Homeschool Archives - The Great Flip

Faith That Overcomes Back-to-School Burnout

/in Curriculum, Empowerment, Homeschool, Motivation, Nutrition, Recent Blog Posts, Uncategorized/by coachjody

It’s go time!! Everyone is back to school. Whether your child is away at school, homeschooled, or a mix of both, their schedule (and yours) just got crazy busy. But even during crazy schedules, your faith can play a pivotal role in keeping everyone calm.

You can give your children faith that overcomes back-to-school burnout! Here’s how:

When pressures are thrust upon your children, whether it’s grades or performance of any kind, take those moments and teach your child to distinguish between the pressures of this earthly kingdom and God’s kingdom. In this world, your child will be expected to earn his or her way to success. In God’s kingdom, their success is a free gift on account of the finished work of Jesus.

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:8-10

God’s Math Matters

Don’t let those two worlds collide. When it comes to math homework, they must study, practice, and get good grades to advance. When it comes to their faith, let it be a sacred place in the goodness of God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense = GRACE.

Since we are on the topic of math, here’s a quick equation to illustrate God’s kingdom:

Jesus + Something = Nothing

Jesus + Nothing = Everything

Heroes of Faith History Lesson

When you try to add “something” to Jesus (your performance), you’ll get nothing. But when you rely completely on Jesus and his promises, you receive everything (no performance required)! The heroes of the Bible were heroes of faith, not works. Read Hebrew 11 for a “heroes of the faith” history lesson.

Need more faith? Even faith is a gift:

“So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” Romans 10:17

And when God speaks, His word works. It is declared to you that you are receiving faith.

An SOS with no distress

This might be difficult to grasp, even for adults. When your children read passages that contain rules like the 10 commandments or language that talks about obedience, teach them the SOS rule. The commandments can serve two functions; First they “Show Our Sins” and most importantly they “Show Our Savior.” We are unable to keep the commandments perfectly, but Jesus did … for us.

God’s Kingdom

We are dual citizens. We live in this broken earthly kingdom and in God’s kingdom. When we walk by faith in Jesus, we follow the commandments and love our neighbor not to earn God’s love, but because we already have it.

So how then shall we live and teach our children about “doing good works” in God’s kingdom compared to the earthly kingdom?

I really can’t say it any better than this:

“Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.” 1 Timothy 1:15-17

Keep calm and keep the faith!

For more devotions from Coach Jody, visit www.thegreatflip.com/blog.

The Great Flip is online faith-filled martial arts for ages six and up. Learn self-defense, safety and faith-filled empowerment with steaming videos and lesson plans at The Great Flip.

The Great Flip is an American Heritage Girls national program alliance

The Top 12 Self-Defense Skills For Kids

/in bully prevention, Curriculum, Homeschool, Motivation, Nutrition, Recent Blog Posts, Safety, Self Defense/by coachjody

You don’t have to put your child in a martial arts academy to learn self-defense skills. You can teach them at home. I will equip you to teach the top 12 self-defense skills using my online martial arts videos and lesson plans. Learning these valuable life skills might lead to a new interest in martial arts, but if it doesn’t, you can still increase your child’s confidence and courage with this online learning experience.

My online self-defense program at The Great Flip is inspired by the martial art called Brazilian jiu-jitsu. I’ll provide the benefits below. But first, let’s look at the Top 12 self-defense skills for every child age six and up.

To watch a free videos, keep scrolling …

Top 12 Self-Defense Skills

Six Stand-up Techniques

The Break Fall
The Technical Lift
The Break Fall + Technical Lift Drill
Wrist Escape
Choke Escape
Punch Protection from Standing

Six Ground Techniques

The Hip Escape
The Bridge
Ground Protection Drill
Closed Guard + Hip Escape Drill
Mount Escape
Punch Protection from the Ground

online self-defense

Why Brazilian Jiu-jitsu (BJJ) is best for children’s first exposure to self-defense

BJJ is a “grappling sport” introducing children to movements on the ground which is realistic to self-defense situations. Most self-defense altercations (more than 80 percent) finish on the ground. No other martial art addresses the ground game like Bjj.
BJJ allows students to live drill techniques with success.
BJJ empowers smaller-framed people to use techniques and leveraging vs. force to overcome a larger opponent.
BJJ introduces children to physical contact in a safe environment.
BJJ is referred to as the “gentle martial art” giving children a positive martial arts experience.

Do you homeschool? Check out my Homeschool Martial Arts Resources!

Four Reasons Parents LOVE ❤️ Teaching Martial Arts at Home

Children aged six and up can learn these skills.

Every Plan includes:

The Top 12 Self-Defense Skills
Progress Chart
Certificate of Completion

Let’s get started! Three simple steps:

1. Choose an online martial arts plan.

2. Enroll.

3. Set up your training space at home and … let’s train!

Click here to Shop Plans.

