Summer 2013 was the summer we had many wonderful discoveries around us. I came across an advertisement of a music studio was opening just about 5 minutes from our home. On my next free day, I brought the kids with me to check out the place. It was such an opportune time because I was looking for another guitar teacher for my daughter. A couple of guitar lessons thereafter, I was curious what was behind the music studio, because I noticed that the studio only occupied the front of the building. We checked out the back part of the building and saw a coach and kids doing some form of martial arts. And that’s how we discovered Brazilian Jiu Jitsu!
The coach invited us to sit and watch their class. We were able to watch until their next water break and got to talk to the Coach Jon Tulio. And he told us it is a martial art called Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and he has classes for kids like my son’s age. He talked about Brazilian Jiu Jitsu being able to help the kids learn how to defend themselves, developed self confidence and discipline. When we were watching the class my impressions were, it’s all about protecting one’s self, and being confident to avoid aggression. It felt at that time, that it can be an answer to my son’s concern about his balance, especially when he jumps or run; he sometimes trips or falls to the ground.
We watch a couple of lessons and Coach Jon befriended my son, who was shy and reserved. He started learning Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and over time he was more relaxed with Coach Jon and the other kids in the class, he became friends with them, he was having fun and he regained his balance and was even more confident in his bearing. Our son also learned how to turn his back on a bully and fully defend himself. We were very happy how Jiu Jitsu became a positive and encouraging activity for our son.
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu according to Wikipedia, “BJJ promotes the concept that a smaller, weaker person can successfully defend against a bigger, stronger assailant by using proper technique, leverage, and most notably, taking the fight to the ground, and then applying joint-locks and chokeholds to defeat the opponent. BJJ training can be used for sport grappling tournaments (gi and no-gi) and mixed martial arts (MMA) competition or self-defense.
Sparring(commonly referred to as “rolling”) and live drilling play a major role in training, and a premium is placed on performance, especially in competition, in relation to progress and ascension through its ranking system. Since its inception in 1882, its parent art of Judo was separated from older systems of Japanese Jujutsu by an important difference that was passed on to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: it is not solely a martial art, it is also a sport; a method for promoting physical fitness and building character in young people; and, ultimately, a way (Do) of life.”
Moving forward to this day, our son is a team member of Maral Jiu Jitsu Kids Club, it’s the team created by Coach Jon Tulio. Kids earn their stripes in consistently attending Jiu Jitsu classes. This means they have learned and earned their skills. Coach Jon has another coach helping in the BJJ class, Coach Jojo Casilao. Maral Jiu Jitsu Kids Club also earned medals in the recently concluded Bacolod Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Tournament last August 29, 2015. It was a day of successes and self – affirmation that truly, discipline and hard work, will earn you positive results. It is a very good learning experience for every child in the team.
And Coach Jon Tulio has this to say “Jiu Jitsu helps kids learn hard work and perseverance. We lead them to become comfortable in uncomfortable situations, both physically and mentally. Building this kind of confidence not only equips young people to stand up for themselves but more importantly stand up for others. Our heart is that our program can be a positive voice that is a reinforcement of what your children hear at home from you.”
Maral Jiu Jitsu Kids Club classes are at BC Martial, 3rd Floor STC Building, corner C. L. Montelibano Lacson Sts. Bacolod City. Contact numbers 09152430767 and 09321305497 or like their Facebook page, www.facebook.com/maraljjkidclub
Article by Carmen Algara
Photos courtesy of Coach Jon Tulio, Maral Jiu Jitsu Kids Club
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