Texarkana Jiu Jitsu and Fitness

Texarkana's Leading Martial Arts and Fitness Gym for Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ), MMA, Kickboxing, Wrestling, Judo, Combat Arts, and Fitness Cardio Kickboxing Bootcamps!

martial arts

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu For Self Defense?

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“Can Brazilian Jiu Jitsu work in a street fight?”Best BJJ for Self Defense in Texarkana

It depends. Great answer, I know!

What does it depend upon?

It depends on the situation and the practitioner.

The best approach is to not fight and leave if at all possible.

Unfortunately, in some cases this won’t be possible.

It might be that the person is cornered or in a situation where they need to protect others like friends or family.

In this case, you have to fight.

It also might be that the other person(s) grab you.

In this case, you no longer have the ability to leave/run… so you’ll have to engage to some degree.

In this case, you may be able to use grappling/BJJ to disengage and then leave the situation.

Stuck in the grappling range without this ability means you are in very serious trouble.

This is part of the problem with the ‘BJJ is useless against multiple opponents’ idea.

Anyone against multiple opponents is in greater trouble.

It doesn’t matter what art you train.

Yes I know there’s a youtube video showing a boxer taking out multiple opponents.

It can happen.

It also might go really wrong if one of the opponents grabs the boxer (or non-boxer).

See Art Jimmerson, a skilled boxer, against Royce Gracie in UFC 1.

Art was helpless against Royce in the grappling range… so were his other opponents who had no significant grappling ability.

No one should want to be too entangled on the ground in a fight, especially if there is a possibility of someone else jumping in.

Here’s an interesting question…

Why is it always assumed that BJJ practitioners have no friends around, but the street fighting guy is part of some gang of brothers or something?

I don’t think that training BJJ means you’re always alone and friendless.

Anyway, it’s not really relevant to the question.

Most opponents will be completely lost in the grappling range.

They will be out of position and essentially drowning on land.

They will be very frightened as they realize this.

They will also become tired very, very quickly.

This is due to several things…

⦁ they have no idea what is going on,
⦁ they get a massive brief adrenaline dump,
⦁ they are very likely way out of shape playing the averages,
⦁ if if they are not out of shape for general society – they will be out of grappling shape if they have not been training regularly. They will very likely have no sport specific endurance/conditioning…
⦁ and if they do because they train BJJ, you had better know what you’re doing.

I can assure you this is true.

I have trained for 22+ years and own a school. I have seen this countless times.

The people coming in to train experience this the first time they ‘spar‘ even in a very safe and friendly situation on mats.

In a situation where they will be taken down to the ground quickly landing on very likely a bad surface and not know how to fall – it will be much worse.

Virtually everyone has some sense of throwing a strike.

Even a pure sport BJJ guy/girl.

As mentioned above, virtually no one knows what to do in a grappling situation.

As soon as someone is taken down (with the landing possibly ending the fight right there), the BJJ practitioned does not have to have great striking skills to strike from a superior position controlling an opponent who is very likely completely helpless.

A few strikes to the head which is against the ground and no where to go is likely to end the fight.

You don’t have to mount, take an opponent’s back, or play guard in the vast majority of situations.

A very common position in BJJ is knee on belly.

This allows an excellent, high pressure control which allows you to strike very, very well and to get back to your feet immediately in a fraction of a second.

What if you end up on the bottom?

You had better know what you’re doing or again you are in big trouble

If possible, use BJJ to get up and leave the situation OR at least protect yourself and get to a better situation.

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu gives you the ability to control of another opponent.

It also provides an excellent platform from which you can strike, use a submission, or get up as necessary.

It also generally promotes a healthier lifestyle including getting the practitioner in shape. *Again some limited variance here from practitioner to practitioner – but generally very true.

This alone could save you in a self defense situation OR may save you from serious health problems / death from an unhealthy lifestyle.

Most people will not be in a fight, ever, once they’re an adult.

