Hey Team, Welcome to the September Newsletter!
September is officially Self Defense September for the kids. During the month we will be exploring not just physical techniques but also verbal techniques and the mentality associated with resisting bullies. We will be covering:
How bullies choose their victims and how to use body language and assertiveness to avoid becoming a target.
The 3 T’s (Talk, Tell, Tackle). Which deal with verbal attacks.
The 5 Rules of Engagement
1) Avoid the Fight
2) If physically attacked, defend yourself.
3) If verbally attacked, follow 3 T’s
4) Never punch or kick. Establish control and negotiate.
5) When applying submissions, use minimal force and negotiate
Over the course of the month I will be explaining to the kids what I find acceptable with regards to physically engaging with another person. I believe nobody is allowed to bully you, physically or verbally. I DO NOT endorse fighting for just any reason, however, I firmly believe that you must defend yourself and when you tell someone “NO” there should be weight behind it. Bullies will choose people they know won’t fight back, it is my goal to let bullies know our kids WILL fight back. I also believe that verbal bulling is just as bad as physical bulling. If our kids have used all the tools they’ve been given to stop the verbal abuse, sometimes the only option left is to stand up to the bully physically.
It will be up to you as the parent to establish what YOUR rules are regarding how your child may stand up for themselves.
September Schedule Changes
This month we will be closed for Labor day. We wouldn’t want everyone to miss out on wearing their New Balances and jorts so we’ll just take the day off. Ladies, your class on September 7th is cancelled.
Upcoming Tournaments
Phil will be hosting another competition September 18th (for the kids) and 19th (for the adults). This is a great opportunity to test the waters and see if competing is your thing. We will also be attending the Newbreed on October 9th and the Tap Cancer Out Tournament on October 30th. I’ve attached the links below if you’re interested. You do NOT need our permission to compete but definitely let me know so we can make sure you’re ready. I will be starting a kids competition class soon so keep your ears open.
Women Only Classes!!
You asked for it and now it’s here! Tuesdays at 7:30pm Coach Ashley will be teaching a class for women, by women. This is an opportunity to learn without the mansplaining and smell that comes with having guys around. The goal of this class is to provide a comfortable atmosphere to introduce women to jiu-jitsu.
Watch The TV!
I have added a couple of QR codes to the TV at the Academy: How to tie the belt, link to the newsletter (what you’re looking at now), link to the app, and a link to leave us a google review. You should be one of the cool kids and make sure you’ve done all those things.
Leave a Google Review (We only have 57, we need MOAR!!)
Shirts are Here!
We’ve been printing and selling these things like crazy. We’re trying to keep enough in stock so when you want one, you get one.
Staying Healthy
This year has been rough. Let’s all remember, if you’re sick, stay home. If you’re not sick, pretend everyone else is and wash your hands! We have plenty of soap, water, and hand sanitizer so USE IT!!. We clean our mats every day and use two different types of mat cleaners, one is a live bacteria based cleaner that uses beneficial bacteria to create an inhospitable atmosphere where viruses, bacteria, and fungus cannot live. The other is a very powerful cleaner designed for grappling mats. It does not mess around and kills everything from the common cold to MRSA. Using two different cleaners that clean in two very different ways ensures none of these nasties adapt to the environment. Keep in mind, most illnesses will come from direct contact with other people, not so much the mats. If you’re feeling extra grimy, pick up an Armbar Soap at the font desk. $5 gets you a specially crafted soap designed to get rid of all the nastiness that ends up on us. It’s expensive, but use it only after you train and it will help keep you from catching cooties, unless, of course, you like being itchy.
We’re looking forward to having fun this month. As always, if you need help with any of the techniques or drills, please let us know, we’re happy to help. If you feel like you want more, individualized attention, Coach Eric is available for private lessons for both adults and kids. Thanks for reading along, looking forward to seeing you on the mats.
-Possum