Request a Free Video and Lesson Plan.

Every plan includes a downloadable certificate and training track to guide you and your students through the Top 12 Self-Defense Skills. Let’s get started!

Hi I’m Coach Jody

I created The Great Flip to give my daughters a fun, playful and empowering introduction to the martial arts. Your children (girls and boys) will gain valuable character development skills by learning self-defense, safety and faith-filled confidence with The Great Flip resources.

My videos follow this format:

My videos stream from Vimeo.com;
Each video is approximately three minutes in length, easy to watch, rewatch and train with students ages six and older (the whole family can get in on the action too);
I teach one technique per video, you’ll see me teach the technique, then watch students of various ages try the technique. You’ll observe the progression of mastery as the students progress with age and ability.
No martial arts experience is required! Simply watch the online videos and train! I have designed the videos so anyone can watch, learn and train together.

Here’s a link to my public Vimeo page: https://vimeo.com/thegreatflip

Yes, you may share a paid online plan with a group of families, co-ops, and schools. I just ask you to not share your account outside of each group to protect my hard work and your passwords.

What are your goals?

For those who want a quick start “videos-only” training experience, I recommend The Empowered Plan or The Strong Plan.

If you want more structure with easy-to-follow lesson plans you will love the Confident and Courageous plans. These plans offer faith-filled talking points with each lesson plan.

Request a Discount Code

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at jody@thegreatflip.com. I answer every email personally. I’m excited to share my ministry and resources with you. We could use more children with self-defense, safety and faith-filled empowerment skills!

See you on the mat!

Give your child the gift of confidence and courage and teach them the Top 12 Self-Defense Skills.

Request a FREE Self-Defense Skill Video

The Great Flip online martial arts is an American Heritage Girls national program alliance. Coach Jody is a contributing writer for True Girl, a ministry of Dannah Gresh and other Christian ministries.

Best Christian Homeschool Resources.

Click on each image and explore these Christian homeschool resources. Contact me to have your favorites listed here.

Martial Art Skills Improve Your Child’s Confidence at The Great Flip

/in bully prevention, Curriculum, Empowerment, Homeschool, Motivation, Nutrition, Recent Blog Posts, Safety, Self Defense, Uncategorized/by coachjody

Do your children need a little confidence boost? Teach them self-defense skills! I taught my girls self-defense skills using a martial art called Brazilian jiu-jitsu. My confidence was boosted too!

Teaching martial arts skills has a positive impact on your children’s confidence (and yours!). Here are seven benefits you can give your children. You can teach martial arts skills using The Great Flip online martial arts resources to begin your journey.

This newfound sense of security can alleviate anxiety and make children feel more comfortable and confident in their daily lives.

#1. Self-defense skills.

Martial arts training equips children with the knowledge and ability to defend themselves. Knowing they can protect themselves in potentially threatening situations boosts their confidence. This newfound sense of security can alleviate anxiety and make children feel more comfortable and confident in their daily lives.

#2. Physical fitness and body awareness.

Martial arts involve physical training, which improves overall fitness, strength, and coordination. As children become stronger and more flexible, they gain a greater sense of control over their bodies. This enhanced body awareness contributes to improved self-image and confidence.

#3. Setting and achieving goals.

Martial arts training often follows a structured curriculum. By setting specific goals and working towards them, children experience a sense of accomplishment as they progress. Each achievement boosts their confidence and motivates them to set new goals, fostering a growth mindset.

#4. Discipline and focus.

Martial arts emphasize discipline, self-control, and concentration. Through consistent practice and adherence to rules and protocols, children develop discipline and learn to focus their attention. These qualities are transferable to other areas of life, helping children excel academically, socially, and emotionally. The ability to concentrate and stay focused also enhances their confidence in various situations.

#5. Overcoming challenges and fear.

Martial arts training presents various challenges, both physical and mental. Children learn to push past their limits, face their fears, and persevere through difficulties. As they overcome these challenges, their confidence grows. They realize that they can tackle obstacles and achieve success with determination and effort, instilling a sense of resilience and self-assurance.

#6. Positive social interactions.

Martial arts classes provide opportunities for children to interact with peers and instructors in a structured and supportive environment. They learn to communicate effectively, cooperate, and develop teamwork skills. These positive social interactions build their self-esteem, as they feel accepted and valued within the martial arts community.

#7. Positive role models and mentorship.

Martial arts instructors often serve as role models and mentors for children. They provide guidance, support, and encouragement, helping children develop a positive self-image and belief in their abilities. The presence of a trusted adult who believes in their potential can significantly boost children’s confidence.

It’s important to note that the impact of martial arts on confidence can vary for each child, depending on factors such as their personality, individual progress, and the quality of instruction. Nonetheless, martial arts training generally promotes self-assurance, resilience, and a positive mindset, leading to improved confidence in children.

You can teach martial arts.

