In the darkness of every night lurks a potential danger. You may go your whole life without experiencing the terror of an attacker darting out an alley. Or you might find yourself forced to fight or lose your life when an unstable force comes hurtling your way. How will you respond?
Imi Lichtenfeld invented the technique known as Krav Maga on these violent streets of Eastern Europe. The balance had swung in the favor of Nazis and he had no choice but defend himself or perish. In those days, Lichtenfeld learned how to counter assailants wielding knives, bats, guns, chains and weapons no had even seen before. It was survival of the strongest – survival of a fighter who could bring unparalleled mental toughness to every encounter and overcome physical limitations with sheer cunning and lightning-quick reflexes.
The Vinidication of a Self-Defense Style
Lichtenfeld survived that ugly period from the mid-1930s all the way up to the Nazi takeover of the region. He made it out of Europe on one of the last refugee boats that took to sea. It was a painful experience, but the proof was indisputable: Lichtenfeld was a survivor and his technique had worked. Upon settling in Israel after the war, the IDF quickly made a place for him in special forces training.
Incorporating these survival techniques to suit modern times took less refining than you might think. The same concept applies to modern-day muggings. You are walking down the street and you happen to notice a shadow moving in an alleyway. No one is on the street. As you approach, you see movement. An attacker jumps out…are you ready to engage, or do you feel hopeless?
Living in fear is no way to respond to the challenges of this world. Krav Maga is not a system designed to get you asserting yourself in violent situations. It is a technique meant to reassure you. It is confidence, pure and simple. When your life is on the line, you’ll know you are ready to respond.
Don’t wait for the moment when you are caught unprepared. Act now and get your free private lesson to see for your self the difference between a prepared person and an unprepared person.
So I want to take some time to reiterate some things that have been said in the past, but need to be stressed again. It’s about our children in martial arts. Its not about being the best fighter in the world. It’s about so much more than that. Get the benefits of martial arts for you or your children.
One main value gained from children takingMixed Martial Arts/MMA is the level on confidence that it instills within them. At Dragon Within Mixed Martial Arts, we don’t force children to compete. We do (however) have a few who like to compete and it’s a great confidence builder! We have these four kids (ages ranging from 10-16) who love to compete in NAGA (North American Grappling Association). They have been written up in our local paper and it makes them feel good about their accomplishments. It also teaches them that, win or lose, if they gave it their all–they should be proud of what they have achieved. Being a sore loser isn’t an attribute in any of these kids. They are humble in their achievements and gracious in the lesson learned from their defeats which makes them work even harder next time. They set goals and work to achieve them. Which is a huge thing for kid’s to learn: goal setting.
There is a simple benefit from kid’s enrolled in mixed martial arts; it can improve the results in almost anything that you do in conjunction with their Mixed Martial Arts/MMA classes. We have one teen, 15 years old, who is flourishing in school with A’s and B’s and this all started when he began his training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu/BJJ.
The Most IMPORTANT thing to stress is that our programs at DWMMA, Salem MA,instills confidence in Children! Whether it is performance in school or sports they have the confidence to perform to their fullest potential. Or, if they were to encounter bullying or peer pressure–they have the confidence to make the best decisions to make you proud as a parent.
Bullying, in a nut shell, is a form of intimidation or domination toward someone who is perceived as being weaker.It’s almost like we are living in the jungle with a pack of wolves fighting over alfa male. We do all sorts of harmful acts to show our dominance and take what we want by force. Typically as kids, the only thing we want is make the other child feel humiliated. Usually this is because we are insecure for some reason. There are different types of bullying. While some may think that bullying mainly consists only of physical domination, the fact of the matter is that there are verbal and emotional forms of bullying as well. And, with the rise of the Internet, there are now instances of children being bullied online through email, chatrooms and on Facebook. It is even possible to be bullied through text messaging on a cell phone. Chid bullying can happen in any of these forms. It’s not like in the 90’s when you had to go knock door to door to bully someone, now they make it easy for you.
For the most part, boys prefer to use physical intimidation tactics in their bullying. They will use physical aggression to force others to do what they want, or to feel in charge of a situation. Something about testosterone I would imagine. Girls, on the other hand, typically use more of a subtle approach. They stick to teasing, name calling, and passive aggressive methods. None the less it still hurts the same.
They may be abused or neglected at home. They may not have parents that get involved in their life or well being. And how well do our school spread knowledge about bullying and taking a stand?
282,000 students are physically attacked in secondary schools each month.
Suicide is the third leading cause of death among young people, resulting in about 4,400 deaths per year, according to the CDC. For every suicide among young people, there are at least 100 suicide attempts. Over 14 percent of high school students have considered suicide, and almost 7 percent have attempted it.
