Strong Heart Academy STUDENT HANDBOOK V2 Rev. 08/2016
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is a lifestyle and it teaches us not only how to solve problems on the mat, but in the area that matters most: life. That s why my goal as a martial artist isn t to win medals, to be ranked number one in the world, or to make history. My goal is to be the best person I can be on and off the mat; everything else is secondary. I believe that the lessons we learn on the mat transcend into our everyday lives and can be used to make us better people. - Caio Terra 1
Class Schedules For class times, please refer to the current class schedule online or pick up a copy at the academy. We recommend that you attend at least two classes per week, and that those classes become a regular part of your weekly schedule. Although it has remained stable for many years, the current class schedule is subject to change at any time. Please note that class schedule changes DO NOT constitute grounds for agreement termination. We are closed every year for the following holidays: Easter; Memorial Day; July 4 th ; Labor Day; the week of Thanksgiving; and two weeks around Christmas/New Year s. Notification of all holiday closures will be posted. No proration, refunds, or account holds will be given for holiday closures. Attendance Attendance is the key to progress. A minimum of two classes per week is required to achieve maximum results, but training more often is encouraged and will significantly speed up the time it takes to see those results. Tired? Go to class. Stressed? Go to class. Hungry? Go to class. Feeling lazy? Go to class. There are many reasons for missing class, but most of them can be overcome with willpower. (As a courtesy to your training partners, please do not come to class if you are sick.) If you miss class for a vacation/illness for a period of more than one week, please notify us. The time you miss can be made up before you leave or upon your return. Payments CANNOT be put on hold or prorated while you are on vacation. Just like you must pay for your home, car, or phone even if you don t use it for a few weeks you must pay for your martial arts classes. The academy depends on your payment to keep our doors open. Each student is in charge of tracking his or her attendance, which is one factor involved in receiving a new stripe or being promoted to a new belt. Kids will check in using a paper attendance card, and adults will check in electronically using the kiosk. (For information about how to use the kiosk or what to do if you forget to check in for your class, see Using the Kiosk.) Payments Students who budget for their programs will make their monthly payments via auto-withdrawal from their debit or credit card. Please note that late payments will result in late fees and could interrupt your training. There are no refunds on any payments for any reason. Payments may only be put on hold for a medical reason, and a dated, verifiable, doctor s note must accompany the request for a hold. Lost & Found If you have left something behind, please see an instructor or front desk personnel who will help you locate the item. All found items are held for one week and then discarded. We are not responsible for lost or stolen items. 2
About CTA (Caio Terra Association) Strong Heart Academy has been an affiliate of CTA since early 2013. Founded in 2012, CTA is one of the newest and most progressive jiu jitsu associations in the world. Led by nine time world champion Caio Terra, we believe that through jiu jitsu we can transform lives, building champions on and off the mat. Jiu jitsu is for EVERYONE and Caio personally developed a curriculum with this in mind. No matter what your interests are, whether it be fitness or self defense, our curriculum, which has been tested on the worlds biggest stage, can help you achieve your goal. This is the same curriculum that has produced numerous national and international champions. At the foundation of any great business are positive relationships. That's why it was important for Caio to personally know and develop a relationship with each and every affiliate and affiliate school. He is always available to answer any questions they may have about jiu iitsu or life! He does this because he cares; we call this the Caio Terra difference! To learn more, check out CTA and Caio Terra Online. As a member of CTA (automatic as a member of Strong Heart), you can train at any other CTA affiliate at no cost when you are out of town. As a courtesy, call ahead to notify the affiliate that you will be coming, and make sure you are aware of any rules/guidelines that may be different from Strong Heart. Always go in humble and conscious of how you represent Strong Heart. For amazing online learning at a reasonable price, we highly recommend subscribing to Caio s online site. There, he posts comprehensive lessons (videos) for all levels (beginner advanced). The site is updated very frequently, so you ll always be getting new content. 3
Your Journey into Martial Arts The worldwide popularity and longevity of martial arts speaks volumes about its intangible benefits. Through dedicated training, one can achieve any and all of the following: Physical and mental discipline Harmony of body and mind Stress reduction Self-confidence Self-control Higher level of physical fitness Self-defense skills In today s competitive, results-oriented, and demanding world, learning to cope with the daily pressures of life cannot be overestimated. Martial arts simultaneously provides both a break from that chaos and the practice needed to manage it. Be patient, persevere, and try to achieve slowly but steadily. It takes time to break old, bad habits and develop new skills, confidence, a sharper mind, and a fit body. Building Yourself from the Inside Out Properly incorporated into your daily routine, your martial arts training will help maintain a positive outlook on life. You will develop