Join me at The Great Flip and give your children confidence. Click here to begin your journey.

Teach the Top 12 Self-Defense Skills, Click here.

Earn a certificate of completion.

Request a free video and lesson plan. Click here.

The Great Flip is an American Heritage Girls national program alliance.

Coach Jody writes devotions for True Girl, a ministry of Dannah Gresh at Pure Freedom.

Four No-Fight Tips to Overcome Bullies

/in bully prevention, Curriculum, Empowerment, Homeschool, Motivation, Recent Blog Posts, Safety, Self Defense, Uncategorized/by coachjody

You can empower your child to respond with confidence and courage when faced with a bully. I think every child will experience some form of bullying during their childhood. Whether it’s subtle or extreme, bullying is devasting to a child’s self-esteem. Teach your child these four tips to boost confidence and courage to overcome bullies.

Speak Up!

Your voice is the first line of self-defense. Ask your child to list all the ways his/her voice can be helpful if a bully is approaching.

A voice can:

Communicate boundaries.
Escalate or de-escalate a situation.
Yell for help.
Build up or tear down.
Express emotions.

Role-play with your child and encourage the development of their voice as a form of self-defense. Help your child choose the right words and correct tone of voice when communicating their feelings based on different situations. Teach them to be direct but not bossy, assertive but not aggressive. Begin with a calm voice, but as a situation changes, teach them it’s okay to be loud if necessary.

(As a self-defense instructor, I encourage children to be loud when counting repetitions in a warm-up exercise. For example, when doing jumping jacks, I will count 1-5, then encourage them to count aloud 6-10. Some children need to control their voice (tone it down, be loud without screaming.) Some children need to be encouraged to be loud. There’s something empowering about letting out a good loud shout! Create space to develop your child’s voice.

Your Inner Voice

A child’s inner voice might dictate the way they express themself outwardly. Talk to your child about the voice inside their head. If they believe things that are not true, give them affirming words to replace the negative voice. Share God’s voice (God’s Word found in the Bible) with your child. Read God’s promises to your child and encourage them to memorize and internalize and recognize God’s voice. What’s your favorite Bible verse? Read it out loud together.

Practice using your voice to speak kind words to each other.

Stand Up!

Taking care of your body is a powerful form of self-defense. Defend your body with posture and healthy habits.

Body language matters

Poor posture can make your child appear weak. Bullies seek victims who look weak. But strong body language can make them appear strong. Even if they don’t feel confident, they can still look confident by standing tall with proper posture.

The ole “place a hardcover book on your head” trick works to improve posture every time. Place a book on your child’s head and walk around the room keeping the book balanced. Make sure their head and eyes are up looking forward. Make a game out of this experiment.

Healthy Habits Matter

Good nutrition and exercise defend your body against obesity and strengthens your immune system to fight off germs. Personal trainers and nutritionists agree that a healthy body is 80 percent good nutrition and 20 percent exercise.

Here are four healthy habits to defend your body:

Drink more water and less sugary drinks.
Get enough sleep.
Eat healthy whole foods and less processed foods.
Exercise every day for at least 30 minutes and decrease screen time!

Back-Up!

Manage Your Distance

Prior to COVID, I spent a lot of time explaining “distance management.” Now, I say those two magic words “social distance” and children understand spatial orientation when it comes to the space between people.

Personal Space

Now that children understand the idea of “social distancing,” you can apply self-defense strategies to their personal space and safety.

Your personal space is typically the space inside your arm span. Extend your arms out in front of you. This is your personal space. When confronted with a bully or someone walking toward you, protecting your personal space will keep you safe (from germs and physical confrontation).

When your child’s voice is not respected, then your child will need to be prepared to defend his/her personal space. Roleplay by stepping toward your child. Teach them to keep their arms up while at the same time stepping back or around to maintain their personal space. Continue to practice a strong voice during the exercise.

If a person gets too close, your child can use their hands to defend themself. If they don’t want to use their hands, they can learn the push-kick self-defense technique. Request a free video to learn this skill at www.thegreatflip.com.

Keep this activity fun, playful, and empowering. Carefully balance on one foot and place the other foot just above your training partner’s knee. Now, push your partner away. If you don’t have a training buddy, carefully use your foot to push open a door. This is the push kick.

Power Up!

Bullying prevention is complex. Begin with those three tips and your child will experience confidence and courage. Add this fourth and final tip for a complete Bully Prevention Activity with your child.

Order My Anti-Bully Activity Book!

Benefits

This 24-page Anti-Bully Handbook (now in Ebook and Print formats) will help girls identify forms of bullying and give them the tools she needs to change the bully culture by engaging their whole self; body, mind, and spirit.