If they are it’s likely because of their occupation (a police officer or a bouncer for example)… or they’re in a place that they probably shouldn’t be in.

Avoiding these types of places is excellent self defense.

If you are otherwise forced to defend yourself, being proficient at Brazilian Jiu Jitsu can be very, very valuable for the reasons I posted above and so many others.

Coach Marc

Why Texarkana Kids Love Martial Arts

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Kids Love Training Martial Arts In Texarkana kids love martial arts training at the best school in texarkana

You might think that kids want to learn martial arts because of the latest Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Movie or Lego’s Ninjago show they’ve watched…  or maybe you have spent some time watching some of the ‘old’ classics you watched growing up… Karate Kid, Chuck Norris, Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, or Jean Claude Van Damme.

The truth is that kids have always loved the martial arts and maybe even more so now. 

They see a martial artist doing some cool move and they want to learn how to do it.

Kids also want to move and get some exercise. It’s just part of our innate blueprint, our DNA.

Kids have a lot of extra energy because they are designed to move… a lot!

Kids also want to train for many of the same reasons that their parents want them to train in martial arts… to develop confidence, focus, self control, and better social relationships… of course it helps that the training is a blast for them.

This is critically important.

As parents, one of the greatest things we want for our kids is to see them happy.

If they can have fun while improving their health, fitness, and mental outlook… all the better!

The environment that children face today is very different from what the last generation experienced.

The kids are spending a lot of time on electronic media.

The schools have been forced to cut their PE fitness programs to save money.

These are big problems for physical and mental development.

Times and technology are moving very fast.

These environmental changes have caused kids to mature a little faster and often at the expense of just being a kid.

They’re under more stress and don’t have as many physical outlets as we did in school growing up.

It is easy to see why martial arts benefits, like self discipline and confidence are so important to our children.

They also develop self defense skills that not only really boost their confidence, also gives them a sense of security and insulates them from bullying.

While it isn’t the only benefit of training, the ability to protect oneself from harm is critical to the child’s development.

kids heirarchy of needs self defense, security, self confidence, and achievement through texarkana kids martial arts

Dr. Abraham Maslow was a renowned psychologist that studied motivation and needs.

He created the hierarchy of needs that had 5 levels. 

His theory states that we must satisfy the lower levels before we can move on to achieve higher level needs.

Maslow’s theory put security at the 2nd level, just after physiological needs like breathing, eating, and water.

This means that security is the foundation that all people required before moving to achieve the higher levels of humanity like love, confidence (he called self esteem), and self actualization.

 The martial arts provide our kids with self defense techniques which enable them to concentrate on other areas of their lives.

Martial arts training like Jiu Jitsu offer so many benefits to kids from improving their fitness to self defense, confidence, and all the mental benefits that have traditionally been associated with martial arts.

Even better, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu offers kids the ability to defend themselves without ever having to hurt the other child.

Other arts teach predominately striking based solutions to self defense.

Many parents would prefer that their child doesn’t have to solve every conflict with a punch or kick to the face of another child.

In Jiu Jitsu, the kids learn how to control their opponent so that they are no longer a threat which is safer for both kids in most altercations.

If you’re interested in trying a first Free Class of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu for your child, just contact us and we’ll get it set up for you!

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Martial Arts and Fitness Classes for Kids (Age 4 and Up), Teens, Men and Women.

We Help Texarkana Area Kids, Men, and Women Live Healthier, More Active Lives. 

Martial Arts Classes for Fitness, Self Defense, Confidence, Competition, and a More Active, Positive Lifestyle!

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Kids Martial Arts. Cardio Kickboxing. Yoga. Beginners and All Fitness Levels Are Always Welcome!

Call Us: (903) 793-1085 Email Us: TexarkanaJiuJitsu@gmail.com

Are You Concerned About Your Child’s Lack Of Exercise?

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Is Your Son or Daughter Getting Enough Exercise?Kids fitness, exercise, and martial arts in texarkana

Too many of our kids in Texarkana don’t get enough physical exercise.