many skills that will help you achieve your goals and be successful at whatever you choose to pursue. There are seven keys that unlock the doors to success for each of us: 1. Desire 2. Visualization 3. Certainty 4. Relaxation 5. Focused Attention 6. Strong Self-Image 7. Repetition Your martial arts training will employ each of these keys. You must build the desire to set goals for yourself, visualize these goals in your mind, be certain that you will achieve them, relax and focus your energies on your goals, maintain confidence in your ability to succeed and try repeatedly until you succeed. The person who is willing to try, do, and finally accomplish will be successful. The discipline, control, perseverance and hard work are required to master the martial arts will result in tremendous satisfaction for a job well done. The martial arts are a demanding but rewarding task to master. Work hard, learn the skills well and apply them only for good and they will provide you with life-long benefits. Always keep in mind that your responsibility as a martial artist is to develop yourself in a positive manner, physically, mentally and spiritually. 4
Building a Healthy Mind & Body Some people think they must already be in shape to start martial arts. This is 100% false. Our students come from all walks of life with varying challenges and abilities, and we encourage anyone to join us. The only prerequisite for beginning your journey is the desire change, to be a better version of yourself. STRENGTH Strength does not come easily, but can be developed and improved if you concentrate on it. As students of martial arts. We should all concentrate on developing our physical and mental strength. To increase physical strength, you must strive for slow, gradual gains. Calisthenics, including those done in your classes, progressive resistance training, and weight training are some ways to increase your physical strength. Part of mental strength involves developing the power to resist stress and fear, which will help you resist or sustain an attack. Moral courage, integrity, your degree of concentration, and anxiety are also forms of mental strength. ENDURANCE Well-developed endurance gives you the power to withstand hardship and stress. To endure is to persevere, to remain constant towards a goal or purpose regardless of obstacles or problems that occur. To increase physical endurance, you must perform aerobic exercises regularly and raise your heart rate to 75% of its maximum. Maintain this level for a minimum of 20 minutes, 3-4 times per week, and you will make progress toward improving your cardiovascular endurance. Some excellent examples of aerobic exercises: Martial Arts, Fast Walking, Running, Bicycling, and Swimming. Mental endurance is a great advantage in martial arts. It s the slight edge that may allow you to outlast an opponent or challenge. Well-developed mental endurance will help you to look at obstacles and problems as challenges and overcome these challenges to accomplish your goals. 5
Nutrition Put good things into your body and you will get good results. Fill your body with junk food and garbage, and it won t perform with the proper intensity necessary to reach Black Belt level skills and performance. Proper eating habits provide you with the energy needed to perform better at martial arts work and other activities that you enjoy. Putting the right fuel into your tank will help maintain a positive and enthusiastic outlook on life. Energy is provided in the form of calories and these come from the foods you eat. High energy, clean burning calories come from complex carbohydrates, protein, and good fats. Good complex carbohydrates come from fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Good sources of protein are chicken, turkey, lean red meat, bison, fish, eggs, beans, and nuts. Good sources of fat include eggs, nuts, avocados, and olive/nut oils. Try to avoid foods high in sodium and sugar. Sweets tend to give you a boost of energy followed by depression and/or fatigue. It is also important to drink plenty of water (1 gallon each day) to replenish your body with the fluids you burn off (drink extra water after heavy workouts), especially in the desert. By regularly drinking water, you will avoid dehydration and should feel an increase in your energy level. Strong Heart Success System Our system is designed to see everyone make gradual, steady progress toward optimum physical and mental development. Progress is measured through a built-in goal and incentive program the belt system. In the beginning phases, the belts represent relatively short term goals that are obtained by learning the basics. As you gain knowledge, you should also gain confidence in your ability to set and achieve goals. Gradually, you will learn to set more difficult, long term goals. As you climb the ladder toward Black Belt, your knowledge and skill will increase as well as your capacity to concentrate and learn. These higher levels of development require both the pursuit of a stronger mind and body and an increase in regular practice and class attendance. On the following page, you ll find the IBJJF (International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation) guidelines for graduation (belt promotion) in jiu jitsu. For white belt adults, Strong Heart recognizes progress with a promotion to a new belt (yellow, orange, and green) leading up to the traditional promotion to blue belt. Although attaining new belts (and stripes along the way) is a way to externally recognize progress in martial arts, you should work to recognize your own progress internally. Setting goals and regularly checking in on them is a great way to see your own progress. If you ask when your next stripe or belt will come, this indicates that you are too focused on external factors and are not internalizing the principles of martial arts. 6
*All belt promotion fees are $45, except Black Belt which is $150.