The Great Flip Anti-Bully Handbook features:

A Bully Inventory
Digital bullies
Devotions: God’s Power vs. Girl Power
Devotion: Three Ways to Plug into God’s Power
Role-Playing
Self-Defense Physical Activities
No-Fight Self-Defense “Voice, Body & Distance.”
Health and Safety Tips
Two Online Self-defense Skills Video
- The Wrist Escape Video
- The Push Kick Video

The activity book can be done as a family activity or with a group of peers. It’s done best with adult mentors facilitating the activity to help the girls navigate the sensitive topic of bullying.

$14 for Print format – plus bonus FREE Ebook

$9.99 Ebook format only

CLICK HERE To Order

Want a free sneak peek before purchasing?

Click here for a free excerpt download.

You can teach martial arts with The Great Flip

Take your self-defense training to the next level!

Click here to Learn the Top 12 Self-Defense Skills using The Great Flip videos and lesson plans!

To learn more about self-defense training and create an online martial arts experience at home, contact Jody Token, the creator and coach of The Great Flip, an online martial arts for ages six and up.

Contact Coach Jody

Summer Self-Defense Starts at The Great Flip

/in Curriculum, Empowerment, Homeschool, Motivation, Nutrition, Safety, Self Defense/by coachjody

By the end of this summer, your children age six and up can learn the Top 12 Self-Defense Skills.

That’s right, you can teach martial arts this summer using my online resources at The Great Flip. Your children will learn self-defense, safety and faith-filled empowerment skills!

Here’s how it works:

Enroll in any of my martial arts plans at www.thegreatflip.com.

Every plan includes the Top 12 self-defense skills.

For those who want a quick “videos-only” training experience, I recommend The Empowered Plan or The Strong Plan.

If you want easy-to-follow lesson plans, you will want the Confident and Courageous plans. These plans offer step-by-step instructions, valuable safety tips, and faith-filled talking points with every lesson.

Every plan also includes a progress training guide and a certificate of completion.

Once you have a martial arts plan, you gain access to martial arts videos and downloads.

Each video is approximately three minutes long, easy to watch, rewatch and train
I teach one technique per video, you’ll see me teach the technique, then watch students of various ages try the technique. You’ll observe the progression of mastery as the students progress with age and ability.
No martial arts experience is required! Simply watch the videos and train! I have designed the videos so anyone can watch, learn and train together.

Request a free self-defense video and lesson plan here.

Before you jump in the car and head down to your local martial arts academy and spend too much money, you can teach a homeschool martial arts class.

Parents love teaching martial arts at home! The martial arts will accomplish the health-based and skills-based goals of your physical education requirements. It adds strong character development skills and overall self-confidence. This confidence spills over into all aspects of life. Here is a recent blog post about boosting confidence with martial arts. Click here.

Request a discount code here.

Want to know more about the Top 12 self-defense skills? Click here.

Train. Gather your family together for the training sessions and/or get a few of your favorite friends to train. To make the event most affordable, share a plan with other families.

Click here to Pick a Martial Arts Plan

One more thing … I couldn’t resist this flashback tune:

“There’s a hundred and four days of summer vacation,

‘Til school comes along just to end it,

So the annual problem for our generation,

Is finding a good way to spend it

Like maybe” – From Phineas & Ferb Theme Song

Like maybe … teach your children the top 12 self-defense skills!

See you on the mat!

Coach Jody

A faith-filled devotion

Five Surprising Ways To Care For Your Body this Summer.

(okay, maybe six)

Take care of your body this summer. Eat whole food instead of processed food, drink water instead of soda, get enough sleep and exercise instead of prolonged screen time. These are simple ways to decrease obesity and increase our immune system.

But God’s word says something else brings health and nourishment to your body and bones. Check out this proverb:

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.”

Proverbs 3:5-8

Why trust God? Because he loves you and he is trustworthy!

“For this is how God loved the world (put your name here): He gave his one and only Son so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16.

This is a trustworthy promise for you! Let that sink into your body and bones.

When you trust in the Lord, you have less stress. When you have less stress, your anxiety reduces. When your anxiety reduces, your body becomes healthy and your bones grow strong. When your body and bones are healthy, you desire to trust God and seek after the life Jesus has intended for you through the power of his Holy Spirit.

I offer this proverb, not to increase your list of things to do (I know you have plenty of that). Instead, I offer the proverb as a promise from God. When he says “trust in the Lord …” Remember He is trustworthy.

What are five ways to bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones, according to Proverbs 3:5-8?

Trust in the Lord
Don’t lean on your own understanding
Submit to him
Do not be wise in your own eyes
Fear the Lord and shun evil

Okay, so technically, there are six points there, but I put five and six together.

Now, gather your friends and family to review these tips to bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. Grab a journal and/or calendar. If tackling all five is a bit overwhelming. Pick one healthy habit each week and document your progress.

Here are a few words about food, water, sleep, exercise, and a cool tip about reading the book of Proverbs.

Eat whole foods.

