Danielle Kelly, just 27 years old but already on top of the world’s Jiu-Jitsu “food chain”, is one of the most likeable characters in the BJJ community.

But what does Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu mean to her, exactly?
She explained in a recent interview with ONE Championship:

I just had a really rough spot in my life. I met some of the greatest people in the sport who I call my family.
So now, I look back, I can’t really see what I would do without Jiu-Jitsu.

The “rough spot” that Kelly mentions is a reference to the time when she lost her father and mother… When she was second-guessing if BJJ is even worth it:

And you know, I lose my mom and it kind of like, all fell down to like, what am I going to do with my life kind of talk. And, yeah, I was pretty lost at a young age.
So, I felt like Jiu-Jitsu at that time was kind of holding me back in a way. I couldn’t put the focus I wanted to put on Jiu-Jitsu.

So, I took almost a year off. And looking back, I wish I didn’t, because I feel like I probably would have accomplished more.

Nowadays, there’s no denying Jiu-Jitsu’s importance in Kelly’s life:

This is my life, and it makes me happy and it also makes me want to be a better person, better myself on and off the mats.

So, you know, I think it’s a huge stone in my life, so I don’t think I could ever walk away from it.

 

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