In less than three minutes you can learn this self-defense technique

Every video from The Great Flip is less than three minutes. And in every video, you will learn a simple and empowering self-defense skill inspired by the martial art called Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Ready to give it a try?  In less than three minutes you can learn this self-defense technique. Find a training partner and get ready to learn the Wrist Escape technique:

Hi friends, I’m Coach Jody! I will be your guide and coach in the online self-defense courses from The Great Flip. My video library has more than 40 empowering self-defense movements and techniques. And I continue to grow the library each month. Each video is designed so you can learn a self-defense technique in less than three minutes. Once you subscribe to an online course, your videos will stream from Vimeo.

It is my hope to introduce you and your child to self-defense inspired by the martial art called Brazilian jiu-jitsu, which is proven to be one of the best martial arts because of its focus on real-to-life self-defense situations, ability to live drill and focus on ground “grappling” situations.

Self-defense training is like any other sport. It takes practice. You can’t expect to be the best at any sport without repetition and practice. But if your schedule is busy or your martial arts options are limited, expensive or sweaty (okay I’ll say it “smelly”), then my online self-defense training videos might be a great way to begin your journey.

Ready to learn more techniques? Click here to choose a self-defense training plan

Three easy steps to get started:

1. Choose your online self-defense videos.

2. Enroll.

3. Train.

 

Christian School and Homeschool Martial Arts

Adding a martial art unit to your Christian School and/or Homeschool schedule will fulfill your child’s physical education requirements and it adds a ton of value to your child’s character development. Instead of going out to a big box martial arts academy, bring the martial arts experience home. Here are a few reasons why:

  • It’s a fun and healthy outlet to release energy
  • It will improve focus on schoolwork
  • It will boost your child’s confidence
  • It will develop strength and flexibility
  • It will empower your child to overcome the fear of bullies
  • You control the schedule and expense
  • It offers a real-life application to self-defense
  • It’s a fun activity the whole family can enjoy during or as an after school enrichment
  • It puts you in control of the experience

Let’s begin with the last point, first; “Mom & Dad, you are in control of the experience.”

This was the most important benefit to me. Let me preface this with the fact that I have daughters. I was ultra-sensitive to the messaging at a particular martial arts academy. The environment was male-dominate, built for disciplining boys, and lacked emotional intelligence for motivating different personalities.

I wasn’t looking for a participation trophy for my girls, but I was looking for a place where girls could thrive safely. Depending on your child, he or she may not be ready for a co-ed training experience. As a homeschool parent and coach, you get to control the situation and the talking points. You know how to motivate and discipline your child. When you bring the martial arts experience home, you can teach the skills and motivate your child as you see fit. And of course, you get to control the cleanliness factor too; just saying.

Here are four tips to help you bring martial arts to your Christian School and/or homeschool.

Choose a martial art.

I was seeking a martial arts experience that would have a strong self-defense application for my daughters. I picked the martial art called Brazilian jiu-jitsu (Bjj). 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, gaining a dominant position, 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 training space.

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: https://vimeo.com/289726478

 

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.

Brazilian jiu-jitsu is referred to as the gentle martial art. You and your child can simulate real techniques in real-time with a low risk for injury. Of course, there’s always a risk, but Bjj lends itself to learning real self-defense skills with low risks. In my instructional videos, I focus on escaping, controlling and submitting techniques inspired by Bjj movements. Click here to request a free video.

  

Subscribe to a professional online self-defense/martial arts curriculum.

My husband and daughters inspired me to develop an online martial arts experience inspired by Bjj. After seven years of training Bjj and earning my purple belt, I took a leap of faith to bring martial arts to everyone with an online learning platform. My daughters appreciated the opportunity to train at home, train with trusted family and friends and feel empowered. Before launching The Great Flip, I did peek at YouTube, but all I found were sweaty guys filming from their garage. Most videos were designed for older boys and girls encouraging violent and aggressive self-defense tactics. I’m not opposed to aggressive behavior, but for my daughters, I wanted a level-headed approach to their training. Again, Bjj offered the best approach. Children as young as first grade through high school can benefit from my introductory approach. My teaching style is fun, playful and empowering. See you on the mat! – Coach Jody

Check out my streaming videos on Vimeo. Click here.

