Self Defense Archives - The Great Flip

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!

Click here to read more about the benefits of Online Martial Arts

Contact Coach Jody

Follow me @thegreatflip on Facebook, Instagram and Vimeo

Parents Take Child’s Protection Into Their Own Hands with Online Martial Arts

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

PRESS RELEASE

CONTACT: Jody Token

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

EMAIL: jody@thegreatflip.com

WEBSITE: www.thegreatflip.com

OCTOBER NEWS!

Parents Take Child’s Protection Into Their Own Hands with Online Martial Arts.

St. Louis, October 4, 2023 – Parents no longer need to outsource self-defense training for their children. They can teach it themselves using an online martial arts resource called The Great Flip.

“Not everyone is ready for the big martial arts experience and expense,” says Jody Token, The Great Flip, creator and coach.

“I developed The Great Flip to teach my daughters self-defense skills and increase their confidence. I believe everyone can teach and learn self-defense skills using my online videos and lesson plans,” says Token. Coach Jody

Token, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu purple belt practitioner and instructor, says jiu-jitsu is the preferred martial art when it comes to its application to self-defense. Jiu-jitsu is a grappling sport focused on ground techniques. More than 80 percent of self-defense altercations end on the ground.

Parents subscribe to The Great Flip and gain access to more than 60 technique videos, downloadable lesson plans, and a certificate of completion. Token is the author of “My Anti-Bully Handbook” for tween and teen girls which comes in an ebook or printed format.

Token adds her unique “faith over fear” Christian worldview to complete a child’s empowerment experience. The Great Flip is an American Heritage Girls national program alliance. Token is a contributing writer for True Girl, a ministry of Dannah Greah. The Great Flip is a preferred homeschool resource.

Schedule Coach Jody Token for an interview and feature her on your next podcast.

Contact her at jody@thegreatflip.com

Click here to download the Press Release OCTOBER NEWS! Parents Take Child’s Protection into Their Own Hands PRESS RELEASE

###

Four No-Fight Tips to Overcome Bullies

/in bully prevention, Curriculum, Empowerment, Motivation, Nutrition, 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

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 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.

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

Click here to request a Free Video

Contact Coach Jody

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

My Woven Devotion for American Heritage Girls

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

“You are chosen by God and WOVEN into His image. Your life is to be a living testimony of His love, His grace, His righteousness, and His sovereignty. ” – Patti Garibay, American Heritage Girls Founder.

I was blessed to contribute a devotion to the American Heritage Girls 2023 program year theme “WOVEN.” The 20-part devotion series explores Psalm 139:13-15.

“For you created my inmost being;
    you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    your works are wonderful,
    I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you
    when I was made in the secret place,
    when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.”

According to the King James Dictionary, “weave” means skillfully “unite by intermixture or close connection to form something new.” Psalm 139:15, ESV, says, “My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately WOVEN in the depths of the earth.”

The Hebrew word for “weave” is “rāqam,” which means to adorn with colors, variegate, or be wrought. The complexity of this word speaks volumes about a girl’s identity in Christ. The color breathed into her life testifies to her inherent beauty. The variations of threads used to weave her together confirm God’s intention of unique and diverse attributes among His creation.

And when a girl understands that God intentionally and carefully wrought her into being, she can be confident that she was created on purpose for a purpose.

To learn more about the amazing ministry at American Heritage Girls, click here.

In an age when society destroys a girl’s self-image and promotes the fluidity of her identity, she can find grounding and comfort in understanding how she was WOVEN by her Creator for her well-being and time and place in this world.

My devotion explores Psalm 139:15

“My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.”

God’s secret place will always be a place of protection for you.

Woven in Secret

Do you have a secret place? Imagine finding a space under the stairs or a cozy spot in a closet. Would you decorate it with fluffy pillows and fuzzy blankets? How about adding a little lamp or

flashlight? Now bring your favorite smooth-tipped pens, colored pencils, and fat markers. Grab a journal and extra sheets of paper. Begin sketching pictures and writing poems and prayers. Now hang the drawings on the walls around you. Wow! You’ve created quite a secret place! Your secret place has pillows and blankets.

What’s in God’s secret place?

A Promise. Just to be clear, the phrase “secret place” is not a bad place. Sometimes we use the word “secret” to hide something. But God is not concealing anything—quite the opposite. His place is filled with His promise never to leave you. Psalm 139:7-8, NIV, begins by asking, “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?” And it concludes with, “If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.”

Our Identity.

The “secret place” in Psalm 139:15 is in a mother’s womb as her child develops. God is there. Psalm 139:15, ESV, says you were intricately WOVEN. The word “intricately” means He knows every part of you because he made you. You are His beautiful creation. Our identity is created by God. Our identity is in God. He made you with a plan and a purpose.

Our Protection.

The Hebrew meaning of the phrase “secret place” describes God’s protection. King David recalls many times when God came to his rescue. In Psalm 27:5, ESV, he writes, “For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock.” God’s secret place is a place of protection for you.

Our Home.

