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online self defense for girls

Create a martial arts experience at home.

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online self defense for girlsStepping onto the big blue mats at the martial arts academy was overwhelming for me and my daughters. I’d like to share a few observations from that experience then show you how to create a martial arts experience at home. You’ll be happy you did plus you’ll save a ton of money and your girls will learn valuable life skills! Oh, and you’ll have clean mats, just saying.

Not enough time.

Learning a martial art was not on my radar as a mother of two daughters when they were little. There were too many other activities to conquer like soccer, piano, American Heritage Girls, and the list goes on and on. There wasn’t enough time, but I valued the idea. By creating a martial arts experience at home, I was able to add a valuable life skill to my daughters’ character development.

(BTW, if you are an American Heritage Girls leader, click here to learn about earning the Martial Arts Sports Pin and more Program Alliance info.)

Fear vs. fun.

Then suddenly, I had a tween and a teen. How did that happen so fast? The outside world was just around the corner. I think my fear of bad guys and bullies was greater than theirs. After all, they had not experienced anything truly terrifying (praise the Lord), but the threat is real. The dangers of human trafficking and rape are real. How can I prepare my daughters for such evil at age-appropriate levels?

Great question! My husband and I choose the martial art called Brazilian jiu-jitsu. For a quick history lesson and its benefits for girls and the self-defense application, I recommend you read my blog “Why your daughter should learn Brazilian jiu-jitsu for self-defense.”

We signed up (Wowza, a one-year contract was required) and entered a whole new world. So many protocols to follow, bowing, hand slapping, knuckle bumping. What in the world was happening? Then, the physical nature of the jiu-jitsu. Wow, that took some time to get used to especially for me and my daughters. Suddenly men of all shapes and sizes were rolling around with us (and sweating on us …. EW).

I knew the experience was worth the momentary discomfort. We pushed through difficult moments knowing the outcome was greater. Now there’s a message to be made there, but I’ll push onward.

I continued the training and six years later, I’m a purple belt, certified instructor. My daughters couldn’t wait to finish the year and I had to drag them to class most of the time.

During that time, I learned valuable lessons about mainstream martial arts. There is a certain type of audience, mostly male-influenced coaching styles that do not motivate the mind of girls. The structure is tight, disciplined and rigid. The message is for the underdog or the bully, again, mostly for boys whose parents want them to be disciplined or toughened up.

The desired outcomes I had for my daughters did not match. I wanted values like courage, confidence and self-defense skills. When I turned to YouTube for online instruction, I found aggressive krav-maga style training suitable for adults, but not children.

Thus, I created The Great Flip, online self-defense videos, lesson plans and curriculum to introduce girls, ages six and older, to the martial art Brazilian jiu-jitsu. I walk you through the steps to recreate a martial arts experience at home using my program.

Follow these steps to create a martial arts experience at home:

Now you and your daughter can learn simple self-defense skills in a controlled environment where you control the message, the mindset, and motivation. Feel free to contact me if you have questions. Be sure to request a free video. You can also download a free sample of My Anti-Bully Ebook here. 

Don’t let fear or germs stop your pursuit to try something new!

Create a martial arts experience at home with The Great Flip. I’ll coach you and give you a successful experience and your daughters will be stronger for it (and you too!)

 

online self defense for girls

A martial art tradition called “the bow.”

Why bow in the martial arts? Bowing is a common practice in the martial arts community. I participate in the bow when I  step on and off the mat. I also bow to the instructor and to my teammates at the beginning and the end of class.

To me, the bow is a symbol of respect, humility and gratitude. These three attributes are expressed not only toward the head instructor but also to my teammates.

When I step onto the mat, I bow to symbolize clearing my mind. I go into the lesson as a blank canvas ready to learn. Many jiu-jitsu academies post the expression “Leave your ego at the door”.  Students who stand on the mat with inflated egos go against everything the bow represents.

What does the bow mean to you?

“Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 2:3-5

This is The Great Flip.

back to school

Jesus goes before me in all walks of life. He knows I have an inflated ego. He knows I am self-centered. My ego always gets in the way. And if you are introspective, you can admit that your ego, your self-centeredness, gets in the way too. If I bow in obedience, I bow in self-centeredness and ego. This is not a Christian issue, this is a humankind issue.

There is good news from the Christian world view. Read the Bible verse carefully. Go to your Bible and read the entire chapter in its context.

