➡︎ PARENTING INSIGHTS

➡︎ UPCOMING EVENTS

➡︎ SOUTHMOUNTAIN JIU-JITSU 2.0 UPDATE

➡︎ JIU-JITSU JEDI: Wisdom for Your Training Journey

➡︎ JIU-JITSU EXCELLENCE: Student Spotlight Series

Newsletter January 2024

PARENTING INSIGHTS

9-Week parenting course

Dear Parents,

Exciting news! Starting Friday, March 1st, 2024, at 6 pm Arizona time, join us for a 9-week transformative parenting course. Led by Sarah Black, a Jai Institute parenting coach graduate, and seasoned Kid’s Jiu-Jitsu coach, this course aims to introduce the principles of peaceful parenting and begin the introspection into our our role as our child’s confident leader.

In this non-judgmental space, we’ll explore the highs and lows of parenting, fostering a community of support as we each set out to lead our families rooted in our own family values.

We will follow the structure of the Evolution Parenting course, a 9-week course designed by Sarah.

Each Friday starting in March we will meet via Zoom to share discoveries, ask questions, discuss challenges, celebrate wins, and delve deep into introspection about our roles as leaders for our children. Join us on this enriching journey every week as we build a supportive network of like-minded parents.

EXCLUSIVE to South Mountain Jiu-Jitsu Parents!

This parenting circle is offered free of charge to South Mountain Jiu-Jitsu parents committed to the ENTIRE 9-week journey. We believe in the transformative impact of consistent participation, fostering a dedicated community. Your commitment ensures a richer experience for all involved.

Upon successful completion of the full 9-week Evolution Parenting course, participants will graduate and gain exclusive access to our ongoing Parenting Circle. This on-ramping course sets the foundation for a supportive community, and we look forward to welcoming you to the circle after you’ve completed the transformative journey.

Investment:

Value: $900

Members: FREE (with a full 9 week commitment) – Use code SMJJVIP

Non-member’s price: $300 per family

Space is limited!

Sign up now if you are able to make the full 9 week commitment.

https://sparkpages.io/cart/2/?i=_ASbb&c=&ocu=

Warm regards,

Sarah Black

UPCOMING EVENTS:

🥇 Tournament: 2024 AZ International Open – Feb 10 🥇

https://azbjjf.smoothcomp.com/en/event/14066

MLK Day (January 15) – We will have our regular schedule

SOUTHMOUNTAIN 2.0 UPDATE

We have walls!!

Our permit has been officially approved by the city!

We’ve begun framing walls and started electrical and plumbing work.

The target completion date remains either at the end of Q1 or the beginning of Q2.

JIU-JITSU JEDI: Wisdom for Your Training Journey

The Three Essential Types of Training Partners

In the world of jiu-jitsu, the key to optimal training lies in diversifying your sparring experiences. Here’s a breakdown of the three types of training partners you need to elevate your game:

1) Lower Level Training Partners:
Engaging with partners who are at a lower skill level than you can be a strategic move. This allows you to take control of the roll, work on your offensive techniques, and experiment with different attacks. Consider focusing on a specific submission to refine during these sessions. As your less experienced opponent catches on, they’ll defend more robustly, challenging your ability to set up your chosen attack. Even the legendary Roger Gracie, one of the greatest jiu-jitsu competitors, honed his skills by training primarily with less experienced..

*TIP:* Choose an attack to improve and limit yourself to that submission against your less experienced partner for focused training.

2) Similar Level Training Partners:
Training with partners of a comparable skill level ensures a challenging workout. With evenly matched opponents, dominant positions are fleeting, and there’s a constant exchange of positions – top and bottom, attacking and escaping. Precision in technique is crucial, as any lapse can lead to swift counters, turning each roll into a relentless battle for inches and advantages. These rolls are not only physically demanding, taxing your cardio and grip strength, but they also provide an excellent overall workout.

3) Higher Level Training Partners:
Rolling with partners of a higher skill level places you predominantly on the defensive. Your reaction time needs to be sharp, relying on counters, knowledge, and escapes. It’s akin to learning a new language at a rapid pace, where your brain struggles to keep up with the flow. While this type of training sharpens your defensive skills, it’s equally important to balance it with partners of a similar skill level to explore other aspects of your game.

In essence, a well-rounded jiu-jitsu training routine involves rolling with everyone at the academy. Embrace the diversity of training partners to enhance different facets of your game and become a more versatile and skilled practitioner.

JIU-JITSU EXCELLENCE: Student Spotlight Series

TONY MOLINAR

1. Can you talk about your motivation to start training Jiu-Jitsu?

I love contact sports. I’ve always wanted to be able to walk into a room and know I can defend myself if push comes to shove. Being able to protect my family thanks to jiu-jitsu is another huge factor as well.

2. Your wife and son also train at South Mountain. What has that experience been like?

Having the opportunity to do this with my wife and son has been a blessing. We’ve always tried to maintain a healthy lifestyle, and jiu-jitsu has definitely delivered on that. We roll everywhere we go, whether it’s at the gym, at home, at the park, at grandparents’ house, or at a cousin’s house. We will literally find a spot and roll, so the fact that we are all thriving and learning together makes it a lot more special.

3. What do you hope your son learns from Jiu-Jitsu outside of the techniques?

Besides discipline, I hope he understands that greatness doesn’t come easy. You have to be consistent and try your best. You don’t have to win every match as long as you genuinely try to do your best. I believe if you do that, you’re already succeeding.

4. You and your son have both competed in jiu-jitsu. Can you describe that experience?

Competing together was awesome. We will prepare and train harder for our next competition because we are itching for gold! We keep each other on our toes. I couldn’t ask for a better son, he’s amazing.

5. What are your jiu-jitsu goals for 2024?

My goals for this year are to get my blue belt and get some more family members to join us on this journey. A big jiu-jitsu family would be dope.