If your food doesn’t grow from the ground or eat from the ground, it’s probably not whole food. (Oh, how I wish I could grow Oreos in my garden.) Learn how to cook something healthy. Go to the grocery store together and pick a fruit or vegetable you’ve never tried before. Eighty percent of your health and wellness is determined by what you eat. Only 20 percent is a result of exercise. Here’s a helpful hint when searching for a new health recipe; I always put the word “easy” in my search.

Drink water.

Reduce your intake of sugar and/or caffeine. Find a water intake calculator and refillable sports bottle to reach your goal. Squeeze fresh lemons in your water. Yum! Put fun stickers on your water bottle as a reward.

Get enough sleep.

Tweens and teens need 10 or more hours of sleep each night. What time should you go to bed to get enough sleep? Try to wake up at the same time every morning. Your body functions better when you have a set bedtime and morning time routine.

Physical exercise.

Reduce screen time and exercise. Create a fitness experience. Start a fitness challenge with your family or friends. Play a new sport. Run around the house. Do jumping jacks. Do something active for at least 30 minutes every day. What will you do to achieve this goal?

The Top 12 Self-Defense Skills fit right here. Just saying!

Request a free video and lesson plan at www.thegreatflip.com )

Read the book of Proverbs.

There are 31 chapters in Proverbs. There are 31 days in the month. Read one chapter of Proverbs each day! It’s okay if you don’t understand everything you read. Keep reading and receive faith. (Remember Romans 10:17 and here’s a good one from Isaiah 55:1 “So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

This devotion was featured in part at True Girl, a ministry of Dannah Gresh.

Click on these to browse Christian Homeschool resources.

Four Tips for Empowering Homeschool Martial Arts

/in Curriculum, Homeschool, Motivation, Nutrition, Recent Blog Posts, Safety, Self Defense, Uncategorized/by coachjody

The martial arts will accomplish the health-based and skills-based goals of your physical education requirements in your homeschool. In this blog, you will learn the four tips for an empowering homeschool martial arts class!

Physical education, aka PE, should be an important part of your homeschool routine. Giving your children physical activity of any kind will create a positive attitude toward fitness. This will cause them to value their health. Regular exercise reduces chronic disease and many health problems related to lack of exercise. Physical movement will improve cognitive function which promotes learning in other areas.

PE gives your child a place to explore skill-based activities such as team and individual sports. They will learn sportsmanship and competition while improving their social skills.

But the martial arts check every PE box plus some. Not only does it create positive health and exercise benefits, but it adds strong character development skills such as self-defense, safety awareness, and overall self-confidence. This confidence spills over into all aspects of life, for a lifetime.

Before you jump in the car and head down to your local martial arts academy, you can teach a homeschool martial arts class. Here are four tips to consider:

Choose a Martial Art

Not all martial arts are created equal. If you want a martial art that addresses self-defense, I recommend Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Bjj is a “grappling sport” which means there is a lot of ground movement, much like wrestling.

The overall strategy of Bjj is to control your opponent. It focuses on skills to take an opponent to the ground, controlling one’s opponent, and using a number of techniques to force them into submission.

Studies show that 95 percent of street fights end on the ground. The techniques learned in Bjj enable participants to escape, attack, or get into a more dominant position.

Bjj is also a martial art designed for a smaller, weaker practitioner to subdue much larger and stronger opponents. Participants use techniques and leveraging skills instead of relying on brute force. All martial arts provide confidence and courage, but only Bjj connects the sport to self-defense in a way that everyone, of all ages, can learn.

Create a Martial Arts Class at Home

You don’t need a large amount of space to train at home, but to protect the lamp and china, you might want to create a training/fitness space. I purchased interlocking mats. You can also find inexpensive three-fold gymnastic mats. If you want to get fancy and go all out, you can purchase professional BJJ mats. I spent $40 on two sets of interlocking mats. I have a basement/lower level in my house for my exercise space. Some people use their garage or a spare bedroom. Many homeschool families get together in their co-op and/or church to purchase mats and find a communal space to train together.

Here’s a glimpse of my little training space at home.

Here’s an introduction to a homeschool martial arts class structure.

Get a Training Partner

You can begin with a few “no-contact” movements and warm-ups, but in order to get the most benefit from the experience, you need a training buddy. Learning a martial art with your child can be a fun and rewarding experience. Inviting your child’s best friend and a group of friends enhances the experience.

Bjj is referred to as the gentle martial art. You and your child can simulate real techniques in real-time with a low risk of injury. Of course, there’s always some risk, but Bjj lends itself to learning real self-defense skills with low risks. My instructional videos focus on escaping, controlling, and submitting techniques inspired by BJJ movements. My teaching style is fun, playful, and empowering for everyone. Click here to request a free video.