You are not a visitor or stranger to God’s secret place. You are home with God. Psalm 91:1, ESV, says, “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.” To dwell with God is to be at home with God. Jesus. Jesus is your secret place. He made you in the secret place and intricately wove you together in your mother’s womb. Our life is now hidden with Christ in God according to Colossians 3:3. Jesus calls us to abide in Him because He abides with us. “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:4-5, ESV)

Jody Token
Coach and creator of The Great Flip
Developer of AHG’s The Great Flip Patch Program
Contributor to AHG’s Free to Grow Patch Program

Discussion

• Do you have a special place that is yours to go and be alone and away from others?
• How does it feel to know that God is always there, even in your secret place, and knows
everything about you?
• How can you create a space, either physically or in your heart, that is welcoming to God and
invites His protection over you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your protection over my life, even in secret places. I am glad that
You see me even when no one else does. Thank You for how You wove me together in secret from
the very beginning. Please draw me close to You in all of my secret places now. In the name of
Your loving Son, Jesus, amen.

Activity

Supplies: Paper, writing utensils (pens, pencils, markers, etc.), pillows, and other decorations
Create a “secret” place of your own!
1. Write out some of your favorite Bible verses and prayers that remind you of God’s great
love for you.
2. Ask permission for a small, special place you can use for quiet time away from others.
This could be a closet, under-stair cubby, playhouse, or treehouse.
3. Decorate your special place with your favorite Bible verses, prayers, pillows, and other
decorations.
4. Spend time in your quiet place alone with God, reading His Word, and thanking Him for
the beautiful ways He uniquely wove you.

The Great Flip is honored to be an American Heritage Girls national program alliance! This means AHG troops and families can subscribe to my online martial arts program to:

Complete the “self-defense” requirements for the Emergency Preparedness Badge
Earn the Martial Arts Sports Pin
Create leadership opportunities for girl advancement
Earn The Great Flip Patch
Learn self-defense, safety and faith-filled empowerment skills!

Request a free video and an AHG discount code

Click here and visit The Great Flip AHG Page

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.

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“The Deep Magic will be Appeased” and Three Lenten Devotions

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

The season of Lent, for me, is a time to remember God’s amazing grace, mercy and sacrifice for me. I know a lot of people give up things like food, drinks, activities, etc. to create time to pursue more of God. There is nothing wrong with fasting during this season. Those activities are meant to help us return to the Lord in a spirit of repentance.

But consider “the great flip” in this way of thinking. Instead of “doing more for God” try remembering all that God has done for you. Put yourself in a position to recognize all the gifts the Lord continues to give you every day. Consider that even the act of repentance is a gift. Remember, the top priority of the Lenten Season is the cross. Christ crucified for you. Then the joy of forgiveness and Easter morning will be all the more spectacular!

Here are three devotions to share with your children for the season of Lent:

The Deep Magic will be Appeased.

But now, once for all time, he has appeared at the end of the age to remove sin by his own death as a sacrifice.

{ Hebrews 9:26 }

Have you read Narnia’s “The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe?” There’s a difficult scene where the lion, Aslan, appears to be defeated by the white witch. All because the boy, Edmond, was selfish, stubborn, and made a terrible mistake. The boy should have paid the price for his sin. Instead, Aslan sacrifices himself and saves Edmond. What appears to be a terrible defeat turns out to be a great victory. (Spoiler Alert! Read the book for the full story!)

“Narnia” written by C. S. Lewis, is also a story of the sacrifice of Jesus. We are selfish, stubborn people. We make horrible mistakes. We deserve punishment for our wrongdoings. But God in his great love for you, sent his son Jesus, to pay the price for your sins. It’s a difficult scene to watch Jesus die on the cross. But his great sacrifice is now your greatest victory.

Action Point: Write a letter or say a prayer to Jesus and confess your sins. Say you are sorry to him. Spoiler Alert! He is faithful to forgive your sins because of His sacrifice for you!

Restore me, and I will be restored.

The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.

{ Psalm 51:17}

Have you ever done something so terrible you thought it was unforgivable?

King David did. He had committed a terrible sin. David was crushed for the bad thing he had done. He saw no way to make himself right before God.

When your heart is broken, God will not reject you. You are experiencing a beautiful gift from God. It’s called repentance. To repent is to turn away from the bad and to turn toward the good. In Lamentations 5:21, the people realized only God can turn them back to him.

“Restore us, O Lord, and bring us back to you again! Give us back the joys we once had!”

And when God restores your broken heart, he also restores assurance of His forgiveness.

“But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.” 1 John 1:9

Action Point: How is God turning you back to him? Repent and read Psalm 51.

How to sit at Jesus’ feet.

Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught.

{ Luke 10:17 }

How do you like to worship? Do you like to sing songs? Do you enjoy praying and reading the Bible, Or how about serving as an act of worship?

If your worship is more about what you do, then you might like the Bible story about two sisters who worshiped Jesus. One worshiped by focusing her attention on what she was doing for him. One worshiped by focusing her attention on what Jesus was doing for her.

There is nothing wrong with singing, praying, reading, and serving as acts of worship. Jesus instructs us to do those things, not to earn God’s love, but because we already have it.

The kind of worship Jesus seeks is the acknowledgment of his gifts to you, not our gifts to him. Jesus was so sweet to both sisters when he explained the simple truth that worship is more about receiving from him than doing something for him.

Action Point: Next time you are in church, pretend to sit at Jesus’ feet and listen to all the ways you receive God’s gifts as an act of worship.

Jody Token is the creator and coach of The Great Flip, online martial arts for ages six and up. She writes devotions for True Girl, a ministry of Dannah Gresh. The Great Flip is a national program alliance for American Heritage Girls.

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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!

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

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Enroll in an online martial arts plan.

Set up your training space.

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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

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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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