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.
I want to give a special shout out to all the members of our Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu team that are out today fighting for cancer! Tap cancer out is not only a great competition for out team to get some practice in, but it is an amazing fundraiser for cancer. Too many people are loosing the fight to cancer everyday. I’m sure we all have had an experience with a cancer patient. We need to do all we can to help these people. And what better way then combining our favorite sport with a fundraiser? There is also a way for people who cannot or don’t compete to just donate a little money. People fighting cancer are giving everything, even their last breath to try to make a break through for someone else. Let’s keep fighting the fight. Dragon within teaches Brazilian jiu-jitsu not only for a street fighting stand point, but will also teach anyone who is willing to learn, the fundamentals of competing. We will make you the best competitor you are capable of. If you’re willing to put in the effort, we will take you the distance. Way to go team dragon for competing this weekend and for fighting in the fight against cancer. You truly are an inspiration to those less fortunate.
Tap out cancer has only been around since 2011, but has already made a huge impact. Together with donations, these competitions have raised over $135,000 for numerous cancer causes.
Statistics show that over 560,000 people lose the fight against cancer every year. This equals to 1,500 people a day. Can you imagine how many 1,500 is? That is a lot of people to die in one day. Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. This is equal to 1 out of every 4 deaths are due to cancers.
“At Tap Cancer Out, believe that the jiu-jitsu community can come together to help raise money and awareness to support these organizations, hospitals, doctors, researchers and volunteers who won’t quit until they’ve forced cancer to tap out.”
We need to make people understand that BJJ is not only about fighting and being big and strong. It is not as intimidating as some make it seem. Bjj students are like a family or a unit. They take their skill and turn it into a way of life for themselves. Bringing all these families together to raise money is the same as bringing the running community together to run 5k’s for cancer.
“Tap Out: A combat sports term for yielding to the opponent, and hence resulting in an immediate defeat.“
*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.**
Guard passing remains one of the most important skills to develop in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. The guard is a significant part of the Jiu Jitsu world since it offers both offense and defense on the ground even while situated on your back. The ability to pass the guard gives a Jiu Jitsu student an edge as well. Through being able to consistently pass the guard, the offensive and defensive capabilities of an opposing Jiu Jitsu student become less effective.
Once your posture and base are solid, the time comes to control the legs and, if the guard is closed, uncross the ankles.
Opening up the closed guard required putting some level of pressure on the legs to force the ankles to uncross. Again, without good base and posture, this is not going to be easy at all. Once you have opened up the legs, you must control them along with the hips. With the open guard, you do not have to uncross the ankles. You simply go right into controlling the hips and legs, although this can sometimes be difficult based on the positioning certain open guard present.
Does this mean all hope is lost when your elbows are out of position. No, it just means you must make it a priority to bring them back in. Performing a simple short bridge to bump an opponent up can create enough space for just enough time to return the elbows to their correct position.
All of this takes practice and experience, but that is what training is for. As long as you continue to focus on good posture on the bottom, the chances are likely you will improve in no time.
A man in Texas went on a killing spree after his wife put out a protective order against him. This man went looking for her anyway. When he couldn’t find her, he lost it. 6 people were murdered and 1 more in critical condition. I commend the survivor (age 15) for calling 9-1-1. But what if there was a way the other 6 could still be alive? Sure there is no dodging a bullet from this sick individual. And according to CNN news, he had been known to beat his wife and drag her around the house by her hair, while the kids watched. But what if that could have been avoided? Now this is just my honest opinion, but what is a piece of paper to a sick man like him? Also what is dialing a phone going to do when you have to wait up to 10 minutes for a response? It only takes less than a second to fire off a bullet from a gun. But what if these victims knew how to defend themselves? There are many methods of protection against a brutal man, and even knowledge of weapon control and how to handle a situation when a gun is present. There is no getting rid of guns forever, and even if we did, people would find something else to kill with. It is encoded in our DNA like wild animals. Now most of us can control our inner animal. But we can learn the mind-set of how to handle a situation. It takes a lot of training. It takes a lot of discipline and mind control. Now who knows what the exact situation was when this man walked into the house and shot everyone. I do believe there may have been no avoiding it. As soon as anyone sees a gun, they tend to freeze. Some of our highly trained military and police sometimes have a moment of uncertainty. All we can do is prepare mentally and physically.
Many are skeptical about martial arts, especially when starting out. They often wonder if martial arts will be too much work or if they will even find it enjoyable, but if you ask anyone who has been doing martial arts a long time, these are common thoughts for one just starting out. The first few drills and training sessions will be the toughest as your body most likely isn’t familiar with the movements or the contact, but that will change. Each time you drill a certain technique, your body gets more and more used to it. Think of your body like a computer; each time you go through a movement or technique, you’re basically just programming your body. The more you do it the more your body becomes comfortable with it. Once you settle in and you become comfortable, that is where the fun begins. This is when you can open your skill set up to as many techniques as you can handle and learn different styles too.
If you’re not one that is comfortable with physical contact, I ensure you that Krav Maga offers nothing that will put you over the edge. After all, Krav Maga is primarily all self defense, so little contact is actually preferred in most scenarios. However, there are a few beginners that have a phobia of physical contact. Luckily for these people, martial arts offers many other styles, like Thai Kickboxing, that is just as much of an exercise as it is a martial art. While Krav Maga specializes in self-defense, thus requiring physical contact, martial arts like Thai Kickboxing is more independent. While there are many styles of Thai Kickboxing, the majority of them can be found enjoyable to the most hesitant people who fear close quarters and physical contact. As you will soon find out, Krav Maga and other martial arts have a huge pay off after that initial hump.