Subscribe to a Professional Online Martial Arts Resource

I created an easy-to-follow online martial arts resource called The Great Flip. No experience is required. No high-cost uniforms or belts are needed to participate. Simply download the lesson plans, watch the videos, and train. Everything you need to run a martial arts class is at The Great Flip.

My daughters inspired me to develop an online martial arts experience. After seven years of training BJJ and earning my purple belt, I took a leap of faith to bring the martial arts to everyone with an online learning platform. My daughters appreciated the opportunity to train at home and feel empowered. Children as young as first grade through high school can benefit from my introductory approach. Your child will:

Learn the Top 12 Self-Defense Skills
Follow a simple training progress chart
Earn a Certificate of Completion

Make your homeschool PE class fun and functional for everyone in the whole family. Request a free video here.

More About the Author:

Jody Token is the creator and coach of The Great Flip, faith-filled online martial arts. Request a free video at www.thegreatflip.com.

Click here to choose a faith-filled online martial arts plan.

Click here to contact Coach Jody and/or request more information.

Click here to see this blog as featured in homeschool.com

The Great Flip is an American Heritage Girls national program partner.

Five Ways to Gift An Experience from Coach Jody

/in Empowerment, Homeschool, Motivation, Nutrition, Recent Blog Posts, Safety, Self Defense/by coachjody

As much as my daughters like a great gift, like clothes and gadgets, they love receiving the gift of an experience. Gifts are soon forgotten or lost in the shuffle. But an “experience” lasts a time time.

One of our quirky traditions (among many) in our family is to read a poem with each gift. The poem reveals clues about the content of the gift. To this day, the poem that ended with an exclamation “I just want to go to the beach!” is the most remembered poem and gift to our children. We regularly enjoy gifting “experiences” to each other. They can be as simple as a father-daughter date, a mother-daughter shopping trip or a family game night. Grander “experiences” have included trips to the beach, NYC and mountain vacations.

We also enjoy gifting “experiences” by learning new skills and activities. This year, I bought two adorable Bible-verse-inspired cross-stitch kits for my girls. I guess I’ll find out if they read my blog or not.

If you are seeking unique gift ideas for your children, give them an experience!

Here are five ways to gift an experience to your family:

Match the experience to their personalities.
Match the experience to their favorite activities.
Seek an experience that brings your family together.
Introduce a new experience to stretch their imagination and try something they’ve never tried.
Connect your child to an experience that is meaningful to them like a service project, cause or missionary.

These goals can be achieved through homemade gift cards, poems, and actual gift cards. Need a few ideas to get the creative juices flowing? How about cooking subscriptions, adventures, hiking, a musical or show, and how about choosing from hundreds of unique “products or services” of the month clubs?

Give the Gift of Self-Defense Skills!

Of course, as the Coach of The Great Flip, might I suggest you give them a subscription to my online martial arts? My online training videos and lesson plans are a fun way to introduce your child (and your whole family) to a new skill like self-defense. My martial arts training is inspired by Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Giving the gift of self-defense skills will be an experience to last a lifetime. You will give them courage and confidence. You will give yourself peace of mind knowing they have life skill like self-defense and safety.

Plus, at The Great Flip, I offer empowering devotions to fill your family with faith in Jesus. The reason for the Christmas season.

Click here to Request a free video

Use code TGF10 and enjoy a 10 percent discount on all my plans (except the Empowered Plan).

Click here to review the plans.

Give the gift of an experience this Christmas season!

See you on the mat! – Coach Jody

The Great Flip is an American Heritage Girls national program alliance. Click here to learn more about the AHG and The Great Flip alliance.

The Great Flip is a preferred homeschool, charter and private school resource used for physical education and enrichment activities.

Coach Jody writes devotions for Dannah Gresh’s True Girl subscription box. A True Girl subscription box is a great experience to share with your daughter! Click here to learn more about True Girl.

Enjoy one of my devotions written for the subscription box below.

It’s All Gift

“You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing.” Psalm 145:16

Why did God create humans? Some people believe that God made us to serve and obey him.

Sure, we serve and obey God, but that’s not why he made us.

At creation, God made Adam and Eve and gave them all of creation to enjoy and to manage.

In the Psalms, it says God opens His hands and satisfies the desires of every living thing.

It’s all gift.

He made you and gave you the free gift of his Son, Jesus.

Want more gifts?

You receive the gift of faith when you listen to His word. (Romans 10:17)

You receive the gift of forgiveness when you repent. (1 John 1:8)

You receive the gift of the Holy Spirit and salvation in baptism. (Acts 2:38, 1 Peter 3:21)

We do not serve God to get his love. We serve God because we already have it through Christ Jesus!

ACTION POINT: What are some of your favorite gifts from God? Explain.

JODY TOKEN is the coach and creator of The Great Flip, faith-filled online martial arts for ages six and up. Request a free video at www.thegreatflip.com.

Enjoy this devotion? Click here to read more. These are always great to share with your children!