Contact me for a free lesson plan and videos. Click here.

Find a plan that works best for you. Click here. 

Jody Token is the creator and coach of The Great Flip, online self-defense, safety and faith-filled empowerment for girls ages six and up. Request a free video at www.thegreatflip.com

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

Coach Jody is a contributing writer for True Girl, a ministry of Dannah Gresh. 

Coach Jody is featured on KFUO Radio “The Coffee Hour”

 

 

Back to Nutrition Basics

Any time of year is a great time to strengthen or refresh healthy habits — for the whole household, or just for ourselves.

Since it’s easy to overthink, here are four quick tips:

  1. Nutrition
  2. Hydration
  3. Physical activity
  4. Better sleep + less stress

Nutrition

  • Take the lead by making sure you have a nutritious breakfast at least three times each week. It doesn’t have to be anything big!
  • Involve kids (or spouses) in age-appropriate meal prep. Vegetables and other foods can be more fun to eat when you’ve helped transform them.
  • Make big-batch meals that you freeze — this ensures you’ll have something healthy to eat on super-busy days.

Hydration

  • Have a glass of water first thing when you wake up.
  • Drink 1 more glass of water daily. (If you need to, start out by thinking of it as an extra glass.) Ask the kids to help you keep track of when they have their own “extra” cup.
  • Replace a soda with sparkling water. Bonus: Add a slice of citrus for the taste, scent, and color.

Physical Activity

  • When the weather cooperates, park slightly farther away from your destination than you usually would. Every extra step counts!
  • Exercise doesn’t have to be a full workout. TV commercials are a great time to stand up and stretch or walk around the room — even better if you can involve the kids and/or be silly.
  • Take a short-term class as a family. Check out local gym or community center for parent-child classes.

The Great Flip is an introduction to self defense for girls ages six and up.

To learn more about the online videos click here 

My dog Brandy

Better Sleep + Less Stress

  • End screen time an hour earlier than usual.
  • Model positive self-talk.
  • Add a small, soothing ritual to your bedtime. Examples might include taking five deep breaths (also good for kids), read, or write in a paper journal for a few minutes.

Keep Your Healthy Lifestyle On Track.

To learn more about a whole foods FREE plan for your children, backed By Doctors click here. It will Reduces Cold Symptoms. Supports Immune System. Promotes Healthy Skin. featuring Nutrition Bars, Drink Mixes, Chewables, and Capsules.

https://jodytoken.juiceplus.com/us/en

See you on the mat at The Great Flip

-Coach Jody

The Great Flip is a program alliance for American Heritage Girls

brussels sprouts

Fuzzy Socks and Brussels Sprouts

Late winter and early spring are the longest seasons for me. The weather is cold. The sky is gray. My fuzzy socks feel better than my tennis shoes.

When I prefer to sit inside and cozy up to a good movie, I try and make good food choices.

If you see your friends running on treadmills but eating fatty foods every day, they will never achieve good results. As a matter of fact, I’m bold enough to state that the person who eats better will have better results compared to someone who exercises but has bad eating habits.

A healthy life style is 80 percent healthy eating and 20 percent exercise. So take a little pressure off yourself and remember these simple tips to get through this season:

  • Drink more water
  • Eat whole foods. Less processed foods.
  • Eat more fruits and veggies
  • Get enough sleep
  • Try a new vegetable!

Have you ever tried Brussels Sprouts?

Here is a recipe from Kristi Tatro, American Heritage Girls National Director of Girl Impact. If you haven’t heard my podcast with Kristi, you should definitely listen to it! She shares her inspiring story about overcoming anorexia and her passion for good nutrition and of course American Heritage Girls!

rescued from anorexia and the joy of food

CRISPY GARLIC BRUSSELS SPROUTS WITH SRIRACHA AIOLI

Crispy, faux-fried garlic Brussels sprouts with a creamy, vegan Sriracha aioli. Less than 30 minutes required and entirely vegan and gluten-free! The perfect healthier appetizer or side dish.