Strong Heart Rules & Etiquette Not only should you be dedicated to your own success, but also to the success of everyone at the academy. You can do this by following the Strong Heart Etiquette (below), practicing good hygiene, and displaying selfcontrol and concern for the well-being of your training partners. Strong Heart Etiquette Turn away from the Instructor when you are re-tying your belt. Attend class on a consistent basis every week. Remove all of your jewelry. Maintain the highest levels of personal hygiene and keep your fingernails & toenails trimmed. Your uniform must be clean and odor-free at all times. When you are late, wait at the edge of the mat until an Instructor addresses you. You MUST bow on and off the mat. Black belts are addressed as Professor. You must wear shoes at all times if you are not on the mat. Put all used equipment away. Properly sweep and clean the mat after you use it. Never brag about a submission. An attitude of respect is a must for your teachers & fellow teammates. Anything less will not be tolerated. We are all family. Supporting Strong Heart s Growth & Success By far, the best way to help Strong Heart stay successful is to spread the word. Telling your friends, wearing a Strong Heart t-shirt, and putting a strong heart decal in your window are all great ways to rep our Academy in person. A strong online presence is becoming a growing need. Below are the ways that you can help us online: Like/Share on Facebook (Also, join our Kids & Adults groups) Like/Share our YouTube videos (Mike Martin & Strong Heart Academy) Follow/Like/Retweet us on Twitter @StrongHeartBJJ Add us to your Google Plus circle Write us a Google Review (Comments are appreciated!) Write us a Yelp Review VIP Referral Program We have known for a long time that our best students come from referrals of existing students. Who better to tell someone of all the benefits that our school has to offer? For this reason, we are making it easy for you, our students, to refer someone to our school with our VIP Referral Program. Any student can now give a friend a VIP Membership good for one week of FREE lessons (a $20 value) to a friend. If your friend joins our school, we will give you $20 cash. 8
Private Lessons Private lessons are an intensive one-on-one training session with an instructor, where you can work on new techniques or techniques you are having a challenge with. Private lessons are a great way to see fast improvement. The cost for a 30 minute private lesson with any instructor is $60 per hour or $45 each half hour. A portion of each private lesson fee is applied to a kitty fund for competitors who can t afford competitions. Tournament Competition Although tournaments are not mandatory, they are an excellent way to put your hard-earned skills to the test and to develop more self-confidence in a competitive environment. There are several local tournaments in Arizona as well as national and international competitions every year throughout the country and the world. If you are thinking about competing, make sure you plan ahead to meet uniform (Gi/No-Gi) requirements. Your competition Gi must have a Strong Heart patch and a Caio Terra Association patch. We DO NOT recommend making extreme weight cuts for competition; if you would like to cut weight, plan ahead and just train as much as possible. For kids, we discourage ANY weight cut. There are mandatory Strong Heart requirements for kids who will be competing. This information is located in a separate document called Strong Heart Kids Competition Handbook. 9
KIDS PROGRAM INFORMATION ( f o r c o m p e t i t i o n i n f o r m a t i o n, s e e t h e K i d s C o m p e t i t i o n H a n d b o o k )
Parents Dropping Kids Off Parents my drop off their children for class no more than 10 minutes before class start time and you must come into the school 10 minutes before class ends to pick your child up. The school becomes very busy around class start/end and we are not responsible for supervising unattended children. Viewing Classes Parents are encouraged to watch classes. We only ask that you respect classes be remaining quiet, keep cell phones on silent/vibrate, and if you are bringing younger children with you that you keep them quiet and under control. No food or open drinks are allowed in the school. Strong Heart Student Creed I promise to train with all my heart and with diligence. I promise to improve my mind, body, and heart. I promise to live by the eight Strong Heart Principles: 1. Service 2. Loyalty 3. Balance 4. Integrity 5. Health 6. Diligence 7. Respect 8. Courage Tiny Tigers Student Creed I promise to do my best and never give up. I promise to always show respect and good sportsmanship. I promise to always practice the three ways to focus! 1. Eyes 2. Ears 3. Body Parent/Teacher Approval One of our main objectives is to develop well-rounded students, not only in martial arts but in life as well. Before a student is awarded their new belt, s/he must be doing his/her best at home and school. Approval from teachers and parent(s) is required to receive a new belt. Phrases to Know: Instructor: Attention Stance! Student: Focused and Ready, Sir! Instructor: Last one! Student: Best one, Sir! Instructor: Eyes on who? Student: Eyes on you, Sir! Instructor: Always do your what? Student: My best, Sir! Any time an instructor asks you a question, reply with Yes, Sir/Ma am! 11