Bully victims are between 2 to 9 times more likely to consider suicide than non-victims, according to studies by Yale University
A study in Britain found that at least half of suicides among young people are related to bullying
10 to 14 year old girls may be at even higher risk for suicide, according to the study above
According to statistics reported by ABC News, nearly 30 percent of students are either bullies or victims of bullying, and 160,000 kids stay home from school every day because of fear of bullying
One third of teens reported being bullied while at school
About 20 percent of teens had been made fun of by a bully, 18 percent of teens had rumors or gossip spread about them, 11 percent were physically bullied, such as being shoved, tripped, or spit on, 6 percent were threatened, 5 percent were excluded from activities they wanted to participate in, 4 percent were coerced into something they did not want to do, and 4 percent had their personal belongings destroyed by bullies
4 percent of teens in this study reported being the victims of cyber bullying
Most bullying occurred inside the school, with smaller numbers of bullying incidents occurring outside on the school grounds, on the school bus, or on the way to school
Only about a third of bully victims reported the bullying to someone at school
About 2 of every 3 bully victims were bullied once or twice during the school year, 1 in 5 were bullied once or twice a month, and about 1 in 10 were bullied daily or several times a week
In this study, females and white students reported the most incidents of being the victims of bullying
44 percent of middle schools reported bullying problems, compared to just over 20 percent of both elementary and high schools
If your child is the one being bullied, you need to help them as soon as possible. Don’t wait. Try talking to them.
Let them know that you can go together, to school authorities to see what can be done in terms of mediation, and in terms of increased attention paid on the school grounds.
Please help Dragon Within Martial Arts spread the word about bullying. Talk to as many people as you can. We are hosting an anti-bully workshop that is free to your child. We want to help teach every kid the importance of knowing the signs of bullying. We need to stop this and together we can.
Join us November 22nd from 2-4 for a free community event. We will be teaching anti-bully techniques and how to get away from someone who is bullying your child.
*We put together a team of hard working students. They worked after class to prepare for a demo at the 8th annual Culture fest. These martial artists are truly inspirational.*
So at Dragon Within Mixed Martial Arts, We could have basically taken all of our students and made a fantastic demo team. We have approximately 100 child students in 3 different age groups. These age groups make up our 3 classes; Little Dragons, Juniors, and finally Young Adults. Our little Dragons are 4-6 years old. Our Juniors are ages 7-10 years old and our Young Adults are ages 11-14. We gathered as a team and hand picked 15 kids from all three classes to perform in the demonstration.
We pair up all our students carefully with each other to avoid any size or strength issues. No child is set up for failure!
We keep them motivated with rewards and special attention and praise all the time. We even offered a snack in between classes because they get hungry after all that exercise.
-Baylie walks down the street and yet again, runs into that mean ol’ bully of her, Autumn. Autumn puts her hands on her one more and time and Baylie has had enough She defends herself with a crazy monkey in 50/50 then a take down. But she doesn’t stop there, no she mounts and pins that mean bully. She takes total control of the situation and then calls for help. This is great way to assert yourself against a bully with our hurting them. Remember our intention is not to hurt anyone, but do defend and evade the situation.
-Sarah and Steph (one of our adult students) demonstrate a little competition mixed with some real life skill. The show walking teep kicks into roundhouse kicks. This shows a more traditional Thai Kickboxing and what its all about.
Each student looks absolutely adorable up on stage, and not one student got stage fright. They were all excited and pumped to perform!
The Dragon’s at Dragon Within have been involved in martial arts training for over 50 years combined. This school has been alive for more than 10 years and is constantly growing. Our philosophy is to teach students self defense within the Art. The staff and students show compassion when training in the Dojo.
We believe that within the structured class our students develop self-confidence, motivation to set and reach goals, respect, discipline, and self control. Our class is taught at a pace, which allows students to advance in their belt over time. The time and work it takes to stay in class and earn a higher rank is what grows character, self-discipline, and patience. We understand that it is a difficult thing to stay motivated towards, which is why it is such a great achievement when they receive that belt. We stay focused on the Art and the way our curriculum is designed helps develop positive characteristics in our students over time.
Our kickboxing class has the same mentality. The curriculum is designed to keep you focused and motivated. You will feel like you have accomplished something new after each class whether it be physically or mentally.
If you have a Facebook and would like to see a recent album or see the flow of the way we operate please find us at facebook.com/dwmma . We also post schedule changes and member notifications there as well so definitely a good idea anyways!