The schools have cut way back on PE and even the amount of exercise that they get in the classes that still exist. The standards of fitness continue to degrade over time.

Kids find themselves on computers, phones, and video games more and more.

They’re not nearly as active as kids once were…

This inactivity leads to so many problems.

The most obvious is obesity and becoming overweight, but there are many more.

Being overweight dramatically effects their self esteem and their confidence.

This results in them giving up on themselves easier and often not even attempting to do challenging things.

Kids are developing type 2 diabetes and other health problems.

These problems will cause them huge issues as they grow up.

They don’t develop normal muscular strength and postural muscles that keep them upright.

This dramatically increases their risks of injury, both now and later in life.

They’ll be more likely to develop pain and have difficulty doing physical tasks.

The lack of physical activity results in a loss of normal brain development because movement is it’s primary driver of a child’s brain development… and one that’s far more important than most realize.

This leads to developmental delays, problems with focus (like what you may see in ADD/ADHD), social awkwardness, depression, and anxiety.

Too many kids are not realizing their full potential, just because of inactivity and/or reduced activity… and it’s probably going to get worse.

It’s so important to get your child active and keep them active.

It helps to find an activity like Jiu Jitsu that they really enjoy and can do year round so that they don’t have months of inactivity between seasons.

If you are a Texarkana parent that is concerned about any of these issues, we can help.

Give us a call at 903-793-1085 or email us at TexarkanaJiuJitsu@gmail.com to set up a time to try a no risk, free class.

We really look forward to hearing from you and helping your child get more active and achieve more both on and off the mat.

Texarkana Jiu Jitsu and Fitness

  • Brazilian Jiu Jitsu for kids (ages 4 and up), teens, and adults
  • Fitness Kickboxing
  • Yoga

 

#TexarkanaJiuJitsu #KidsMartialArts #GetKidsActive

A Parent’s Guide To Martial Arts In Texarkana

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Parents Have Several Different Options For Kids Martial Arts Classes In Texarkana.

Martial arts can definitely be confusing to parents that haven’t been involved in an art before!​

This post is meant to help parents learn a little more about the martial arts so they can make the best decision for their family.

This post covers a lot of things a parent who is unfamiliar with the martial arts should know before choosing a Texarkana martial arts school for their child.

We talk about traditional martial arts versus combat sports martial arts programs in this previous post.

So many different martial arts exist… Judo? Kickboxing? MMA? Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ)? Wrestling? Karate? Tae Kwon Do, Ninjitsu?? Krav Maga? Boxing? Self Defense?

Parents put their kids into a martial arts program for many different reasons.

The parent might be concerned about their child being bullied or want them to get more active to get in shape, learn to focus better (many parents that have kids with ADD and ADHD put their kids in our program), discipline, self defense, develop mental toughness, help them develop better social skills or a better positive mindset.

There are many different martial arts styles that emphasize very different techniques.

Some martial arts focus on teaching a child how to punch and kick to defend themselves.

Examples of these types of martial arts are karate, tae kwon do (TKD), boxing, kickboxing, and to varying degrees mixed martial arts (MMA).

Other martial arts focus on techniques that allow someone to control a larger, more aggressive opponent and put them in a position where they are unable to harm the person.

The attacked can then determine the appropriate response whether it’s controlling the person, getting away, or using additional force.

Examples of these arts include Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Judo, and Wrestling.

This is primarily what we teach the kids at Texarkana Jiu Jitsu… Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (with self defense application), Judo, and Wrestling.

We do this because we want the kids to be able to control the situation and not just get in a punching and kicking contest with another kids.

This reduces the chances that your child will get hit and also prevents the other child from having to be hurt as well.

The next big thing to consider has to do with who is teaching your child.

It’s important that the school instructors have good character and a positive attitude.

This is much more important than even the style.

It really matters who your child spends time with because it has a big impact on them.

The instructors also create the culture in the class.

How the class is ran and how the kids behave in class.

kids brazilian jiu jitsu best class in texarkana

This is important for the same reason.

