Jared Jessup

He may have the sweetest smile, but don’t let his all-American good looks fool you. Underneath his brown belt, Jared Jessup, 27, is a lean, mean, muscle-y and fierce Jiu-Jitsu fighting machine! Meet him and his famous mentor Royce Gracie at Three Rivers Martial Arts, August 29 and 30!

Jared Jessup, you are cute, cute, cute, no doubt about it. Your ARMS! How long have you had those ARMS?
I’ve been doing martial arts since I was a kid, and I’ve studied Jiu-Jitsu seriously since I was a teenager. I was introduced to kettlebells three years ago, and that’s when I saw a big difference, especially in my arms.

Kettlebells do THAT? And you can literally do a handstand on them!
Yes — they’re an amazing workout. They’re great for increasing strength without bulking you up — they make a great connection between your nervous system and your muscles. I’m the only certified kettlebell instructor (IKFF) in the area.

You’re a senior instructor at Three Rivers Martial Arts Academy. Do you teach kettlebell classes there?
I teach kettlebells through private training here and through Energy Fitness. Now that Three Rivers is located within the Energy Fitness building, that makes it easier to reach more people. I also teach mixed martial arts and Royce Gracie Jiu-Jitsu.

And I have my own company, IQ Athletics, where I sell Ader kettlebells, conduct seminars and offer personalized training packages.

Right on! You’ve been with Three Rivers Martial Arts quite a long time!
Yes, I started learning Jiu-Jitsu from owner Jason Hawkins when I was 13.

How did you get interested in Jiu-Jitsu?
I was watching Ultimate Fighting Championship on TV, and I saw Royce Gracie fight. He’s a slender Brazilian and he was fighting these big guys and just smokin’ them with ease.

I turned to my dad and said, “This is what I want to do.” So he enrolled me at Three Rivers Martial Arts and that’s where I’ve learned most of what I know.

I’ve also traveled and studied extensively with the Gracie family since 1997, including Royce. Their family is family is famous for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. I’ve been to their camps, and for two summers, I spent a month in California training at the Gracie Academy.

What do you like about Jiu-Jitsu?
Jiu-Jitsu focuses on groundwork, and most fights end up on the ground. With Jui-Jitsu, you finish with a submission — for example, a chokehold — so you can incapacitate your opponent and end a fight without anyone getting seriously hurt. Your opponent just passes out and wakes up later.

Your opponent just passes out? Aren’t you ever worried that he might not wake up again?
No, it’s just like they are sleeping and you get to be their nightmare.

Hah! Jared Jessup, how could you be anyone’s nightmare? So you just love this sport?
Jiu-Jitsu is like a second language to me. It’s how I see the world. It’s like when you learn a new language. Eventually you start thinking in that language. I think in terms of Jiu-Jitsu. It’s the study of human movement, our relationships with each other and how we interact. The study of Jiu-Jitsu has broadened my perspective on every subject.

So tell us more about Royce Gracie coming to Paducah.
He’ll be here Saturday, August 29, and Sunday, August 30. Three Rivers is one of the larger Gracie charter member facilities. This will be the sixth year that he’s come to demonstrate techniques, give pointers, and review some basic movements.

Can people still sign up?
Yes. All the information is online, and folks can call 270.554.4885 to sign up.

And you’ll be there?
Yes, I’ll be there training with Royce.

Jared Jessup, you are just darling. Is it totally fun to be that fit?
I love what I do. You couldn’t pay me to do something else.

Do you ever just stand in front of the mirror and admire your arms?
No, but I am happy with the effects of the kettlebells, for sure!

Ah, yeah, so are we! Word on the street is that you’re one bad ass at Heath High School.
Well, in 1999 I won my weight class in the Gracie Nationals tournaments. And in 2000, I won the absolute division.

Overall for, like, the entire United States?
Yes.

Wow! That’s really impressive. Were guys always challenging you in school?
A few did. But I managed to take care of them and get to class on time.

I totally wanna be a bad ass like you. Is it too late for those of us in our 40s and 50s to get really strong and fit?
It’s not too late. With the right diet and exercise, you can slow the aging process down drastically. You can’t stop it, but you can definitely slow it down.

So what’s the first step?
The first step is to see me! Then eat a lot of fruits and vegetables, and buy a kettlebell from me and use it!

And then what?
In order to be successful, you have to make diet and exercise a part of your everyday life.

I bet you can eat anything you want and not gain an ounce.
I couldn’t, because you are what you eat. I’m always experimenting with different types of food and health drinks. I like Golden Carrot a lot.

What about, you know, REAL food?
I love sushi. I go to Tokyo Sushi and Jasmine. I try to eat fruits, veggies, chicken, fish and steak — but nothing fried. If you pay attention to what you’re putting in your body and how it makes your body feel — not how it tastes, but how it makes you feel — you’ll gravitate toward those foods.

What about alcohol? My trainer at Energy, Debbie George, has me on alcohol hiatus. It’s not fun at all.
I’m not anti-alcohol. Alcohol is like a dessert to me. I like having a beer and I like bourbon. Not all the time, but every now and then. But alcohol equals calories. So if you’re trying to lose weight, these calories could be very detrimental to your results.

Y’all are mean.
Sorry, it’s the truth!

So Jared, all this physical martial arts stuff all day long — that must be exhausting! Do you have energy left over for a love life?
Definitely!

Right on! What kind of gal are you looking for?
Someone who’s interested in life and interested in their place in the grand scheme of things. I can tell when someone is following their bliss or not. Some people do things because they feel trapped; others do them because they enjoy living.

I have a very entrepreneurial spirit. I follow my heart and pursue my dreams. Wherever that leads me, I’m happy, as long as I can follow my bliss. I really feel like I’m living my life, and I’m attracted to women who feel the same way.

I suspect a totally fit gal is important to you.
Yes, a healthy lifestyle is important. But I don’t think there’s just one person out there or one type of person. I think there are multiple people out there for everyone, but different people sync up better than others. We all operate on different vibratory rates, and you’ll be more in tune with some people than with others.

Well, Jared Jessup, I suspect when you walk into a room, the vibratory rates increase dramatically! Fight on, Jared Jessup!

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