Jonathan Calizar – fight choreographer / casting associate

Sixth Degree Black Belt KJN, Jonathan Calizar, has been training with Ernie Reyes’ West Coast Martial Arts since the age of four.  He has traveled nationally with the Ernie Reyes Demonstration Team.  He is experienced in Tae Kwon Do, Wu-shu, gymnastics and a variety of martial arts.

With thirteen years of teaching experience, Jonathan still follows his passion for instructing students.  Having moved to Folsom, CA in July of 2004, he proudly has honored the opportunity to teach the Martial Arts way.  One of his favorite quotes comes from Kwan Jang Nim Scott Coker,

 

“It’s not the teacher who teaches, it’s how the teacher teaches.”

 

Jonathan says,

 

“I’ve learned a lot in my brief lifespan, but what I will always remember are all the people who supported me.  Unfortunately, the list would never end!  So to everyone who supported me in the decisions I’ve made, I want to thank you for being there for me, and I will forever be indebted to you.”

 

Jonathan has served as a fight and stunt choreographer for Fight 4 Your Life, having met director Bryan Bachar through mutual colleague, and dear friend to B, Eliot Kelly.  B was amazed at the crazy acrobatics and high-flying kicks Jonathan could execute with precision.

 

“There was without a doubt Jonathan had to be a part of this film.  His abilities separate him from the pack.  He’s the kind of guy that you watch and say, yeah, he’s a professional.  Jon belongs in the movies.”  – Bryan Bachar aka B

 

And lucky for Bryan, Jonathan’s flare carries over into his attitude on camera as well.  A natural actor, he also plays one of the main villains in F4YL.  Working with lead Brandon J. Woods, a fight everyone is sure to remember was choreographed.

We thank Jonathan for his continued support and dedication to Fight 4 Your Life.  His energy and positive attitude has been addictive…and during the long shoots we need that!  Like a handful of F4YL‘s cast and crew members, Jonathan has been with this project since the very start, having also been in the F4YL short film in 2012.  This just shows the character of Mr. Calizar, as he is truly a loyal friend and a man of his word.  The one studios crew forever thanks you Jonathan.  We are in YOUR debt!

Check Jonathan out on the official El Dorado Hills West Coast Martial Arts site, YouTube, LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter!

 

– The one studios crew

 

 

Another Set of Shoots Down!

Happy New Year everyone!  We truly hope your holiday season was a fantastic time, spent with all of your loved ones.

The one studios crew has been working diligently to ensure Fight 4 Your Life stays true to its course.  The holidays may have been upon us, but we continued to push!  From January 1st through January 5th we had F4YL star Brandon J. Woods back from the east coast, where he is attending the Harvard School of Medicine, to shoot a string of scenes.  The shoots went great!  And it was awesome to have Brandon, aka Fleet Blackwood, back on set.

As we progress into 2014….WOW…..one studios will be shooting further scenes/shots without Mr. Woods during the months of January, February and March.  Our teenage Fleet, Antonio Mulqueeney, will be taking the reins for several of these shoots.  Wish him luck!

In addition to these shoots, we will be preparing with much vigor for having Brandon back in the spring for his final shoots, which happen to be the final scenes that will be needed for Fight 4 Your Life‘s completion!!!  Exciting news indeed!  We can’t wait to finish, but we are taking in every moment of this journey.  It’s priceless.  And we have some great stuff coming for you to check out over the coming months to show our progress….one being the first official teaser trailer for F4YL!!!

