This Is How You Teach Kids To Be Fearless
There are no bad kids, just kids with bad habits. Kids develop survival skills in the worst home environments, and even in the best home environments, they are mimicking the behavior they see in their parents. Whether I’m coaching kids or raising my own, I look for moments when they show interest in something. When […]
How To Give Your Child A Successful Start In Life
Many kids martial arts schools won’t take children younger than 5. It’s thought that kids that young won’t be able to pay attention, follow instructions, or even understand or remember the martial arts skills. When we tell parents about our Growing Gorillas classes for 3-4 year olds, they may ask us, Are they too young? […]
What Is the GBC & How Does It Support Our Tribe?
At our most recent Gorilla Cups, the Gorilla Booster Club raises close to $2,000 in donations with the support of our competitors, spectators, volunteers, and their families. And with each tournament this event grows. Our Gorilla Cups have grown so much that this spring it will be held at Columbia Falls High School to accommodate […]
Meltdowns Matside: Signs of Anxiety in Kids
How many times have you heard your kids say these things when dropping them off for jiu jitsu?: I feel sick. My tummy hurts. I need to pee. My legs hurt. My arms hurt. But I don’t want to! Or meltdowns, lots and lots of meltdowns. I know you have all dealt with this, because […]
Growing Gorillas: More Than Martial Arts for Kids
What made you want to sign your child enrolled in our Growing Gorillas kids martial arts program? Was it to learn discipline and respect? To learn confidence? Or to simply have an energy outlet while taking part in a healthy activity? Growing Gorillas gives your kids all of those things! But there’s so much more […]
How To Raise Your Child to Be Bully Proof
The hardest part about dealing with a bully is learning how to keep your cool in the face of adversity. The bully makes threats that feel scary to the other person, comments that are deliberately hurtful or threats of physical harm. The bully’s words and actions are intended to trigger powerful emotions such as fear, […]
PRESS RELEASE: SBG Athlete Opening Bigfork’s First Martial Arts School
Bigfork, MT – AUGUST 15, 2017 Bigfork is about to see it’s first ever martial arts school. Town locals Cody and his wife Mya Bessette are opening up the newest facility of Straight Blast Gym, which specializes in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu for kids and adults. For now, SBG Bigfork will only offer kids martial arts, […]
PRESS RELEASE: SBG Teams From Across the Nation Dominate NW Submission Challenge
Boise, ID, April 29th & 30th, 2017 – NW Submission Challenge SBG Montana joined teammates from across the country in Boise’s Northwest Submission Challenge jiu jitsu tournament on April 29th & 30th. Of the six adult competitors who competed, four placed first in their division. In her first competition as a blue belt Marnic Mann […]
Failing, Learning, & Failing Better: How to Raise Resilient Kids
“Failure is not the end of the world. [It’s the] place you get to when you figure out what to do next.” Lynn Lyons, LICSW, from the article “10 Tips for Raising Resilient Kids” If you follow our GBC competitors, then you saw pictures of the Wieczorek kids competing in Kids’ Pan Ams in Long […]
Messy Emotions & Raising Resilient Children
At least once a day, a kid cries in one of our classes. Every day it’s a different child, and every day it’s for a different reason. Maybe they got hit in the face with a dodge ball. Maybe they got fed up because backrolls are a struggle. Maybe they’re hungry, tired, or had a […]