Competing in a tournament is never a loss! You may not always bring home the Gold but, you will ALWAYS bring home knowledge!

Yes, it feels great to have your hand raised and to stand on the top of the podium but, things don't always go in your favor especially in a tournament! It's never the same as just rolling in class. Nerves, anxiety and the unknown can have a huge impact on your performance.

Competing is a great way to challenge yourself, find your weaknesses, and feel the excitement of performing in front of a crowd. You should always leave with a sense of accomplishment just for having the courage to step out on the mats!

We are so proud of ALL of our students who put their skills to the test this past weekend at the AZ State Championship and you should be proud of yourselves as well! We saw huge improvementsments in everyone's games, students with only 3 weeks of training hold their own against tough opponents, perfectly executed submissions and take downs and we saw areas we need to work on!

Congratulations to you all, Win or LEARN (or both)! #teamdeboa


*great team support! Check out all the De Boa shirts in the crowd!!

What would you do if someone tried to attack you?

Answers I typically hear are "I would kick him in the *****" or "I would punch him in the face" unfortunately, if an attacker sneaks up and grabs you from behind (which is most likely) those defenses are not an option!
One of the greatest things about Jiu Jitsu is the fact that it can help a smaller, weaker person defend against a larger stronger attacker, on or off the mats!
I am a 5'2", 115lb woman, could I escape if a 180lb man grabbed me? I feel pretty confident that I could and if not...I certainly would be able to make enough of an effort that I could most likely attract attention for help or scare my attacker off.
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu helps women avoid dangerous situations and empowers them with simple escape techniques. It is designed to help a woman save herself from her attacker, whether she is on her feet or on the ground. 

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu involves submission and ground fighting techniques. It focuses on gaining a dominant position over your opponent with the help of techniques such as chokeholds, joint-locks, compression lock, etc. Most martial arts need the practitioners to be physically strong to face a heavy-weight opponent. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu needs more of body mechanisms rather than strength, speed and weight of the person practicing it. They can therefore be used effectively by anyone of any age, size, strength or level of physical fitness.

A common way for men to win a fight over women is to knock her down to the ground and control the whole situation. The ground fighting techniques of the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu focuses on acting against your opponent with your back on ground plus taking the advantage of the right situations and poses of the opponent.

It's also great for losing weight, getting in shape and feeling confident and empowered!

One of the most incredible challenges in Jiu Jitsu is finding your own unique game.  Everyone has different body style, different levels of flexibility and athleticism, it is impossible for two people to play the exact same Jiu Jitsu game.  To develop your game you need to take pieces from games of others and make it your own.  Your Professor does a technique one way, you might have to change something to make it work for you.

This concept of being a unique individual in Jiu Jitsu also pertains to life.  In kids class this week we are talking about taking a stand and being "you."  In life sometimes the easy or popular choice is not always the right choice.  That is when you have to stand up and be an individual.

Come learn Jiu Jitsu lessons and life lessons with the De Boa Fam!