The 12 Secrets of Being a Black Belt Parent Secret #1: Black Belt Parents never interact with their children during class. They realize that watching a martial arts class is just like observing their child in regular school, and the instructor is the only person in charge. Interrupting or interacting with their child would be disrespectful to the instructor and distracting to all the other students. Please refrain from all interaction unless asked by the instructor. Secret #2: Black Belt parents always bring something quiet to do during their child s class. They know that talking is disruptive to the class and to the other parents who are reading or working quietly. If Black Belt Parents want to socialize, they go outside until the class is over. Black belt parents do not stand or wait by the door, front counters or anywhere which prevents flow of traffic in the school. Secret #3: Black Belt Parents always keep their future Black Belts and Tiny Tigers-to-be (ages 0 and up) under control and quiet during older sibling classes. Crying, screaming or rowdy children can be a major distraction to class. Black Belt Parents know this and always take overly enthusiastic little ones outside. Secret #4: Black Belt Parents realize that our school is not a daycare center, so they drop and pick up their children promptly. They realize that the front desk cannot be and is not responsible for kids left unattended. If a child MUST unavoidably be left for extra time, Black Belt Parents always alert the staff and make sure their child knows where to sit quietly and wait. Secret #5: Black Belt Parents know and practice all school rules and policies. They follow and enforce these rules with their children. When Mom and Dad follow the school rules and regulations, then their child is more likely to follow their example. This starts at the front door, where everyone is to bow and greet the instructors when entering and leaving the school. Secret #6: Black Belt Parents pay attention to what their children are learning in class and reinforce their positive behavior at home. They realize that as parents, they are an important part of the school s team and help their children improve by working with the instructors and staying informed. Secret #7: Black Belt Parents know that their child is an individual who will progress at their own rate. They never compare a child to their sibling or other students. They encourage and support each child s progress and help them to set and achieve realistic goals. Secret #8: Black Belt Parents remember why their child joined Karate in the first place, not to just memorize forms, but to improve themselves as people. Black Belt Parents are never harsh or pushy with instructors about how fast their child is learning. Black Belt Parents take a moment to see how their child is improving as a whole person, realizing that rank graduation is just a part of the big picture. Secret #9: Black Belt Parents know that if they have a concern about their child s training, progress or about the school, they should go directly to the instructor and not complain to the parents. Black Belt Parents never start or participate in gossip. In fact, they do their best to stop it. Secret #10: Black Belt Parents are encouraging to all the other students in the school during class, testing and demonstrations. They know that through their example, their children will also learn to encourage and support everyone at our Martial Arts School. Secret #11: Black Belt Parents always make sure that they and their children show respect and courtesy when attending tournaments or any other Martial Arts functions. They especially avoid confrontations with judges and other parents. Showing respect and courtesy is a great way to teach their children to be good sports, whether they win or lose. If they do have a concern, they respectfully take it to the tournament director or to an event staff member. Secret #12: Black Belt Parents will always help their children set goals both in and out of Martial Arts class. Black Belt Parents explain the 4 part process of setting and achieving goals (Set Goal, Write it Down, Make a Plan, Take Action). Black Belt Parents know that goal setting will help their child develop perseverance and self discipline which is necessary to stick to their commitments and achieve great personal success.