The Zia Fitness and Jiu Jitsu Gym plans a grand opening the first week of February in Farmington.
Cecilia Hathcock, a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt, is opening a gym that will offer BJJ classes, women's self-defense, kids BJJ classes, kickboxing and yoga.
Many years of experience, including many competitions, medals and earning a black belt, have given Hathcock the confidence and to open her own gym in Farmington. Hathcock will share her passion, talents and knowledge in the martial arts.
Her goal is to make Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, kickboxing and yoga available to all ages and skill levels. Hathcock’s older sister, Melissa Gladden, will manage the business and has provided financial support.
Hathcock’s introduction to Jiu Jitsu was a seminar in Albuquerque with Tussa Roberto Alencar in 2009.
“But both of my brothers wrestled, and so it felt really familiar, the mat and like even some of the positions,” she said. “And so I was like, oh I really like this.”
“So my philosophy has always been like, it's better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it,” said Hathcock. “But there are many benefits to training martial arts … balance and focus, you burn like a ton of calories, and you learn … positions that can possibly save your life.”
“BJJ revolves around the concept that a smaller, weaker person can successfully defend themselves against a bigger, stronger opponent by using leverage and weight distribution, taking the fight to the ground and using a number of holds and submissions to defeat them,” it states at wikipedia.org.
Hathcock attended Farmington schools in her elementary years, then attended Aztec schools and earned her GED at San Juan College, where she took prenursing courses.
She grew up with brothers who excelled in wrestling at Aztec High School, including Mike Hathcock, who won a state title in 2009. Her dad helped coach wrestling but didn’t think is was a sport for girls.
Looking back, participating in the sport would have been great, she said.
“Growing up, like I was very shy, very quiet. I kind of got bullied a lot in school and I got in quite a bit of fights whenever I was in school, so I think that it kind of made me a target,” Hathcock said. “But as I started to train my confidence grew, and then all of a sudden, I wasn't like that shy, little, meek person people perceived me as before.”
She said the sport has definitely changed her self-image and how she projects herself in the world.
While living in Colorado Springs, Hathcock began competing while she was a white belt at competitions in Denver.
“And so I would go every three months and compete pretty much all throughout my career, up until black belt.” she said. “I've been actively competing in Jiu Jitsu and a little bit in Muay Thai as well. “I found it to be very fun. I just enjoyed it.”
“May Thai is referred to as “The Art of Eight Limbs,” and by using eight points of contact, the body mimics weapons of war. The hands become the sword and dagger; the shins and forearms were hardened in training to act as armor against blows; and the elbow to fell opponents like a heavy mace or hammer; the legs and knees became the ax and staff. The body operated as one unit. The knees and elbows constantly searching and testing for an opening while grappling and trying to spin an enemy to the ground for the kill,” it states at tigermuaythai.com.
She is a two-time Fight 2 Win pro champion and a Colorado Muay Thai champion. Her victories were in purple and brown belts, at 130 pounds.
In 2016, Hathcock moved to Durango and worked with animals as a kennel tech. She was a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu instructor for eight years at Durango Martial Arts Academy, earning her black belt under her sensa Chris Jones.
“Wrestling and Jiu Jitsu are very similar in that they're like grappling art, that just means that there's no striking in Jiu Jitsu, and so it's like a series of positions in wrestling,” said Hathcock. “You can’t do submissions, whereas in Jiu Jitsu you do, like arm locks, chokes and leg locks, and so it's pretty much a combination.”
She explained that in both Jiu Jitsu and wrestling, you get points by staying on top and you can win by points or by pinning the opponent. However, in Jiu Jitsu you can be behind in points and win by a submission.
“And so it doesn't matter who's up ahead on points, anyone can win by submission, which makes it very dynamic,” Hathcock said.
In Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, everyone begins as a white belt and can move on to earn their blue, purple, brown and black belt.
“The Karate uniform is called a Gi (pronounced ghee). Traditionalists will argue that the correct term is Dogi or Keikogi, depending on your point of view,” it states at karateforkids.com. “In Japanese culture ‘do’ means the way, and ‘keiko’ means practice so calling your uniform a dogi means the cloth of the way and calling your uniform a keikogi means the cloth of practice.”
Hathcock, who is also certified in yoga, will offer three yoga classes per week, kickboxing and Jiu Jitsu.
As the business expands, Hathcock will add instructors to her staff. She had friends through Ghost Squad Castle Rock who’ve expressed an interest in relocating when the time is right. She said her contact has a list of black belts in Brazil who are also ready to come to the U.S.
“And so whenever we're ready, we could bring one of those guys in … which I feel like we should be after about the first six months to a year.”
One of the biggest challenges in getting a new business underway, Hathcock said, is the “unknown.”
“I’ve been saying it’s a lot like diving into a lake but not knowing how deep it is,” she said.
Hathcock is awaiting a fire inspection, but hopes to open the first week of February.
Hathcock said a few students will commute from Durango, and about 40 people are ready to sign up.
“My philosophy is Jiu Jitsu is for everybody … like for business professionals, moms who, you know, want to just come in and burn some calories, learn some techniques without having to go so hard that they might get injured,” Hathcock said. “So I have a good feeling about it.”
Zia Fitness & Jiu Jitsu, 4500 E. Pinon Hills Blvd. No. 4102, Farmington. Hathcock can be reached at ziajiujitsu.com or at (505) 860-5094.
