It is essential that when training kids, that you must incorporate Fun Martial Arts Games.

Everyone knows that children love to play and have fun, if you can combine their Martial Arts Training with some Fun Martial Arts Games, you have a much better chance of gaining their enthusiasm and keeping them motivated throughout training.

You need to get to a point where kids just can’t wait to attend their next session because they know it’s going to be a fun time.

There are many Martial Arts Games that I like to use in training with the kids. I will be covering some of these games in my blogs over the next few months.

Put less emphasis on covering the curriculum and more into keeping them highly motivated and you are much more likely to have kids that stay in your Program for a long time to come.

There is that tiny problem finding a medium between keeping them progressing, learning essential skills and knowledge and still having loads of fun along the way. These are all very important elements that should make up a young children’s program.

What Martial Arts Games for Kids are you using in your Program?

Have Fun - Train Hard - Train Smart - Fightwize!

It is not so much about the style of Martial Arts, check out the Instructor and the class.

You may become a student in the best style of Martial Arts in the world, but if you don’t like the Instructor or the other students, you’ll quit soon enough anyway.

Martial Arts is about persistence and practice, and you will need support from an Instructor who is understanding to get over the times when you feel down - which will undoubtedly appear from time to time.

I know that when I was looking for a dojo in a new city, I visited several; the biggest and best known I rejected because I detected an unhappy atmosphere.

The one I choose had a much more relaxed atmosphere and still trained hard but most of all the existing students looked happy.  Chose a place that you want to go to, and you’ll still be there for many years to come.

You have to like and respect the Instructor, your fellow students and the place you train, so put at least as much effort into that as choosing a style of Martial Arts that suits your needs.

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Anyone who has been a victim of bullying will understand the horrendous effect that it can have upon you. I’m not just referring to the physical injuries that are obvious to all but the mental impact that can have an even bigger and longer lasting effect.

Learning Martial Arts can do a great deal for many people to help Stop bullying. However, there are many types of bullying that occur in different places such as in the home, at school, in the workplace. It can also occur in many different forms – verbal abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse and so on.

Martial Arts is not the be all and end all solution to all forms of bullying but it has helped and will continue to help for many cases.

We have received several Testimonials to be proud of, at both Jiu Jitsu Calgary and Fightwize for cases from parents whose children were being bullied at School and when these children discovered a new found confidence in themselves by attending classes or courses; this helped to put an end to their particular situations.

The knowledge that you can make a difference is great for boosting Self Esteem at any age.

Let’s remember that bullies, especially in the Schoolyard, are not looking for a fight but a victim and when that victim decides to make a stand then this oftentimes all that is required. It is a big step but confidence and Self Esteem are both big players in the effort to help Stop bullying.

Let’s face it, bullies will always exist so give your children the tools to promote the confidence that will help to prevent them from becoming that victim.

The emphasis is really to “Prevent Bullying” by promoting confidence and not to promote fighting or violence. The advantage to using Martial Arts as a vehicle is the fact that their are so many other benefits that can be gained along the way in the way of fitness, health, spirit, coordination, focus, concentration and so much more.

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Our system of Jiu Jitsu at Jiu Jitsu Calgary is specifically designed for Self Defense. It consists of a number of different areas such as Targeting, Striking, Take-Downs, Hold0-Downs, Escape Techniques, Weapons Defense and Ground Defense. There is also a significant portion of the class designated to Personal Fitness. I will included pictures of some of our typical techniques throughout my posts.

One of the main elements of elements of our system of Jiu Jitsu is Ground Defense with a big emphasis on getting the attacker off and then getting up and getting away as soon as possible.

Techniques are always simple and effective and can be carried out by anyone. Each technique may only take just a few minutes to learn but will be significantly improved through repetition in training. Repetition really helps to give confidence in applying the techniques.

Do not attempt to sprint before you can walk and complicate these techniques too early. Take each simple technique for what it is, learn them, practice them and then start thinking about the “What if’” scenarios and increasing the intensity of the attack.

This helps to build and effective system of Jiu Jitsu.

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Another area to consider when thinking about personal safety is for those who participate in outdoor exercise.

Below are a few tips for walkers and joggers to stay safe while you stay fit.

Don’t go it alone. Your walking or jogging routine will more fun if a friend comes along.  An attacker would rather attack someone who is alone, so you’re less of a target if you have an exercise buddy. As a bonus: it makes it harder to skip your workout when you know someone is at the park waiting for you!

Bring man’s best friend. If you were a bad guy, who would you rather attack? A woman walking all alone, or a woman walking with a big dog? Exactly! The presence of your best furry friend makes you a much less attractive target.

Avoid the deserted spots. The solitude is wonderful, but is it worth compromising your safety?  Instead, choose well-lit, well-traveled areas.  A park with lots of other walkers and joggers won’t provide the solitude you crave, but it will provide a safe place to workout.

Buy a treadmill. On the days that your partner can’t make it, walk or jog on your treadmill. Also, if there is no place that you feel safe, a treadmill provides a good workout right in your own home.

Don’t go empty handed. Carry a Whistle, Keychain or some type of loud Personal Alarm in case you feel threatened.  Also, carry pepper spray in case you are attacked. Both items come in small versions that will fit easily in a pocket or on a key ring.

The bottom line is “Do not Neglect Personal Safety During Outdoor Exercise”.

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