"Jiu-jitsu might not be for you" - Danielle Kelly recalls family's initial concerns about her professional career

Danielle Kelly, in many ways, is the first generation of a new time for submission grapplers all over the world.

It wasn't that long ago that it simply wasn't viable to make a full-time career from competing in jiu-jitsu competitions.

Kelly, who has the complete opposite of a simple and straightforward path in life, was able to turn her passion for grappling into a highly successful career.

The fact of the matter is that when she first started to embark on this journey, there weren't as many options as there are today.

Signing to ONE Championship where she now reigns as the ONE atomweight submission grappling world champion, Kelly has more than enough to show for her dedication.

By competing on a global platform via Prime Video back in the United States or having the opportunity to win bonuses based on her performances, she couldn't have dreamed of this several years ago.

Kelly spoke on The Few Will Hunt Show about how her mother in particular was skeptical of whether jiu-jitsu would ever become a substantial career for her daughter:

"And I think, especially today, it still takes a toll on me. Well, I had this and that, you know, my mom started to become like, alright, jiu-jitsu might not be for you. Because how are you gonna financially help yourself? I can't do this, and that. Your brother's going to the military. My mom started to have her stuff, like, internally."

Watch the full interview below:

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Danielle Kelly stuck to her guns and it paid off

Resilience is something that comes up a lot when you look back at the career and life of Danielle Kelly so far.

There have been so many forks in the road that she has had to face where the life that she now lives could have been so very different.

By sticking to her guns and choosing what was best for her at the moment, she is now living her dream life of being a professional martial artist and one of the best grapplers in her weight class.

Kelly is set to return at ONE Fight Night 24 where she will put her atomweight title on the line against Mayssa Bastos at Lumpinee Stadium on August 2.

ONE Fight Night 24 will air live in US Primetime, free of charge for Prime Video subscribers in the United States and Canada.