We have experience with students of all backgrounds and maturity levels. Even children with social disorders and anxieties tend to thrive at Dragon Within
Our goal is to help our members to develop, grow, and improve both physically and mentally through their progression in Mixed Martial Arts, Krav Maga, Thai Kickboxing, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Self defense and Fitness Training. We accomplish this by offering the most functional, realistic, innovative, and enjoyable martial arts and fitness training available.
**We would also like to give a special thanks to Miss Jess, kids program coordinator and lead instructor, for putting together such an amazing show. And huge thanks to the A3D for hosting the 8th Annual Culture Fest in downtown Salem and inviting us to be a part of it.**
USA TODAY WASHINGTON says “More than 40% of U.S. colleges and universities have conducted no investigations of alleged sexual assaults over the last five years, according to an explosive survey of more than 300 schools by a congressional subcommittee.
Federal law requires colleges to follow up on reports of sexual assault, yet dozens of schools have failed to provide basic training on how to do that, the survey found. Nearly 73% do not have protocols for how campus authorities and local law enforcement should work together when cases arise. And some schools have no designated coordinator to handle such efforts even though federal law requires it.”
Why not prepare now for what may or may not happen in the future. Why let yourself become a statistic. Don’t end up letting anyone take advantage of you. Learn how to use a bigger aslant’ body weight against them. At dragon Within, we teach specific combinations of moves to help any person defend themselves in an altercation.
So why wait for something to happen. Don’t be that person walking home from a party or study session, that gets abducted. There had been too many cases of people getting hurt or taken. Be prepared, and be aware of your surroundings.
Martial arts has always been used for athletes to compete via combat, but is also a fantastic way for people to exercise. One of the most popular martial arts today, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu(BJJ), is a multidimensional martial art that can really put your body through a tough work-out. Unlike standard exercise routines, you don’t have to exercise each individual muscle group; instead, you merely spend 20 minutes “rolling” (the term used for practicing, or sparring). After just 20 minutes of rolling with a partner and engaging in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, your entire body will have received a work out that would have otherwise taken you hours.
Because most of BJJ is spent on the ground, you will end up putting lots of weight and pressure on your feet, knees, and thighs; especially if you are in top position. On the bottom, you may think that you have it easy being that you can lay on your back, but this is not the case. High-level BJJ practitioners do not in fact lay flat on their back. As relaxing as it may seem, this is a very bad flaw in technique. You want to be perched up, at least slightly, in order to spring into action. This requires a lot of core strength sourcing from your abs to remain in ready position when on your back.
In other positions it’s your arms that will get a work out. Much of BJJ comes down to “hand-fighting” which is the strategical battle that goes on between you and your opponents hands. Constantly fighting your opponent’s upper-body strength while attempting to maintain proper wrist control is a very physically demanding task.
Even though most BJJ matches are not spent on the feet, it does physically pose equally as intense. You will often tie up with your opponent in search of takedowns that could come from various wrestling techniques, or perhaps a variety of different Judo throws. Whichever means you seek out to attempt to get your opponent on the ground will prove physically demanding. It’s not easy throwing something your size and weight around; especially when it is fighting back.
BJJ provides an all-in-one package for those wanting to combine core workouts with upper-body and most importantly, a lot of fun. BJJ not only exercises the body, but also the mind. Most BJJ matches are fought as if they are chess-matches; it comes to sharp technique and proper positioning that wins or finishes matches. If you’re looking for a martial art that will benefit your body in multiple ways, BJJ is an excellent choice.
Do you want to make a dedicated effort at getting in shape and developing a regular exercise routine, but don’t know exactly how to do it? You can find answer in Krav Maga. Krav Maga, a martial art centered in self-defense techniques, offers up a very long list of benefits that a regular exercise gym does not. You don’t have the luxury of really becoming one with your body by cycling on an elliptical, running on a treadmill, or lifting weights. Martial arts offers a whole new dimension of physical activity that is not exclusive to ripping muscles, but included strengthening your brain and heart as well.
It’s hard to explain the exact feeling you get when pursuing a goal or an achievement. It’s a sort of internal drive; an energy inside that seems to provide your body with the needed power. There aren’t many exercises you can do at a gym that will make you feel like you really accomplished something. Sure you can complete your reps at the bench-press station, or get a new record when maxing out on squats, but you don’t actually get rewarded. In martial arts, you are directly rewarded by earning your way up a variety of different colored belts. These colors represent your rank and is what you can proudly show off. The color of your belt represents how much work, time, and dedication you put out. This is something that people at a regular gym are missing out on.