Your child is influenced by those around them.

We really focus on creating the right environment to help kids achieve more in martial arts and more importantly, outside of martial arts.

Speaking of those around them, another important factor is the age group of the program.

We’ve found over the last 19 years of teaching Jiu Jitsu in Texarkana that the kids need to have age appropriate instruction.

We break the classes down into 2 groups – the 4 to 6 year olds and the 7 to 12 year old groups.

Even within the same age group, we often split the kids based on physical attributes and age.

 

The facility also matters.

 

It’s important that it’s large enough, safe, and clean.

 

It’s important that the program offers a free class to check out the instruction, facility, and culture of the school.

At Texarkana Jiu Jitsu, we offer a free first class to come in and check out the program.

It’s the first step to make sure the program is right for you and your family.

It gives you the opportunity to see the facility, meet the instructors, and have any questions you have about the programs answered.

This will help you make a better decision about the program before joining.

As far as price goes, most martial arts schools will be within about $10 per month of one another for tuition.

Many schools also have added fees of buying equipment as often as every month, paying for promotion ceremonies, membership in associations, and events.

We charge $97 a month for the kids classes. We​ do not other hidden charges. We hold​ ​in school competitions,parents night out, parties, and events for the kids for free.

It’s really important that parents understand the ins and outs of martial arts and think about these things so they can make the right decision for their children.

If you’re interested in setting up the first class, contact us and we’ll get it set up for you!

Texarkana Jiu Jitsu and Fitness

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Martial Arts and Fitness Classes for Kids (Age 4 and Up), Teens, Men and Women. We Help Texarkana Area Kids, Men, and Women Live Healthier, More Active Lives.

Martial Arts Classes for Fitness, Self Defense, Confidence, Competition, and a More Active, Positive Lifestyle!

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Kids Martial Arts. Cardio Kickboxing. Yoga. Beginners and All Fitness Levels Are Always Welcome!

Call Us: (903) 793-1085 Email Us: TexarkanaJiuJitsu@gmail.com

Kids Need More Movement, Not More Media

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Are Our Kids Wasting Too Much Time On Electronic Media?kids electronic media and video use addiction

An ever growing number of Texarkana area parents say, “Yes!”

Fortunately there is a solution and one the kids will love.

Martial Arts are a lot like video games for the kids with one big difference… they get to be a real live hero in their own story.

“More Movement Not Media”

Parents put their kids into our Jiu Jitsu Program for many different reasons… often because of bullying, self confidence, to develop better focus, and more.

We’re not just about helping kids be able to defend themselves or improve their confidence.

One growing concern that causes parents to seek us out is that they just want their son or daughter to get off the electronic media for a while and get active.

We can DEFINITELY help with that!

We believe that kids need to move to be healthy… and this position is very well supported.

A lack of movement and exercise causes problems in kids ranging from the obvious health issues like obesity and poor physical fitness to emotional issues, problems with learning, and normal brain development.

We aren’t designed to sit and look at screens all day and night.

Fortunately we have a great solution for concerned parents and one that your kids will love!

Jiu Jitsu helps keep Texarkana Kids active while encouraging other positive traits ranging from problem solving, perseverance, goal setting, and developing a positive mental attitude.

Texarkana Jiu Jitsu and Fitness offers Brazilian Jiu Jitsu for Everyone Age 4 Through Adult.

We also offer fitness classes, cardio kickboxing, and yoga.

If you’re interested in any of the programs, just call Us (903) 793-1085  or Email Us TexarkanaJiuJitsu@gmail.com and we’ll set you up with a FREE First Class!

You are invited to come in see our facility, meet the instructors, and ask any questions you have about our programs.

You can then check out the classes!

We welcome everyone. No experience necessary.

Texarkana Jiu Jitsu and Fitness
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu for Everyone Age 4 Through Adult!
Fitness Classes, Cardio Kickboxing
Yoga
903-793-1085

Come see what we have to offer!