Author: Minimalist Baker

PREP TIME15 minutes

COOK TIME15 minutes

TOTAL TIME30 minutes

Servings: 

Category: Appetizer, Side

Cuisine: Gluten-Free, Vegan

Freezer Friendly No

Does it keep? 3-4 Days

Ingredients

US Customary – Metric

SPROUTS

  • 1 pound Brussels sprouts (rinsed and thoroughly dried)
  • 3-4 Tbsp avocado, refined coconut or olive oil (any oil with high smoke point – check bottle)
  • 1 tsp sea salt
  • 5 cloves garlic (minced)

SRIRACHA AIOLI

  • 3/4 cup your favorite hummus*
  • 1 Tbsp sriracha (or sub hot sauce)
  • 1/2 medium lemon (juiced)
  • 1 pinch each sea salt + garlic powder
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika (or regular)
  • 1-2 tsp maple syrup (or sweetener of choice)
  • 1 tsp apple cider vinegar

TOPPING

Instructions

  1. Preheat a large skillet to medium high heat and cut any larger Brussels sprouts in half.
  2. Add to a mixing bowl and toss with a generous amount of oil and season generously with salt.
  3. Once the pan is hot, add a bit more oil to the pan and only as many sprouts as will fit without crowding the pan.
  4. Cover and cook for 1 minute, then use tongs to toss and turn over halved sprouts to cook both sides evenly. Cover once more and cook for another 1-2 minutes.
  5. Shake the pan once more to toss the sprouts and then cover for another 30 seconds.
  6. Remove from heat and immediately add back to the (empty) mixing bowl. Top with minced garlic and season again with salt. Continue cooking other batches until all of the sprouts are sautéed.
  7. To serve, sprinkle with vegan parmesan cheese, herbs of choice, and serve with Sriracha aioli or preferred dipping sauce. These would also be delicious with a honey mustard sauce like this one (just leave it thicker for dipping).
  8. Leftovers keep well in the fridge for a few days, though best when fresh. Reheat in a skillet or (gasp) the microwave.

Notes

*Instead of hummus, you could also sub vegan or regular mayonnaise.

*Nutrition information is a rough estimate.

Nutrition Per Serving (1 of 6)

  • Calories: 106
  • Fat: 4.5g
  • Saturated fat: 0.8g
  • Sodium: 468mg
  • Carbohydrates: 13.9g
  • Fiber: 5.2g
  • Sugar: 2.4g
  • Protein: 5.3g

Credit to https://minimalistbaker.com/crispy-garlic-brussels-sprouts-with-sriracha-aioli/

Check out my self-defense videos on YouTube at The Great Flip Self Defense

The Great Flip is a National Program Alliance for American Heritage Girls

rescued from anorexia and the joy of food

Rescued from Anorexia and the Joy of Food

When Kristi Tatro was 16 years old, she was rescued from anorexia. Her story is a powerful testimony of Jesus as her Rescuer and Redeemer! Now with two daughters of her own, she is passionate about sharing the joy of food and the power of positive nutrition. And as the American Heritage Girl (AHG) National Director of Girl Impact, she can share her message of hope with girls everywhere.

And I’m honored, here at The Great Flip, to be in relationship with AHG. The Great Flip is a national program partner to AHG. I am blessed to share self-defense and life skills with AHG  girls, leaders, Troops and their families!  And I’m thrilled to pass along  AHG’s resources. To learn more about my relationship with AHG, Check out this previous blog post.

Podcast with Kristi Tatro, American Heritage Girls 

If you are an AHG fan, you’ll love the imagery of Kristi and I sitting down at the infamous AHG kitchen table. We had a “virtual” kitchen-table conversation so Kristi could share her testimony and expertise in nutrition.  Feel free to pull up a chair, pour yourself a cup of coffee (or tea) and join me and Kristi in this podcast. And if you are about to jump in the car, grab your smart phone, pull up your Spotify, Google Podcast or Anchor Apps and search for The Great Flip in the Podcast settings) Oh, and funny story, we tried to make a video, but our technology skills couldn’t quite pull it off, so lucky for you, I now have a fantastic podcast to share ! Click the play button below.

The  journey that led Kristi to AHG as the National Director of Girl Impact is inspiring.