“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus.”

I bow in my identity in Christ Jesus. The ability to be humble and gracious comes only from Christ Jesus. He will be humble for me. He will be gracious in me. Through his death on the cross, He takes my ego and buries it. He takes all my self-centeredness and nails it to the cross. Now every promise from God is mine “which is yours in Christ Jesus.” Now I can freely bow in my new identity with respect, humility and gratitude.

The Great Flip is the only self-defense, safety and faith-based empowerment program for girls! Join the movement!

Select an online plan

 

See you on the mat! – Coach Jody

online self-defense for girls

 The Great Flip is an American Heritage Girls Program Alliance

 

 

self defense from the ground up

Self Defense from the Ground Up

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“Stay on your feet!” This is the advice I heard a self-defense instructor give a group of middle school students. Great advice. But 80 percent of self-defense situations end on the ground, especially for girls. Then what?

The ground becomes a position of power and strength when you train Brazilian jiu-jitsu!

The Great Flip is an introduction to self-defense inspired by the martial art called Brazilian jiu-jitsu (Bjj). Bjj is designed for smaller opponents to dominate larger ones using technique rather than strength. And Bjj is a grappling sport which means it spend a majority of its training addressing self-defense situation from the ground.

  • Self Defense from the Ground Up
  • Self Defense from the Ground Up
  • Self Defense from the Ground Up

Many traditional martial arts like Karate and Taekwondo have nice qualities but fall short in real-life application. Katas teach nice patterns of movements but do not address techniques required when a girl hits the ground and must defend herself from the floor. If a girl can’t be stronger is a self-defense situation, then jiu-jitsu will make her smarter!

The online videos from The Great Flip are designed for everyone, ages six and up. The program is designed to be fun, playful and empowering. Gain confidence and courage in a controlled environment training online. 

Get started in three easy steps:

The Great Flip overcomes these Fear-Factors!

If learning self defense feels overwhelming or scary, The Great Flip is a great place to start. Here are three fear-factors my daughters experienced and overcame by using my online self-defense program at The Great Flip:

Physical Location

  • Yep, a lot of Bjj gyms smell
  • The gym is too far away
  • The gym is full of fighters and not family-friendly
  • The gym requires a one-year costly contract, uniform fees, etc.

Physical Touch

  • You have to train and roll around with strangers
  • Yep, some strangers smell and are sweaty
  • You might be the only girl at the gym

Physical Fitness

  • You aren’t in shape yet
  • You can’t afford to join a Bjj gym and a fitness center

I developed The Great Flip to give everyone a positive experience.

A Better Experience at The Great Flip

  • Set up a simple training space (home gym). Read this blog to see my simple home gym set up (trust me, it’s very simple)
  • Train with familiar, trusted family and friends
  • Get in shape while you learn empowering life skills

From the Ground Up Skills you will learn as a subscriber

  • Ground Escape Drills
  • Bridges
  • Hip Escapes
  • Hip Bumps
  • Arm Locks
  • Arm Bars
  • Triangles
  • Punch Protection from the Ground

Here’s a glimpse into one on the ground drills you can learn. Find this and other promotional videos on my YouTube Channel at The Great Flip Self Defense. Be sure to subscribe!

Begin your self-defense journey with The Great Flip! Click here to get started!

See you on the mat! – Coach Jody

online self-defense for girls reduces fear

Online Self-Defense for Girls Reduces Fear and Builds Confidence

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Yes, online self-defense for girls does reduce fear and it builds confidence! The Great Flip was featured in the news with this headline!

I spoke to a Dad the other day who is using The Great Flip videos for his seven year-old daughter. She was very anxious about the big gym experience. Now they are learning self defense at home and her confidence is blooming!

Want to learn more about the three most common fear-factors girls experience and how online self-defense is removing these obstacles? Listen to my podcast

If you are looking to share news and information about my online self-defense program for girls, feel free to use this content. You can also contact me directly through my contact form on the website or my email address at jody@thegreatflip.com

 

Online Self-Defense for Girls Reduces Fear and Builds Confidence

Contact: Jody Token, jody@thegreatflip.com

ST. LOUIS, Sept. 10, 2018 /Christian Newswire/ — Online instructional videos from The Great Flip www.thegreatflip.com give girls a unique way to learn self-defense skills to reduce fear and increase confidence.American Heritage Girls, the national faith-based character development organization for girls named The Great Flip its newest Further Learning Program Alliance partner.