Other than the satisfaction of earning your way up an actual ranking system, the overall environment is better. When you’re on the mats practicing Krav Maga, everyone is there to help each other out. There are no egos that get in the way and that is why martial arts is such a down-to-earth environment. People all share the enjoyment together, and are there to work their way up and prove something to themselves and others. This makes for a strong connection or camaraderie that you will develop in the bonds between you and your fellow Martial Artists. Again, something that is missing for sure at a regular gym.
Is your child having trouble with bullies at school? Dragon Within Martial Arts helps many different kids learn about bullying and how it can be prevented safely and respectfully. Bullying is most commonly seen as being physical, verbal and always confrontational. Whether it’s kids or adults, face-to-face confrontations are frequently the way bullies go after their victims. But it’s not the only way. Cyberbullying through internet social networks, texting and cell phones can be just as damaging as physical showdowns. Bullying will not cease to exist unless kids police themselves and their friends. Here at Dragon Within we work with children to teach and motivate them to stand up for them selves and others facing a bully. We show children how to defuse a bully by practicing a variety of self defense methods and movements. We also conduct monthly “Mat Chats” where we sit together and discuss bullying and how to stop it. It takes a sincere effort from both children and parents to successfully put an end to bullying.
Parent involvement and communication in their child’s life can also help prevent bullying. Consistently providing a ride to and from class may be a good time where parents can address issues in school like bullying, and new friendships. Parental presence should also extend into the digital world where new found “cyber bullying” can take place as well. This new generation has proven that a iphone or laptop can become a weapon even in the hands of the most innocent-looking children. The distant communication of the internet provides children with a way to hurt others at no physical risk of danger. Kids who would never dream of shouting at another student or shaking a fist in someone’s face, can send threatening text messages or start vicious rumors on the Internet about another child. One solution to cyberbullying could be that as a parent you must have them add you as a friend on Facebook and be permitted to follow them on Twitter and Instagram or they lose the privilege to the sites themselves. You could also make it mandatory that you know the login information to their social sites. Some other preventive steps that can avoid bullying can start at home with moms and dads talking to their kids, picking up on their conversations about other children, supervising their use of cell phones making sure that they become neither victims nor perpetrators of cyberbullying. Some kids might find such intervention an invasion of privacy. Some parents might, too. But it’s like talking to children about drugs and alcohol. If you can save a kid’s life from ruin, your own or someone else’s, interceding is the right thing to do.
In order to stop bullying we have to understand why kids do it. Some bully because they feel insecure. At Dragon Within we help our students develop self confidence. Building self confidence is very important because it strengthens your child’s integrity and self esteem. These are building blocks to making good decisions outside of school like issues involving bully prevention and peer pressure. Other kids bully because they simply lack self control and coping mechanisms to deal with anger and frustration. We demonstrate the importance of being focused and controlled in class so that they may reflect the same self control when faced with a bully outside of class. The positive social values like self control and self confidence may also be just what your child needs to not become a bully or cyberbully.
At our academy we teach our students that bullying is unacceptable. We help establish rules about bullying and we stick to them. We also teach kids to treat others with respect and kindness. Our institution houses a diverse student body and is great for children to learn how to treat all different kinds of people with the same respect and kindness. In our monthly Mat Chats we discuss with our students, how to identify situations that may lead to bullying so that they can recognize and prevent it from happening. If your child is being bullied or is getting in trouble at school for bullying, Dragon Within Martial Arts can help.
There is so much moreto gain from Martial Arts classes than you could ever gain from a typical gym. Instead of mindlessly picking things up and putting them down, Martial Arts increases your physical fitness by stimulating your brain and coordination to target, and work muscles. Martial Arts classes will keep your muscles constantly learning new moves which ultimately burns body fat faster than ever. Our instructors provide the motivation and new self defense tactics to keep your mind active while your body works hard towards your goal weight. This mind and body combination alleviates stress, and helps provide a mental space for you to vacate your problems and focus on Martial Arts. The benefits you gain from Martial Arts class could change your life forever. Plus it looks great on a resume!
Martial Arts is significantly more valuable than a generic gym routine. It looks great on college and career applications. It provides an organized hobby that directly shows employers and colleges that you are a disciplined, hard working, and dedicated individual. Employers understand the time and commitment it takes to earn a black belt in Martial Arts. This hobby also reflects a solid sense of mental wellness, and in the work force today, that is exactly what they are looking for. The belt progression and ranking systems reflect the amount of time and commitment you have put into the hobby. By saying that you are a black belt in Krav Maga, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, or Thai Kickboxing, essentially you are telling your employers and colleges that you are goal orientated and you can stay focused and committed to working hard to reaching your goals. Ultimately your belt provides proof that you can put down on paper that you are not mindlessly spending your time goofing off but you are voluntarily learning and even exercising in a productive environment. Colleges and employers really are impressed to see that Art under your Skills or Activities section of your resume or applications. If you cant get the career you have always wanted, start by taking Martial Arts for a few months, and then see how you feel about going after that position.
