicia Oh seeking another Grappling World medal for the USA
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by Gary Abbott
As the sport of Grappling grows across the nation and around the world, more people will find out about the amazing athletes who are among the pioneers of the sport.
One of the most impressive is two-time USA Grappling World Team member Felicia Oh of California, who is currently in training for the U.S. Grappling World Team Trials, which will be held in Phoenix, Ariz., October 22-24.
For Felicia, who at 41 years old is considered one of the world's best grapplers, it is not just about competition. Competing in martial arts, such as Grappling and Jiu Jitsu, is all about making the most out of life.
She got involved in jiu jitsu at the age of 33, when she was pursuing a career in broadcast graphics after earning undergraduate and graduate degrees in art. During an unpleasant outdoor adventure, when she was part of a group of people who were climbing Mt. Whitney, somebody suggested that she look into the sport.
"We went on a bad hiking trip," said Oh. "We climbed at Mt. Whitney. A thunderstorm came in. One of the women's husbands told me about Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. The idea of using technique and skill, and the idea of negating size with skill intrigued me. When the hike was a disaster, I thought I might try it."
Oh went to the gym and watched practice. Shortly after, she joined the class and was soon working out two days a week. The next thing she knew, she joined some of her teammates by entering a tournament. The rest is history.
"Nothing was planned out; it just unfolded," said Oh. "My life has been like that. In general, most things I end up doing didn't even exist before I got involved. I fell into it and I just kept doing it."
Oh had an athletic background, but was not a high achiever in sports. However, in Jiu Jitsu and Grappling, she found something that she could excel in and pursue competitively at a high level.
"As a child, I was in gymnastics and did a lot of sports," said Oh. "I was decent, but I was not the star on the teams. Later on, for the rest of my life, I was always athletic."
Her involvement escalated over time. In 2005, she was an alternate to compete in ADCC World Championships. Although she did not get to compete, she attended the event and enjoyed watching it. Competing at that level became one of her goals.
"The next year, they had a North American trials, and I earned a spot," said Oh. "In 2007, the event was in Trenton, N.J. and I made the finals. That was my biggest win. Later that year, the FILA Grappling World Games happened in Turkey."
Oh was among the pioneers who competed on the historic U.S. team which went to the 2007 World Wrestling Games in Antalya, Turkey. She had a great performance there, winning the No-Gi gold medal at 55 kg/121 lbs., one of the nine U.S. champions that swept all of the golds there.
The next year, when FILA created a separate Grappling World Championships in Lucerne, Switzerland, Oh qualified for the U.S. Grappling Team again. At that event, she won a silver medal in No-Gi at 55 kg/121 lbs., losing only to Laurence Fouillat of France in the finals. One of her wins in the tournament was against U.S. teammate Tara LaRosa, who had also won the World Games title the year before.
Oh helped the United States to win the team title in No-Gi Grappling. The team award combines the efforts of both the men's and women's teams.
"They were both great experiences," said Oh of her two U.S. Grappling World Teams. "They were different experiences. The first year, by having a training camp, we were able to feel like a team. You created bonds with the teammates. I love it. As it grows, this is going to be great. The question is how do you help grow it."
Her passion for competition also caused her to make a change in her professional career. She got out of broadcast graphic design, her profession for a decade. She also stopped teaching digital media at the Otis College of Art and Design. Felicia decided to dedicate her life to her passion and focus full-time on her athletic career and in helping others achieve their goals.
She is currently teaching and training at the Big John McCarthy Ultimate Training Academy in Valencia, Calif. Felicia teaches BJJ and submission grappling classes to women, and also conducts CrossFit training classes, which are high intensity workout programs.
"It is hard to build a program for women," said Oh. "It is a rough sport. The body takes abuse. It is hard emotionally. You get beat up a lot, especially when you first start the sport. We have a great environment. We have between 6-10 women a night. It is a very supportive environment. We have a good core group of women."
In addition to Grappling and Jiu Jitsu, Oh plans to pursue Mixed Martial Arts. This year, Oh became a member of the club's Fight Team, and looks forward to her first professional MMA fight.
She is also becoming an innovator within the sport. Along with fellow U.S. Grappling Team member Valerie Worthington and Canadian Grappler Emily Kwok, they have started holding women's Grappling camps. There is a limit of 30 participants, and the women get a variety of martial arts training from these three experts. They have held one in California and the other in Toronto, Canada, and both have been big successes.
"At these camps, you get to meet and train with other women and other high level women. You get to see how people train, how they act, and learn from the example they set. It is also an opportunity for higher ranking women who have not had the experience of teaching to have the opportunity to build their skills," said Oh.
Along with teaching techniques, Oh often teaches life skills. Her life has had many changes and challenges, and she shares her positive philosophy to all who are willing to listen and learn.
"You live your life and take opportunities," said Oh. "I tell students to take steps toward what they want to do. It is possible to live your life like that. I ask my students - 'what do you really want to do?' I encourage them to be an active decision maker in what they want their life to be."
Meanwhile, after struggling with an illness which kept her out of training for awhile, Oh is back and training hard. She is focused on winning the U.S. Grappling World Team Trials in Phoenix, then going to the Grappling World Championships in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Dec. 11-13, in search of another World medal.
Oh turns 42 during the week of the World Championships. She is confident that her experience and passion will lead to success on the World level.