Thank you, as always, to everyone involved throughout this strenuous process.  And for those that are not directly involved, thank you for your support!  Fight 4 Your Life would not be possible without each and every one of you.  A very special thanks to all of the location providers for this past week’s shoots:

 

Frank & KC Richmond

Terry Colorado

David of Center Ring Boxing

Eliot Kelly of El Dorado Hills Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Hollie of River City Saloon

Peter Rodriguez

Brandon Umipig

 

Be sure to keep up on this site as we make some great updates over the next few weeks.  And be sure to peep the Fight 4 Your Life Facebook and Twitter pages.  Like the film and follow it here:

F4YLMovie on Facebook

F4YLMovie on Twitter

 

– The one studios crew

 

 

Eliot Kelly

Eliot Kelly is the head instructor at El Dorado Hills Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.  He started learning Brazilian Jiu Jitsu while he was teaching English and coaching wrestling in Japan.  During his stay in Japan, he was fortunate enough to live in a community where many Brazilians lived and quickly became involved with their culture and sports.  Although his training took place in Japan, he experienced complete immersion in Jiu-Jitsu training while surrounded by the Brazilian community.  Eliot explains,

 

“I wanted to learn Gracie Jiu-Jitsu because I heard of people doing it well into their 50’s and even 60’s.  I finally found something I could do that wasn’t just lifting weights, hitting a ball, or chasing a ball.” 

 

Eliot earned his brown belt in Japan from Michel and Marcio Miyashita, instructors under 5th degree black belt Master Barbosa.  After moving back to the United States from Japan he trained with Andre Glodzinski for almost 2 years until the closing of the first Sacramento gym.  Eliot is currently training with World Champion Professor Marcos Torregrosa.

 

“I wish to teach the Jiu-Jitsu technique and skills I know while emphasizing some of the fun and  unique cultural elements I have experienced in my training.  Please ask me about my experiences, I would love to share them with anyone!”  – Eliot Kelly

 

Prior to his experiences in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Eliot was a Division 1 Wrestler at UC Davis under the legendary coaching of Lennie Zalesky and Mark Munoz.  At UCD he became a two time Pac-10 place winner, Open Freestyle State Champion and earned medals at many other College Open tournaments.  Eliot has wrestled and beaten some cream-of-the-crop wrestlers from BIG 10 and BIG 12 schools, including the University of Iowa, Iowa State, Northern Iowa University, Oklahoma State and Oregon State.  He also has experience working as a counselor at a few of the toughest, most renowned wrestling camps in the nation, including J Robinson’s Intensive Wrestling Camp, Camp of Champs Ironman Training Camp, The Eternal Warrior Wrestling Camp and West Coast Wrestling Camps.

Eliot graduated from UC Davis in 2007 with a double major in Japanese and East Asian Studies and a minor in Education.  His Japanese knowledge has come in handy during his journeys to Japan, where he has had a unique coaching experience.  He worked with the freestyle clubs in Shiga Prefecture alongside former Olympians and National Champions, and at Ritsumeikan University alongside a 2 time Olympian.

 

After returning from Japan, back to the Sacramento area, he arrived again at UC Davis to help the team as an Assistant Coach and to train in order to make the Freestyle national team, for which he competed in the Dave Schultz Memorial and Asics Nationals.  Unfortunately, in 2010 the UCD Wrestling team was cut from UCD Athletics.  But Eliot is looking to stay involved in wrestling as he continues to develop the Jiu-Jitsu program in El Dorado Hills.

It was through wrestling Eliot met his longtime friend, creator of Fight 4 Your Life, Bryan Bachar, with B being one of his teammates at UCD.  B says a few words about his friend,

 

“You can’t ask for a better person to know than El Dog.  He’s a genuinely good human being.  And it makes me a better person just to know him.  Like everyone in his life I’m sure, I’m very proud of the man he has become and continues to strive to be.”

 

Eliot has been a supporter of Mr. Bachar’s creative endeavors since college, having helped out regularly as an extra hand, or, more recently, having provided his dojo as a location for F4YL.  In fact, Eliot has a small role in the film as well!  Keep an eye out for him.

And please be sure to check out his business site for his Jui-Jitsu school El Dorado Hills Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.  What a great place!  You can find out more about Eliot and his business on:

Google+

Facebook

Twitter

 

– The one studios crew