“Self-defense training can be scary for girls. The mere mention of attackers and bullies create anxiety,” says founder and coach, Jody Token. She developed the website www.TheGreatFlip.com to give girls, ages six to 18, a positive experience learning self-defense.

“Now girls can train in their own comfortable environments. When fear-factors are removed, girls can focus on mastering techniques and gain confidence,” says Token. “And no more stinky gyms,” she added.

online self-defense for girls
The Great Flip introduces girls to a martial art called Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ). BJJ promotes the concept that a smaller, weaker person can defend them self against a bigger, stronger assailant using proper technique, leverage, and most notably, taking the fight to the ground.”Statistics show that most self-defense situations end on the ground, especially for girls,” Token explains. “No other marital art addresses the ground game like BJJ,” adds Token.Token leads the girls through a series of simple jiu-jitsu techniques addressing movement and safety from the ground and standing. She teaches effective escapes and attacks. The videos are less than three minutes and are meant to be watched, repeated and practiced until mastery. Many can be found on YouTube and Vimeo by searching “The Great Flip Self Defense for girls.”The Great Flip is a subscription-based website. Families with daughters, home-schoolers, American Heritage Girls, athletic directors, physical fitness educators, Directors of Christian Education, youth ministers and camp directors utilize The Great Flip to meet their fitness, faith and team-building goals.The Great Flip website also provides nutrition resources and faith-based motivation. Token is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu certified instructor and purple belt. She has spent twenty years inspiring young women to be tomorrow’s leaders in the nonprofit industry. She and her husband have two daughters who encouraged her to create The Great Flip.”No one has combined a martial art and a Christian worldview like The Great Flip,” says Token. Visit the website at www.thegreatflip.com.

Click 2 Ways to Join 

 

jiu-jitsu for self-defense

Why Girls Should Learn Jiu-jitsu for Self-Defense

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Why should girls learn jiu-jitsu for self-defense? I’m pretty sure (or at least I hope) we are in a place in our culture to already know girls are equally capable to participate in martial arts and learn basic self-defense skills. And like it or not, the necessity is real. Statistics reveal that girls are just as likely to be bullied by peers and more likely to be victimized into womanhood. Because we live in a broken world, girls must learn to defend themselves, therefore learning a martial art is a viable option. But why should a girl learn Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) for self-defense? And what additional benefits does self-defense training offer a girl?

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Jiu-jitsu for self-defense

jiu-jitsu for self-defense

BJJ is designed for weaker, smaller opponents to dominate larger ones using technique rather than strength. My husband and I have two daughters. We discovered jiu-jitsu was the best option for me and our girls. Many traditional martial arts like Karate and Taekwondo have nice qualities but fall short in real-life application. Katas teach nice patterns of movements but do not address any kind of movement required when a girl hits the ground and must defend herself from the floor. In jiu-jitsu, the game is won on the ground. Jiu-jitsu includes techniques like closed guard, punch protection, arm bars, kimuras, triangles and chokes to name a few. It incorporates Judo which teaches simple take-downs and leveraging. If a girl can’t be stronger is a self-defense situation, then jiu-jitsu will make her smarter!

I like the mindfulness of jiu-jitsu. It teaches girls to assess the situation and act accordingly. In comparison, a popular women’s self defense is the force-driven tactics taught in Krav-Maga, where girls are trained to immediately go for the groin-kick or eye-gouge. Granted, there is a time and a place for exerting force on an opponent, but a knee-jerk reaction may make the situation worse, not better. And quite honestly, I don’t think I could successfully kick or strike someone hard and fast enough (even in their personal space) to deter a mad-man. Jiu-jitsu has taught me to assert myself with my voice and my strong body language, assess each situation and take appropriate action. I’d like to equip girls with the same skills using jiu-jitsu as the foundation. You can read my blog about three life skills for every girl to learn more.

If you struggle with personal “excuses” to begin training jiu-jitsu, read my blog post about the three obstacles I overcame in order to excel at training. Using “The Great Flip” online instructional videos will equip you to overcome three excuses including physical location, physical touch and physical fitness. At any time, click on “2 Ways to Join” and we can overcome these excuses together!

