The strongest quality that any man, woman or child can gain from a Martial Arts program is a higher level of confidence. When your confidence level is higher, your whole world fills with what seems like endless possibilities. That is the real power of Martial Arts. And like anything else worth while, confidence is not something that you can just choose to have. Confidence in Martial Arts is like a muscle. If you work on it, it will grow, if you don’t it will atrophy. And if you try to push it too hard it you will get hurt. You must apply the right amount of confidence to everything that you do and gradually add more and more.

For example, if a child is training in Martial Arts, he or she must gain the confidence to stand up for their self and face the challenge of Martial Arts training. It doesn’t mean that that child has to win every match. Losing is part of the equation sometimes and everyone must learn humility and the value of picking yourself back up again. If confidence becomes ego then disappointment will soon follow.

Confidence in Martial Arts training or any part of life needs to be properly fed and exercised so it will grow strong. A supportive coach, encouraging parents and caring friends all play a role in a child’s confidence. Remember this the next time you talk to your child about anything they are doing well. Tell them how proud you are and how great they are doing at a particular task. This kind of daily encouragement go a long way.

At my kids Martial Arts academy in Houston, Texas, confidence is one of the biggest traits we focus on for our students. The conditioning and technique are all part of the equation. When a child learns how to execute a technical armbar or triangle choke and can train for a long time without stopping, he/she is going to feel more confident. But we are also very encouraging to each child and make sure that they are always happy and excited about what they are doing in Martial Arts class. This has so much to do with how we plan each class and how we talk to each student. We also properly prepare each student for belt promotions so they know what is required of them to receive ranking. When a child works hard, studies the curriculum and puts forth all the effort required to get to the next belt, the confidence they gain when that belt gets put around their waist is incredible.

Encourage the kids. Whether they are your kids or someone else’s. They are they generation that will run the world in the future and, believe it or not, your encouragement can have a dramatic impact on their confidence and even help shape the person they become.

Our Fitness Boot Camp is unbelievable! If you thought P90X was great you ain’t seen nothing yet. Our Fitness Boot Camp classes in Houston, TX offers a wide range of exercises that will have you sweating bullets and burning in muscles that you didn’t even know you had.

Our Fitness Boot Camp Is The Best Way to Get In Shape

Within just minutes of trying out one of or Boot Camp classes you will see why our Fitness program will get you in shape faster than anything else around. Bring a friend and have the most fun you ever had while working out. Come try it out for a free week and see why Team Tooke Fitness Boot Camp has the best Conditioning Boot Camp in the Houston area. Don’t wait for the New Year or any other excuse you may use to procrastinate. Make the decision to take control of your body and your fitness and do it NOW. Call us today at 281-955-7300 to schedule your first FREE week. I can’t wait to see you in class!

Have you ever grappled someone in BJJ who was so flexible that it just seemed impossible to pass their guard? Or, if you did manage to pass the guard, that person was able to simple throw one leg in front of your face and forces the escape. This is the advantage of having great flexibility in BJJ. When you develop a high level of flexibility in BJJ you will be able to even the match much more, even with someone who is more skilled than you. Imagine if every time someone passed your guard or put you in a knee on belly position you had the ability to simply bring your leg up by your face and push your opponent away. On the other hand, lacking flexibility can really hinder your BJJ and Mixed Martial Arts game. Even with a high skill level and great technique, a lack of flexibility will make you feel like you’re glued to the floor at times.

How to Stretch for BJJ

So what can you do? The most obvious answer is to stretch, right? It’s true that stretching will help to improve your flexibility and decrease your risk of injury; however you should search to find more sport specific stretches. For example, Jiu-jitsu requires a-lot of back and hip flexibility. Try to focus your stretching on the parts of your body that really need to be stretched out in a BJJ or Mixed Martial Arts fight. Also, unlike passive stretching, in BJJ and Mixed Martial Arts you need to be flexible and still be able to push, pull and fight back. Stretching in combination with resistance/weight training can be of huge benefit? Remember to talk to a professional before attempting to design you own super, killer Gumby flexibility program.

How Flexible Do You Need To Be For BJJ?

You don’t need to be able to put both feet behind your head at the same time and walk around on your hands. However, if you increase your flexibility by just 10% I can guarantee that your skill level in BJJ and Mixed Martial Arts will increase along with it. You want to improve your BJJ so go stretch!

I really believe that, no, I know that conditioning is just about the most important part of being a successful Mixed Martial Arts or Brazilian Jiu-jitsu competitor. The only thing more important is technique. Remember though, your MMA and Jiu-jitsu technique is only as good as your conditioning level will allow you to stay focused. If you are Anderson Silva but you have poor conditioning, you better get the win in the first round. Otherwise, your striking accuracy will diminish, your takedown defense will be off and you will not be able to recover when you get hit or taken down. The fight between Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen is a perfect example of this. Sonnen dominated the fight for 4 rounds, kicking Silva’s butt about 98% of the time. Had Silva not prepared his body for such torture he would likely have been beaten in the earlier rounds and he would have had virtually no chance of winning the fight the way he did. However, he was in shape, prepared and pulled off the victory.
Proper conditioning builds mental toughness. When you are conditioned and in shape, you will carry with you a sense of confidence that no one can break you and a mindset that you will keep fighting until you win no matter who may be kicking your ass at the moment. It’s like you have a “Secret Weapon” that you can keep using no matter how bad things get. Lack of conditioning, on the other hand will be the Achilles heel to the most technical fighter on the planet. How many times have you seen a fighter dominate another opponent, nearly finishing the fight, only to have the less technical-better conditioned fighter come back and pull off the upset? It happens all the time, especially at the smaller shows.
Invest in your cardio and conditioning. I always tell my Mixed Martial Arts and Brazilian Jiu-jitsu fighters that if they are going to compete, there is “absolutely no excuse” for not being in shape. You don’t have to have a personal trainer (a strong team and motivating friend helps), you don’t need to spend 4 hours a day in the gym and you don’t need to be a fitness expert. You need to plan your day and be sure that “Cardio and Conditioning for Mixed Martial Arts or Brazilian Jiu-jitsu” are part of your schedule. Start with just 10 minutes a day dedicated to extra conditioning and then add more later. As you get into better shape(which won’t take long) educate yourself on better ways to maximize your efforts so you achieve the best results in the shortest amount of time.
Remember, you are ultimately responsible for your level of fitness. If you are not getting the results you desire for your MMA and Jiu-jitsu training, then do something about it. Now go get in shape!

Our Martial Arts Kids program in Houston, Texas is one of the best in the state. With our kids program your child will develop Confidence, Discipline and Respect. Our Kids classes teach real life lessons as well as realistic self defense techniques. And, with 30 days free, you can give your child the gift of Martial Arts with no risk or obligation. Is your child’s confidence, safety and future important to you? Don’t wait any longer. Pick up the phone today and call 281-955-7300 to schedule his/her free consultation, free intro lesson and free 30 days of Martial Arts training in Houston, Texas