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It’s All Gift

/in Classical Conversations, Empowerment, Homeschool, Motivation, Recent Blog Posts/by coachjody

These small-but-mighty devotions are written to read and then discuss with your children. Use the “Action Point” at the end of each devotion to facilitate a fun conversation.

How Great Are Your Works

You thrill me, Lord, with all you have done for me! I sing for joy because of what you have done.

{ Psalm 92:4 }

You probably have a million things to do right now. Thanks for slowing down to receive some good news. Jesus doesn’t want to be on your “to-do.” list. He wants to be your “it’s-been-done-for-me” Savior. ukulele

You are not defined by your activity. You are defined by Jesus’ activity.

You are not defined by your activity. You are defined by Jesus’ activity. He worked to create you, redeem you, and give you a new identity in Him. Even your good works are his good works (Ephesians 2:10).

Thank goodness, because sometimes I do good things, but many times, my actions are not all that great.

This Psalm is referred to as “A song to be sung on the Sabbath Day.” God did not give us the 10 commandments like the Sabbath as a list of things to do. They are a gift to us. They point us to the gift of repentance and forgiveness because of what Jesus did for us.

ACTION POINT: What’s your favorite worship song? Sing for joy because of what He has done!

It’s All Gift

You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing.

{ Psalm 145:16 }

Why did God create humans? Some people believe that God made us to serve and obey him. Sure, we serve and obey God, but that’s not why he made us.

At creation, God made Adam and Eve and gave them all of creation to enjoy and to manage. In the Psalms, it says God opens His hands and satisfies the desires of every living thing. It’s all gift!

It’s all gift.

He made you and gave you the free gift of his Son, Jesus. Want more gifts?

You receive the gift of faith when you listen to His word. (Romans 10:17)
You receive the gift of forgiveness when you repent. (1 John 1:8)
You receive the gift of the Holy Spirit and salvation in baptism. (Acts 2:38, 1 Peter 3:21)

We do not serve God to get his love. We serve God because we already have it through Christ Jesus!

ACTION POINT: What are some of your favorite gifts from God? Explain.

JODY TOKEN is the coach and creator of The Great Flip, faith-filled online martial arts for ages six and up. Request a free video at www.thegreatflip.com.

These devotions were written for True Girl, a ministry of Pure Freedom.

To learn more about The Great Flip, online martial arts, click here to get started!

Request a free gift … a free self-defense video and a discount code. Click here!

Welcome to The Great Flip, online martial arts

You can teach self-defense, safety and faith to your children ages six and up!

The Great Flip is an American Heritage Girls national program alliance.

The Great Flip is a preferred homeschool resource.

Three reasons kids don’t like P.E. class

/in Curriculum, Homeschool, Self Defense/by coachjody

P.E. class should be the favorite part of a student’s day! It’s the one place where they are not confined to a desk. But the top three reasons kids hate P.E. class are (Their quotes, not mine 😳)

“It’s only welcoming to athletic kids.”
“I don’t like sports and that’s all we do sometimes.”
“It becomes another place I might get bullied either in the locker room or in the gym.”

It’s hard to read these words. How can we make P.E. class fun, playful, and empowering for all children? As a parent and educator, I want children to be able to defend themselves, but I don’t want the experience to be scary or expensive.

This is why I created The Great Flip! It is an online martial arts resource filled with empowering self-defense videos and easy-to-follow lesson plans for students in 1st – 12th grade. You can make physical education fun, playful and empowering by teaching a martial arts unit!

Review Three Online Curriculum Plans

Educators understand the value-added benefits The Great Flip online martial arts program offers including this feedback:

My program gets students moving and active which improves physical and mental health.
The self-defense skills give students, parents, and teachers the opportunity to talk about the fears children are experiencing and apply faith in tangible ways. Bullies and bad guys don’t social distance. Students will learn how to apply confidence and courage to every situation.
6th grader at St. John Lutheran School
Adding a self-defense unit to your Physical Education (P.E.) class allows all children to enjoy P.E. class, not just the athletic kids.
Adding my program gives you another opportunity to talk about health and safety concerning social distancing, germs, and physical safety.
The Great Flip program can be used across ministries including youth events, family nights and PTO functions.
Use The Great Flip as an after-school program/club.
Use The Great Flip as a community event and a public outreach teaching kids about bully prevention and self-defense skills.

Shop all online courses here.

Students from 1st grade through high school are enjoying my program. Here are a few pictures of students at a local YMCA, Lutheran School, after-school club, American Heritage Girls, and a family at home utilizing The Great Flip.

Now it’s your turn to enroll in my online curriculum!