Not happy with your current job or lifestyle? The self confidence you gain from class will allow you to step up to the plate and make those risky decisions it takes to move up in the world. Martial Arts will bring you to a higher level of awareness and wellness so that you can see the changes in your life you need to make. The confidence you gain from the classes may provide that boost it takes to make those transitions in life much easier for you to control and manage. After taking a Martial Arts class you simply know your self better. Wether you are kicking higher in Thai Kickboxing, or throwing a bigger jab hook combination, the classes show you exactly what you are physically and mentally capable of. You will be surprised how much you can grow in a single month of taking Martial Arts classes. You become more flexible and as you see the changes in your body; you may then begin to see the changes you need to make in all aspects of your life to continue growing in a productive, happy, and energetic environment.
Your entire life can turn around when you consistently show up to Martial Arts class. Wether you have a good day or a bad day, by simply showing up to class you are getting that much closer to another belt, and a better body. The fact that you continue going to class even on days you don’t feel up to it, you are positioning yourself to build character and self discipline. The good effects Martial Arts has your mental wellness are endless.
If you just can’t stick to a diet or exercise plan, call Dragon Within today. Our instructors take the time to motivate you to stay committed to reach your goal weight. If you don’t feel like you are getting the recognition you deserve at your current job, take Martial Arts classes. The confidence you could gain from Krav Maga classes will make you stand out from the crowd. The mental efficiency you gain may send you soaring above your fellow coworkers and into that new position you have been working so hard for. It will give you self discipline it takes to wait for the opportunity. It will give you the self control it takes to make decision to make the change you really need. Your life could completely change for the better by consistently coming to Martial Arts class. From exercising, to learning self defense, you are expanding your mind for greatness. If you need a change in your life now is the time to start. Make this year one for the books, and try a class today!
Are you getting your money’s worth at your local gym? Chances are you’re doing your cardio and your weights, plus trying some high-tech equipment. You may feel toned and even have a bit of spring in your step. The question is – how fit are you? You might feel a new power, but the reality is superior fitness can be found in the fighting techniques of Krav Maga. Krav Maga will expand your physical range and turn you into a specimen you might not recognize. Find out how much power is contained within this bold fitness-training program.
Train like a World-Class Fighter
The training boxers and wrestlers go through is known as the most physically demanding work for athletes. Martial artists take a similar approach in dedication and vigorous practice. Krav Maga incorporates Judo, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, (BJJ), Boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, and Karate; which together, transforms average people into skilled and composed street fighters every single day. From balance and agility to resistance and sheer ferocity, the Krav Maga routine will make you forget about any fitness program you’re following. It is the ultimate training program for self-defense and fitness.
It begins with a sharpening of reflexes and heightening of the senses. Imi Lichtenfeld, inventor of the Krav Maga technique, began practicing this system out of pure necessity. It was either “defend or vanquish” on the streets of pre-WWII Slovakia. Lichtenfeld learned how to disarm assailants coming at him with knives, sticks, clubs and superior numbers. When you train in self-defense on this level, you are engaging in fitness of the highest level.
To withstand an attack of multiple aggressors with weapons, you must be able to slide, dive, block, kick, jump, swing and catapult with abandon. Krav Maga prepares students to take the most comprehensive approach to self-defense. In fact, the idea is to withstand the attack and make sure the aggressor does not have the chance to make a second move. It is self-defense that hits back harder.
Incorporating Fitness Techniques into Warrior-like Presence
Lichtenfeld and his crew in Slovakia had no choice but to become modern warriors when faced with the terror of Nazi gangs. Modern Krav Maga helps you develop your strength, your endurance, your balance and your mental toughness. That is a part of any fitness program. Then you learn how to take it to another level. Krav Maga practitioners do not give up; they do not hesitate; and they do not waiver. If your life is ever challenged, you will know exactly how to respond.
Superior fitness becomes an element of your personality. When you walk down the street, everyone will be able to tell that you are a superior athlete. To challenge a fighter with Krav Maga training, you have to go “all in” or face the wrath of a warrior unleashed. The technique was invented as a means for survival, and it remains a way to learn and practice the fastest and most effective form of self-defense. It also is a way to reach the peak of your physical form. Before you waste another minute in the local gym, try a Krav Maga session and step into your true physical fitness zone.
Forged Bjj Krav Maga Self Defense Salem MA 