As comfort levels set in, you will find much enjoyment in practicing and learning techniques. You will make friends, learn things about yourself, and develop a strong, confident, mature, and new perception of life through the study of martial arts.
Krav Maga is a popular and well known Martial Art that provides phenomenal fitness programs as well as highly practical and effective forms of self-defense. The self confidence and fitness you gain from this class could give you that extra energy it takes to physically and emotionally outlast your offender. You will feel fierce, you will look fierce, but most importantly you will become the fierce competitor that your attacker underestimated. Surprise the world by getting fit and preparing for the fight with Krav Maga.
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 hurling your way. How will you respond? Instead of trying to think about it in fright; you will be trained to naturally react to it in confidence. Krav Maga is the epitome of all the self-defense techniques to ensure the most effective and efficient result ever.
Krav Maga self defense techniques could save your life. Krav Maga conditioning could result in six pack abs and lean biceps. If you come to class and work hard you will notice a physical change in your weight and pants size. Our year round member Jacki Keefe has lost 20 Pounds by attending our Krav Maga and Thai Kickboxing classes as a premium workout and fitness program. On top of that, this method of self defense is the most effective form to date. You essentially are learning skills and at the same time losing weight and burning body fat. The fitness program fused into the class is designed to prepare you to be physically and mentally capable of disarming and escaping your attacker. No matter how fit or experienced you are, our instructors will take the time to capture the true essence of Krav Maga and help you become physically fit and mentally aware enough to disarm those shady street predators. At Dragon Within we recognize that everyone has their own Journey and so our instructors are dedicated to working with you at your own individual speed.
The protection founded in the Art of Krav Maga can be understood and applied to the concept of modern-day muggings. Say 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 panic in fear?
With Krav Maga training under your belt, you will be ready to meet the challenge and repel the attack. Whether you know it or not, quick action in times like these can save your life. You never know when an unhinged attacker will decide he or she wants to jeopardize your life. Knowing how to disarm an assailant in rapid-fire movements could be the difference between waking up in a hospital or walking home unscratched.
The conditioning in the classes are hard work, but they may provide that last push of energy it takes to physically outlast your attacker. Your lungs and endurance may improve to being healthy and strong enough to give you the power it takes to win that street fight and escape to safety.
Joining Krav Maga improves your physical and mental health. By working hard in class you are giving yourself a great advantage over the unhealthy and toxic lifestyles of those retched street predators. Living in fear is no way to respond to the challenges of this world. Krav Maga is a technique meant to reassure you. It builds self confidence and awareness. It is a fantastic weight loss and fitness program used by celebrities and many different people around the world. When your life is on the line, you’ll know you are ready to take action! Become a lean warrior and join Krav Maga today!
1.) BE FOCUSED. Tony Robbins says, “there is power in clarity.” Most of the New Year motivation arises out of being focused on what you truly want. More importantly, knowing why you want it. You must develop clarity if you are going to follow through with your goals.
It’s been said, “Discipline without direction is drudgery.” You have to be clear on what you are trying to accomplish, and why you want to accomplish it. Many people don’t accomplish their goals because they become distracted. They become caught up in what Stephen Covey calls the “thick of thin things”. They become distracted by the busyness of life. They don’t mean to do this, but many times urgent pressing matters takes precedence over things we think can wait till later. The problem is that we never get around to those things. We tend to deal with the urgent things of the moment, things that wont matter in five years, and we never get around to following through on things that will have an impact on the quality of your life five years from now.
If you want to follow through on those goals, I mean really follow through and make this year your best year ever, then step one is to develop clarity. Questions you should write down are: What do you want to accomplish? Why do you want to accomplish it? Be specific. Don’t just say you want to get in better shape. How many pounds do you want to lose? What do you want your body fat to be? After answering these questions on paper you can show your instructors and together we can help keep you and your fitness program stay focused on accomplishing these goals.
2.) BE FIRED UP! Motivation gives us the emotional gas in our tank to continually follow through with our goals. Attitudes are caught before they are ever taught. The best way to stay motivated is to be around other people who are highly motivated. By coming to class you are doing this first step by surrounding yourself with other motivated people. Many people will become discouraged when go home and their motivation to stay fit wears off. They think something is wrong with them because they don’t “feel” motivated. Motivation is like taking a warm bath. Naturally over time, the bath cools off unless you keep adding hot water. By consistently coming to class and being around highly motivated people, that is like constantly adding hot water. It charges you up and refuels your emotional tank.
3.) GO THE DISTANCE. Starting is good. In fact, it’s very good. The journey to achieving your black belt starts with your first step of showing up to your first class. After coming to class, day by day you begin to realize that finishing is even better. You have to set your mind on the distance of the race. Accomplishing your goals is not a sprint. Its not about how fast you can get there. Its more about consistently taking specific action over time.
Plan and prepare for the distance of the race. What adjustments do you need to make in your schedule so that you can CONSISTENTLY be in class over a long period of time. What adjustments do you need to make in your lifestyle so you can CONSISTENTLY follow through with new eating habits. You must set your eyes, mind, and spirit on the longevity of the race. Learn to develop a steady, methodical pace. Many people who “go all out” on their goals never end up following through, because they commit to a pace they simply can’t maintain. Realize that accomplishing your goals is more like a long distance race than a sprint.
Martial Arts class is designed to keep you learning new skills so that over time you will move up by achieving a new belt. Wether its Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Krav Maga, or Thai kickboxing you will earn a higher rank (belt) by regarding the fitness program as a long distance race and consistently coming to class over time.
Forged Bjj Krav Maga Self Defense Salem MA 