Kristi has a B.S. in Health Appraisal and Enhancement/Sport Studies with minors in Nutrition and Gerontology.   Kristi is passionate about the next generation. She spent over 10 years working as the Family Ministry Pastor for LifePoint Church, and Four Corners Church, and volunteered her expertise on the leadership team at Anthem House Church; all three in West Chester, Ohio area. She then joined the team at American Heritage Girls, Inc. almost four years  ago and now serves as the National Director of Girl Impact. She oversees the development of the AHG program, builds strategic alliances/partnerships with like-minded organizations and ministries, secures sponsorship’s for AHG events, and manages the Annual Stewardship Campaign as well as major gifts.

Kristi says;

rescued from anorexia and the joy of food

I recently asked my oldest daughter, Kelsie, what her favorite holiday was and she joyfully exclaimed that it was Thanksgiving! When I asked her why it was her favorite, she told me “all the food and all the people!”

I was thrilled and quite surprised that my 15-year-old was so enthusiast about food and community. It is a goal of mine to raise daughters that appreciate the beauty of food and the power of gathering around it.

Holiday gatherings, in the American culture, are mostly associated with an abundance of food. It can easily be a season of over consumption for this reason.  I have tried to be an example to my daughters by doing my best to follow a few guidelines, especially around the holidays:

  • Everything in moderation.
  • Food is to be enjoyed-slow down, be present, and enjoy each bite.
  • Ask myself “what do you really want to eat?”
  • Ask myself “what is my body needing?”

My hope is that we break the cycle of passing down to our daughters any of our negative attitudes towards food and encourage them to see it as a wonderful gift that God has provided for us. May this holiday season be one that brings about new conversations around our relationship with God and the gift of coming together to enjoy the gift of food that He has provided. I’m becoming increasingly convinced that food is one of God’s love languages!

“God created [food] to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth. … [He] richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment” (1 Timothy 4:36:17).

Thank you, Kristi for being vulnerable and transparent in this podcast. You are a shining light of servant leadership for our girls!

Want to learn a simple self-defense and life skill right now?  Watch this video!

The Great Flip is online self-defense and life skills for girls ages 6-18. You can subscribe to The Great Flip by clicking on 2 Ways to Join. Become a subscriber and gain unlimited access to simple self-defense instructional videos and learn in the comfort of your own home and/or American Heritage Girls Troop meeting. The videos are less than three minutes, easy to watch and learn.

If you are an American Heritage Girl leader, check out this page designed specifically for you at www.thegreatflip.com/AHG

American Heritage Girls

  • Yes, The Great Flip has a Patch
  • Yes, The Great Flip serves as an awesome girl leadership opportunity
  • Yes, The Great Flip accomplishes badge work such as the Martial Arts Sports Pin, and the Self-Defense requirement for Pi/Pa Emergency Preparedness

Yes, you need to subscribe to The Great Flip and teach your girls self-defense and life skills

See you on the mat!

Coach Jody

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me via jody@thegreatflip.com.

You can find The Great Flip Podcast in these free apps (be sure to give me a “like” or click the little heart button within the podcast):

Anchor

Breaker

Google Podcasts

Pocket Casts

RadioPublic

Spotify

Good nutrition is self defense

Good Nutrition is Self-Defense

Here at The Great Flip, I consider good nutrition a form of self-defense. Think about it, good nutrition is self-defense against illness, disease, obesity and so much more.  And when illness and disease strike, good nutrition has prepared our bodies for quick recovery and strength through hard times.

online self-defense for girls

And, by the way, welcome to The Great Flip! I offer online self-defense and life skills for girls ages 6-18 (and mom too) including nutrition resources and faith-based motivation. Feel free to click to my home page and explore The Great Flip and consider learning self-defense at home with the girls in your life. It’s a valuable life skill and great exercise.

What does good nutrition look like?

I feel safer now I spoke with a dear friend and wellness consultant, Debbie Linam who has invaluable experience, education and research on this topic. She shares four tips for healthy living that can actually be accomplished. Yes, we can do this!

Debbie is a mother of two teenagers. She was an Olympic hopeful and her story is quite powerful. Spoiler alert, she didn’t make it to the Olympics, but she learned valuable lessons about nutrition which prepared her for raising a family and living life from a position of prevention not reaction.

