Tag Archives: Dojo

May72014

Posted in F4YL Crew

Kevin Cogburn – assistant fight choreographer / stunts

What can we say about Kevin to not understate him and his talents?  Kevin is a rad dude….PERIOD!!!

Hailing from Shingle Springs, CA, Kevin Cogburn has always lived his life a bit on the edge.  Anything active and high octane that gets his adrenaline going tends to draw him in.  He has been an avid practitioner of martial arts, gymnastics, parkour, motorcycle riding and stunt performing for many years now.  It is from this background Kevin came upon Fight 4 Your Life, with the one studios crew being in need of a stunt performer and actor when first casting for the F4YL short film in March of 2012.

Kevin was looking to extend his stunt skill sets, build experience on camera and show the world what he could do.  It was a marriage made in the heavens, especially when we realized how cool of a dude he is.  And he’s been on board Fight 4 Your Life since.  In fact, Kevin continues to aid one studios whenever possible.  More than simply a colleague on call, we consider Kevin an honorary member of the one studios crew and we all look forward to good things ahead from him, whether by way of acting, stunt work or his musical ambitions….Kevin serves as lead singer in a local Sacramento area hard rock band.

In addition to contributing to the fight choreography of one of the big fight scenes in Fight 4 Your Life, Kevin also has lent us his acting abilities.  Look out for him on screen when Fight 4 Your Life comes to a theater, TV or computer monitor near you!  In the mean time, be a friend and like Kevin on Facebook!

 

– The one studios crew

 

 

May92014

Posted in F4YL Crew

Gary Merlo – casting associate / location scout

Garly Merlo passionately believes that tae kwon do has impacted his life in a very positive manner.  He has been training in martial arts since the age of 15, tallying up 12 years of experience as a head instructor and earning his Seventh Degree Black Belt along the way.

Upon moving to Folsom, CA Gary’s dream was to be a strong, positive influence in the community through martial arts instruction.  He considers himself to be a very family oriented person and feels fortunate to live in a family-driven community.  Gary says,

 

“I look forward to the challenge of making a difference.  Through martial arts instruction, I have witnessed children and adults reach far beyond what they believed to be their full potential.”

 

He continues,

 

“I believe the practice of martial arts, the discipline and training, develops the necessary life skills to succeed no matter what the student’s goals are.”

 

Gary has had the privilege of teaching in the Bay Area as well, and those students have now grown to become doctors, teachers, engineers and actors.  But more importantly he has tried to instill in all of his students a strong sense of family values and respect for those values.  His goal is to create an environment in which children and adults not only learn the disciplines of tae kwon do, but also learn a great deal about themselves.

This is apparent when you spend some time with Gary at his school West Coast Martial Arts, in El Dorado Hills, CA.  The relationships he has with his students, their families, his colleagues and everyone he meets are ones of welcoming and respectful natures.  It’s easy to see how he has become so successful, and his students the same.

The one studios crew has received the same treatment from Gary and his establishment.  With his cooperation we have filmed scenes at his West Coast Martial Arts for both the Fight 4 Your Life short (2012) and feature length films.   Gary has also aided us in casting and further location scouting.  Thank you for everything Gary.  Your knowledge, support and kindness are appreciated beyond words.  You’re the best!

For more info on Gary and his school, please visit www.westcoastkickinit.com.  Gary can also be found on Facebook!

 

– The one studios crew

 

 

May82014

Posted in F4YL Cast

Zeke Johnston

Gerald “Zeke” Johnston was born July 23, 1978, having grown to a height of 6’4″ and weighing in at 245 lbs.  Sound like a ring announcer’s description?  Well, that would make sense!

Zeke is an amateur heavy weight MMA fighter and boxer.  With only two years training he has worked his way to fighting California ‘s best fighters.  With a background of college football and semi pro basketball, Zeke has always been involved in sports.  He coaches basketball to young kids in the greater Sacramento area, but most of all loves coaching and being with his son Jordan, who was seen on set with Zeke throughout his shoots for Fight 4 Your Life.

Zeke also enjoys comedy and inspires to one day try stand-up.  Every member of the one studios crew can vouch for Mr. Johnston’s hilarious, over-the-top antics on set.  So, we’re more than sure some stand-up would do him good!  Thanks for all the hard work, and all the laughs, big Zeke!

 Check Zeke out on Facebook!
 
 
– The one studios crew

 

 

May92014

Posted in F4YL Cast

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