Team Elite No Gi Fighter Josh Tyler Manfredi Elite Sports

Biography

He was told as a teenager that he should avoid most intense physical activities or contact sports due to an incident that left several fractures in his back and a destroyed his knee. He refused to accept that and went through years of physical therapy to get his body somewhat back to normal.

His NO-GI jiu jitsu training started in his early 20’s as an alternative to the boring gym routine. Training in martial arts quickly became an obsession. He took his first amateur fight this past year and he hungry to get back in the cage and collect some wins.

He enjoys the NO-GI format because it forces you to think a lot quicker, it’s a similar chess match to the GI, but people slip away much faster and scrambles tend to be more frequent to do the lack of grip and friction. It also is great for transitioning to MMA. His goal is to someday become a world champion.

Video

Q&A Session Between Josh Tyler Manfredi and Elite Sports


Question: What inspires you about BJJ? MMA?

Answer:: The mental toughness and perseverance that it requires to actually become proficient at it. It doesn’t matter how athletic you are, how much you can deadlift or bench press. It’s a game of mental and physical toughness that most people are afraid to even try. It builds a strong and disciplined person.

Question: Any major accomplishments you’ve been able to achieve in that time?

Answer:: I was able to secure the fastest tap and a gold medal in my very first tournament, and have accumulated several other 1st-3rd place medals in tournaments over the years.

Question: What are your goals for this year? Next 3 years? Next 5 years?

Answer:: My goals for this next year are to claim as many tournament victories as possible and become a world champion in and out of the gi. I’d like to claim as many fight victories as possible too and continue to build my business, and save money so that I can retire in my 40s!

Question: Who inspires you, past or present? Why do they inspire you?

Answer:: Anyone that is actively finding their limits, and pushing past them to strive for and reach new ones.

Question: How long have you been training?

Answer:: I took my first no-gi class 5 years ago and started training for MMA a couple years later.

Question: Is the martial arts necessary for a common person?

Answer:: It helps you to get strong mentally and physically.

Question: How do martial arts help to build a leader?

Answer:: To be leader you should be mentally strong enough to face the challanges. So, Martial Arts help you alot to be mentally powerful and strong person.

Question: Do you have a go-to finishing move?

Answer:: My go to move is a shoulder lock

Question: How often do you train?

Answer:: On average about 5 days per week

Question: What do you think it takes to be a champion in your sports?

Answer:: It starts with 100% dedication and belief in yourself. Hundreds, if not thousands of hours of training and making sure to eat right as well as supplement with strength and conditioning.

Question: What sort of gear do you usually keep in your gym bag before hitting the gym? Do you have different items for specific days?

Answer:: On Elite No-GI Jiu Jitsu days I’ll take spats, shorts, and a rashguard. Sometimes I’ll add a Elite GI to help slow things down and be a bit more methodical. On MMA days I’ll add in shin guards, MMA Gloves, puffy gloves, and Elite Boxing Gloves.