Click here to choose a curriculum

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The Great Flip is a national program alliance for American Heritage Girls

Four Reasons Parents Love Teaching Martial Arts at Home

/in bully prevention, Homeschool, Recent Blog Posts, Self Defense, Uncategorized/by coachjody

Be the hero in your child’s journey to confidence and courage. When they battle fear, anxiety, bullies, or low self-esteem, you can teach a martial arts class at home. Here are four reasons parents love teaching martial arts at home:

#1. Give the Whole Family Self-Defense Skills.

Middle school students at St. John School warming up to ground skills with The Great Flip martial arts program.

When you teach martial arts at home, you give your family the gift of self-defense. Every child should have basic self-defense skills as part of their overall character development. Why let someone else do this when you can?

Not all martial arts are created equal. If you want a martial art that addresses self-defense, I recommend Brazilian jiu-jitsu. BJJ is a “grappling sport” which means there is a lot of ground movement, similar to wrestling.

The overall strategy of BJJ is to control your opponent. It focuses on skills to take an opponent to the ground, controlling one’s opponent, and using a number of techniques to force them into submission.

Studies show that 80-95 percent of street fights end on the ground. The techniques learned in BJJ enable participants to escape, attack, or get into a more dominant position.

I picked the martial art called Brazilian jiu-jitsu for these six reasons:

BJJ is best for a child’s first exposure to self-defense, because:

BJJ allows students to live drill techniques with success.
BJJ empowers smaller-framed people to use techniques and leveraging versus force to overcome a larger opponent.
BJJ introduces children to physical contact in a safe environment.
BJJ is a “grappling sport” introducing children to movements on the ground which is realistic to self-defense situations.
BJJ empowers children to build confidence, and increase mental and physical strength.
BJJ is referred to as the “gentle martial art” giving children a positive martial arts experience.

#2. Give Confidence and Courage.

A child with self-defense skills is a confident child. Parents liked training at home so their children would feel safe to try something new without adding peer pressure to the experience. The children can practice failing and succeeding in a safe place. Safe and successful training builds confidence.

Training at home builds courageous leadership. Parents are motivated to teach their children to defend themselves. But when I asked a group of girls why they like learning self-defense, they are driven by the idea that they can defend others. Martial arts give children the courage to be strong leaders. Here are additional benefits listed by parents:

Self Confidence
Bully Prevention
Positive Body Image
Teamwork Trust & Respect
Strength & Flexibility
Fitness & Conditioning
Life Skill & Character Development

#3. Control the Message and Motivation.

Only you know how to motivate your child. You know if they need a little tough love or lots of encouragement. Not every martial arts academy is created equal or meets the needs of every child. If your child has never tried martial arts, you can give them a positive experience at home. Make it fun, playful, and empowering. Your message and motivation will produce positive results.

#4. Get Off the Bench.

Extracurricular activities go something like this: Drop your child at their activity. Sit on the bench and watch. By the end of the day, you’ve spent the day sitting in the car or sitting on the bench. Get off the bench! Martial arts are a perfect family activity. Everyone can participate. Everyone can learn a new life skill.

Subscribe to a Professional Online Martial Arts Program at The Great Flip!

I created an easy-to-follow online martial arts resource called The Great Flip so you can teach martial arts at home!

No experience is required. No high-cost uniforms or belts are needed to participate. Simply download the lesson plans, watch the videos and train. I have everything you need to run a martial arts class at home. I have downloadable Lesson Plans, Progress Training Charts and Certificates of Completion. I have more than 50 streaming videos depending on the plan you choose.

Click here to shop plans.

My daughters inspired me to develop an online martial arts experience. After seven years of training BJJ and earning my purple belt, I took a leap of faith to bring martial arts to families with my online learning platform. My daughters appreciated the opportunity to train at home and feel empowered. Children as young as first grade through high school can benefit from my introductory approach. Train at home or with a group of friends at your Christian school or church. You can teach self-defense skills, give confidence, control the message and get off the bench with The Great Flip! Let’s get started!

Request a free video here.

Be a hero. Create a hero. Teach your children martial arts at home!

Try a free video

Enroll in an online martial arts plan.

Set up your training space.

Watch the videos with your family.

Contact Coach Jody for more information

What parents and educators say about online martial arts with Coach Jody

“The classes are easy to follow and worked great for my boys. We had a great time learning these valuable skills together.”

“The girls really enjoyed the program. My daughter used it as her Community Outreach project to receive the Harriet Tubman Award. She practiced with the videos every day for over a month, then led the girls along with the videos and helped them learn and practice the techniques. Thanks so much for such an awesome program. Everyone enjoyed it!”

– Jennifer, American Heritage Girls Troop Leader

For more testimonials, click here.

Click here to request more Homeschool Martial Arts Resources

See you on the mat! – Coach Jody

The Great Flip is an American Heritage Girls national program partner. Coach Jody is a contributing writer for True Girl, a ministry of Dannah Gresh. The Great Flip connects Classical Conversations families to martial arts at home. I’d love the opportunity to connect you to my fun, playful and faith-filled program too. Click here.

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