The value of learning self-defense is most likely more than enough to motivate you to step onto the mats right now and begin training, but I’ve discovered BJJ has so much more to offer than self-defense training. And if you gather your friends and train with me at The Great Flip you too will discover these benefits and probably more.

A girl will love her body for what it can do

jiu-jitsu for self-defense

Jiu-jitsu erases insecurities by showing girls the amazing things her body can do. When she steps onto the mat, she can leave behind the “image wars” she is battling. She will discover her body for its ingenuity and beauty. Every ounce of her body is beautifully designed to move. Simple jiu-jitsu techniques will allow her to use her body in powerful and amazing ways. Jiu-jitsu utilizes the strength of girls’ legs to control a stronger person and optimize her flexibility to escape a dicey situation. When she steps off the mat, she will begin to see herself for who she really is … “wonderfully made.” (See Psalm 139:13-14)

Jiu-jitsu gets you in shape

jiu-jitsu for self-defense

Instead of running on a treadmill and pumping weights, you can get fit in a small amount of time and space. I didn’t learn self-defense to lose weight, but while training, I lost twenty pounds and gained amazing muscle mass. My health is better than ever. And not only did I get in shape, but I learned a new life skill at the same time. Girls can be physically and mentally challenged every time she trains. And no, she doesn’t need to be in shape to start training. (That goes for you too, mom and dad) But with time and consistency, like any other sport, jiu-jitsu will produce core strength, flexibility and endurance. The Great Flip instructional videos are a great way to begin your fitness journey or supplement your current routine. If you are wondering what you will need to create a training space at home, read my blog and watch my video called “Let’s get Equipped.” 

Jiu-jitsu forms friendship

jiu-jitsu for self-defense

There’s nothing like wrestling, rolling and sparring with friends and family. Physical touch is healing to the body, mind and spirit in the context of healthy relationships. And Jiu-jitsu requires trust. Girls will need to hug, touch and roll around on the ground to learn. They will need to know that when they practice a technique they have a safe place to train, then trust no one will hurt them.

The combination of physical touch, trusting relationships and playful interaction create an environment for lasting friendships. Girls who train together becomes lasting friends who can rely on each other, encourage one another and have each other’s back for far more than self-defense skills.

Jiu-jitsu is a positive role model

Okay, I’ll just say it … My daughters think I’m cool… sometimes. I’m humbled to say this and slightly amazed. I hope they think I’m awesome because I’m their mom, but they have been my best cheerleaders and encouragers throughout my jiu-jitsu journey. They tell their friends about me. Crazy, right?! Girls who learn jiu-jitsu and value self-defense become role models for other girls. Try my instructional videos at The Great Flip and see if you and your girls walk a little taller and radiate a confidence that other girls desire. Click “2 Ways to Join.”

Jiu-jitsu is healthy living

self defense for girls

And one more thing, Jiu-jitsu is more than self-defense. It includes resources for living a healthy lifestyle. This aspect was a pleasant surprise. I could immediately experience the fitness and friend benefits, but as I got to know the people and the sport, I realized I was surrounded by people who cared about nutrition habits. Soon I was consuming less sugars and eating more protein and veggies. And drinking more water! Of course, the focus on nutrition caused me to be healthier and better at jiu-jitsu.

At The Great Flip, I have three pillars of content in my blog; Self Defense, Nutrition and Motivation. I believe these three pillars are intertwined in jiu-jitsu. It is my hope to share my journey and the journey of others who are experts in these areas. It is my hope these resources will bless you and make your self-defense training much more than self-defense training. Click on Blogs to discover free resources. And when you become a subscriber, I have additional content just for you!

Jiu-jitsu is sharing

Do you have a self-defense technique you’d like me to demonstrate in my next video? I have videos being produced right now ready to upload. I can’t wait to make more!

You can watch free videos on my YouTube channel at The Great Flip Self Defense or here’s a link to a video on my channel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHhC__zMvBI&t=20s

jiu-jitsu for self-defense

I’d love to hear about your jiu-jitsu journey. Feel free to snap a picture or video of yourself doing the techniques. Then post it on Instagram with a shout-out hashtag #thegreatflip. Or send the media to me and I’ll post it on my page @thegreatflip.

I’d love for you to train with me and enjoy all the benefits of jiu-jitsu. It’s time to click on the “2 Ways to Join” button to get started. Feel free to send me a comment or ask a question through my Contact Form.

See you on the mat! – Coach Jody