Posts Tagged Will Hiott

USAJJ is growing every day. Today we welcome Will Hiott and his school, Iron Will Jiu Jitsu. Iron Will Jiu Jitsu is based in Savannah, GA. Like many of USA Jiu Jitsu’s members, Will is proficient in other martial arts, but started focusing on Jiu Jitsu after seeing it in the UFC.

Will Hiott with a few of his students

While many of our member schools have a kids program, Will takes it to the next level. Will volunteers much of his time working with a program called Performance Initiatives. Performance Initiatives is a Savannah based not for profit organization dedicated to helping others by using athletics and fitness. The children the program works with have little opportunity, and live in the rough parts of Georgia. Will has 29 students from this program, all on scholarships.

Will’s mission with his students, who all range between 7-18, is to teach kids to not fight, through Jiu Jitsu. While that may sound odd on the face of it, we all know Jiu Jitsu forces you to learn self-control and self-discipline. Hopefully with these skills taught to them at an early enough age, it will help them stay in school, and off the streets. He wants his students to deal with verbal conflict before resorting to physical conflict. Will says his Jiu Jitsu class for the kids is about developing themselves.

For those of you in the Savannah area, the Performance Intiatives program does rely on volunteers, and Will said he would love to have some help. Right now, he teaches by himself. Will even includes his two year-old twins and seven year-old in his program. It’s never too early to start setting a good example.

Will joined USAJJ because he loves that we’re unifying the sport. Only by working together can we bring our Olympic dreams to fruition. Will also feels that having a Black Belt Council to formally oversee and grant recognition in the sport is a big plus as well.

If you live in Savannah, GA stop by Will’s school for a visit, and maybe volunteer some time. Also, March 20th, Iron Will Jiu Jitsu is celebrating their first year anniversary with a belt test and seminar, so stop by and check out the festivities. You can also connect with them on Facebook.