And isn’t this exactly the concept of self-defense? Nutrition prepares the body against internal attacks and self-defense prepares the body for external attacks. Let’s do this!

The Great Flip Podcast

Good nutrition is self defense

The majority of the information from Debbie will be found in my podcast. If you don’t know what a podcast is, think about it as free, on demand radio, you can listen to anywhere on your phone, car, computer … and bonus … no commercials. Podcasts have changed my life because they have turned unproductive drive time, laundry-folding time, doing-dishes time, pour-myself-another cup-of-coffee time into productive learning moments. And the content is a relaxed conversation between friends. Disclaimer … I’m no expert in technology, so you may need to adjust your volume. Just click the play button below and enjoy! 

You can listen to the The Great Flip Podcast right here or you can find The Great Flip Podcast in these free apps (be sure to give me a “like” or click the little heart button within the podcast):

Anchor

Breaker

Google Podcasts

Pocket Casts

RadioPublic

Spotify

Debbie will cover these topics in the podcast:

nutrition is self defense

  • The new food pyramid. Well, it’s not a pyramid anymore, it’s a plate.
  • Debbie’s Core Four Habits for Healthy Living:
  1. A diet rich in fruits and vegetables (mostly raw) … that’s half the plate at every meal. Do you have a picky eater? Debbie will share an ingenious way to introduce new foods to your children. Did you know it takes more than 20 exposures to a new food until your child will finally eat it? Wow. Don’t give up, mom! You are doing the right thing!
  2. Exercise. Debbie will share her recommended amount of exercise needed and fun ideas for getting the kids off the couch.
  3. Sleep. I need a nap just thinking about this.
  4. Water. Do you use the formula test or the color test? She’ll share the two methods for staying hydrated.
  • What does Debbie put in her kids lunch box to stay fueled all day? She’s a clever mom!
  • How does Debbie motivate her teens to eat healthy? Don’t use food to punish, but motivate with passion and purpose!why the great flip

The Grace Place

And of course I want to leave you with a message of GRACE. No one is perfect. We all need do-overs in life. And every day is a new day to do the next right thing. What is one simple change you can make? Add one more veggie to the plate. Go for a walk and increase your daily movement. Take a nap. Or drink more water. And click here to learn more about the importance of GRACE and why I named my company The Great Flip.

Bridging the Nutrition Gap

I learned that I don’t eat enough fruits and vegetables. The majority of the U.S. population consumes less than 1 cup of fruit and 1.5 cups of vegetables daily.

My daughters and I take Juice Plus to meet their dietary needs. If you would like to learn more about supplementing your family’s diet with whole-food nutrition, please contact me. If you children are between the ages of four through college, your children will qualify for a FREE nutritional study and FREE whole-food nutrition from Juice Plus. Contact me here and mention in the comments that you’d like to learn more about Juice Plus.

The Children’s Health Study has more than 200,000 participants. Those who participated discovered:

  • 56 percent were taking fewer over the counter and/or prescription drugs
  • 60 percent were missing fewer days of school
  • 61 percent were eating more fruits and veggies (Debbie addresses the “why” behind this statistic)
  • 66 percent were visiting the doctor less
  • 71 percent were drinking more water
  • 71 percent were consuming less fast food and soft drinks
  • 89 percent were more aware of their health
  • And, 96 percent were reaping a positive benefit!

Contact me to learn more about participating in the the Children’ Study. And Debbie is more than happy to offer her consultation too. She’s awesome! To begin your own research, click here 

Online Self Defense with The Great Flip

online self-defense for girls

And don’t forget to check out my awesome self-defense program for girls. You can learn self-defense online at home with your family by subscribing to The Great Flip! A subscription gives you unlimited access to all my instructional videos.  The Great Flip is an introduction to self-defense with simple, yet powerful movements. Learning self-defense with a group of girl friends at home, school and youth groups is a great team-building activity. Learn more about the subscription options here.  Just like nutrition, you’ll never regret giving her the gift of self-defense. Check it out here.

See you on the mat! – Coach Jody

PS. You can find a few free videos on YouTube and Vimeo!