"My goal is to make the team and to go and represent the USA," said Oh. "It is a national team. You represent your country. It is amazing to stand on the podium and represent your nation. You don't get that at any other competition."
One of the most impressive is two-time USA Grappling World Team member Felicia Oh of California, who is currently in training for the U.S. Grappling World Team Trials, which will be held in Phoenix, Ariz., October 22-24.
For Felicia, who at 41 years old is considered one of the world's best grapplers, it is not just about competition. Competing in martial arts, such as Grappling and Jiu Jitsu, is all about making the most out of life.
She got involved in jiu jitsu at the age of 33, when she was pursuing a career in broadcast graphics after earning undergraduate and graduate degrees in art. During an unpleasant outdoor adventure, when she was part of a group of people who were climbing Mt. Whitney, somebody suggested that she look into the sport.
"We went on a bad hiking trip," said Oh. "We climbed at Mt. Whitney. A thunderstorm came in. One of the women's husbands told me about Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. The idea of using technique and skill, and the idea of negating size with skill intrigued me. When the hike was a disaster, I thought I might try it."
Oh went to the gym and watched practice. Shortly after, she joined the class and was soon working out two days a week. The next thing she knew, she joined some of her teammates by entering a tournament. The rest is history.
"Nothing was planned out; it just unfolded," said Oh. "My life has been like that. In general, most things I end up doing didn't even exist before I got involved. I fell into it and I just kept doing it."
Oh had an athletic background, but was not a high achiever in sports. However, in Jiu Jitsu and Grappling, she found something that she could excel in and pursue competitively at a high level.
"As a child, I was in gymnastics and did a lot of sports," said Oh. "I was decent, but I was not the star on the teams. Later on, for the rest of my life, I was always athletic."
Her involvement escalated over time. In 2005, she was an alternate to compete in ADCC World Championships. Although she did not get to compete, she attended the event and enjoyed watching it. Competing at that level became one of her goals.
"The next year, they had a North American trials, and I earned a spot," said Oh. "In 2007, the event was in Trenton, N.J. and I made the finals. That was my biggest win. Later that year, the FILA Grappling World Games happened in Turkey."
Oh was among the pioneers who competed on the historic U.S. team which went to the 2007 World Wrestling Games in Antalya, Turkey. She had a great performance there, winning the No-Gi gold medal at 55 kg/121 lbs., one of the nine U.S. champions that swept all of the golds there.
The next year, when FILA created a separate Grappling World Championships in Lucerne, Switzerland, Oh qualified for the U.S. Grappling Team again. At that event, she won a silver medal in No-Gi at 55 kg/121 lbs., losing only to Laurence Fouillat of France in the finals. One of her wins in the tournament was against U.S. teammate Tara LaRosa, who had also won the World Games title the year before.
Oh helped the United States to win the team title in No-Gi Grappling. The team award combines the efforts of both the men's and women's teams.
"They were both great experiences," said Oh of her two U.S. Grappling World Teams. "They were different experiences. The first year, by having a training camp, we were able to feel like a team. You created bonds with the teammates. I love it. As it grows, this is going to be great. The question is how do you help grow it."
Her passion for competition also caused her to make a change in her professional career. She got out of broadcast graphic design, her profession for a decade. She also stopped teaching digital media at the Otis College of Art and Design. Felicia decided to dedicate her life to her passion and focus full-time on her athletic career and in helping others achieve their goals.
She is currently teaching and training at the Big John McCarthy Ultimate Training Academy in Valencia, Calif. Felicia teaches BJJ and submission grappling classes to women, and also conducts CrossFit training classes, which are high intensity workout programs.
"It is hard to build a program for women," said Oh. "It is a rough sport. The body takes abuse. It is hard emotionally. You get beat up a lot, especially when you first start the sport. We have a great environment. We have between 6-10 women a night. It is a very supportive environment. We have a good core group of women."
In addition to Grappling and Jiu Jitsu, Oh plans to pursue Mixed Martial Arts. This year, Oh became a member of the club's Fight Team, and looks forward to her first professional MMA fight.
She is also becoming an innovator within the sport. Along with fellow U.S. Grappling Team member Valerie Worthington and Canadian Grappler Emily Kwok, they have started holding women's Grappling camps. There is a limit of 30 participants, and the women get a variety of martial arts training from these three experts. They have held one in California and the other in Toronto, Canada, and both have been big successes.
"At these camps, you get to meet and train with other women and other high level women. You get to see how people train, how they act, and learn from the example they set. It is also an opportunity for higher ranking women who have not had the experience of teaching to have the opportunity to build their skills," said Oh.
Along with teaching techniques, Oh often teaches life skills. Her life has had many changes and challenges, and she shares her positive philosophy to all who are willing to listen and learn.
"You live your life and take opportunities," said Oh. "I tell students to take steps toward what they want to do. It is possible to live your life like that. I ask my students - 'what do you really want to do?' I encourage them to be an active decision maker in what they want their life to be."
Meanwhile, after struggling with an illness which kept her out of training for awhile, Oh is back and training hard. She is focused on winning the U.S. Grappling World Team Trials in Phoenix, then going to the Grappling World Championships in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Dec. 11-13, in search of another World medal.
Oh turns 42 during the week of the World Championships. She is confident that her experience and passion will lead to success on the World level.
"My goal is to make the team and to go and represent the USA," said Oh. "It is a national team. You represent your country. It is amazing to stand on the podium and represent your nation. You don't get that at any other competition."
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