WHEATLAND – The new Platte County launch of martial arts discipline, Jui Jitsu which has been in the works for a while has finally come to fruition and the clinic put on by Professor Manny Waddy and Taran Whelchel drew kids from all over Platte County.

In a time where a society has become sometimes lawless and can even be dangerous, the art of Jui Jitsu is a great way to learn how to fight back.

“Taran and I have been teaching Taekwondo for a couple of years at Dance Wyoming, and now Taran is adding Banzai Jui Jitsu (BJJ) to our class schedule,” said instructor Summer Welchel. “Mira and I have worked hard on setting up the garage as the perfect space, and it was great to get everyone there today.”

Taran Welchel has been doing Jui Jitsu for the last 5 years, during his college years in Spearfish, and then the last couple of years he has studied under Professor Emmanuel (Manny) Waddy (black belt) of Cheyenne MadHouse BJJ.

“He recently tested for and received his blue belt,” Summer Welchel said. “Mira, me and Taran have been talking with Manny & his wife Gena about starting a satellite school. They have been very generous with their support, as have their students. Today, about eight of their students came to help with our BJJ clinic, and we had over 50 people on the mat at times, with parents lining the walls.”

Both Waddy and Welchel demonstrated different BJJ moves and then the students paired up to work on those moves. Madhouse BJJ (Waddy’s studio) students walked around and assisted.

Then Professor Manny had several of his students demonstrate actual fighting, and then we had a Q&A time,” Summer Welchel said. “Our Wheatland Madhouse BJJ will start classes Monday, Oct. 3, with a kids and mom's class at 6 p.m. and then a teen and adult class at 7 p.m. We hope to quickly transition to classes also being offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

People can contact Taran Whelchel at 307.331.5745 or Summer Whelchel at 307.331.8353 for more information, and you can register at the first class at the Dance Wyoming garage Oct. 3.

Bottom Picture captions:

Professor Manny Waddy looks with amazement at how quickly the young students have been able to pick up the basics of jui jitsu at the launch of the newly created Platte County program. Kids from Glendo, Guernsey and Wheatland were all in attendance for the inaugural class last Saturday.

Bju2: Professor Manny Waddy and one of his students, Kale Caorly demonstrate some of the moves in the martial arts discipline of Jui Jitsu.