online learning Archives - The Great Flip

Six Reasons Brazilian Jiu-jitsu is the Best Martial Art for Girls

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

Parents tell their daughters to play nice. We instruct them to never hit, kick or hurt people. But the minute she faces a bully, panic sets in. And for that matter, panic strikes the heart of every parent. How should we teach our daughters to defend themselves? Here are six reasons Brazilian jiu-jitsu is the best martial art for girls.

Don’t worry, I couldn’t pronounce it either. Most practitioners go with “BJJ.” Go with it. Now back to my story.

A common reaction to fear, anxiety, low self-esteem, and bullies is a bee-line to a martial arts academy. But which martial art is best?

When my daughters were in high school and soon into college, panic hit my heart. Soon, daddy nor I would be near our little girls. We began to research martial arts.

First, we researched Krav Maga which is a military self-defense and fighting system developed for the Israeli military. It requires a lot of strength, precision, and aggression. Three attributes many girls do not possess especially at a young age. And when confronted by a larger opponent, a girl will not be able to out-muscle the opponent. This style of training might be okay for adults, but not for children.

Two popular martial arts are Karate and Tae Kwon Do. These sports focus on movements and high kicks. These martial arts are fun and will definitely improve coordination skills, but they are not realistic in situational self-defense, especially when the fight goes to the ground. In these martial arts, the “game” is over when someone hits the ground. And in real life, the game is won or lost on the ground. Research reveals that more than 80 percent of altercations land on the ground. A high karate kick might be cool on the mat, but not on the streets.

Then we found Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ).

I discovered the martial art called Brazilian jiu-jitsu. I’ve been a fan ever since. The resources and training at The Great Flip are inspired by BJJ.

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

#1 BJJ allows students to live drill techniques with success.

#2 BJJ empowers smaller-framed people to use techniques and leveraging versus force to overcome a larger opponent.

#3 BJJ introduces children to physical contact in a safe environment.

#4 BJJ is a “grappling sport” introducing girls to movements on the ground which is realistic to self-defense situations.

#5 BJJ empowers girls to build confidence, and increase mental and physical strength.

#6 BJJ is referred to as the “gentle martial art” giving girls a positive martial arts experience.

Benefits of Brazilian Jiu-jitsu

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

What is Brazilian jiu-jitsu?

Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) is a grappling-based martial art where the main objective is to control a resisting opponent. Since gaining control over an opponent has been proven to be easier on the ground than in a standing position, much of the techniques of BJJ is centered around the skill of taking an opponent down to the ground and wrestling for dominant control positions. In its application in self-defense, I focus on control, defense and escapes for girls using BJJ principles. There is no striking or kicking in BJJ, but there is training to defend yourself from these attacks at an age-appropriate level.

BJJ promotes the concept that a smaller, weaker person can successfully defend against a bigger, stronger assailant by using leverage and proper technique. And students of the sport gain a deep understanding of the workings and limits of the human body.

The Great Flip online curriculum will introduce students to foundational Bjj movements and techniques. Students who participate in the curriculum (and continue to revisit the movements year after year) will gain a basic understanding of self-defense skills, prepare for the martial arts environment and improve overall health and wellness. My coaching style is fun, playful and empowering.

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The Gentle Art.

“Jiu-jitsu” translates from the Japanese as “the gentle art.” The idea here is that practitioners can execute moves realistically and at full speed without having to worry they will injure their partner. If caught in a submission, practitioners are taught to “tap” their partner to signify discomfort, and the submitter will release the submission. Jiu-jitsu does not believe in strength, it believes in technique. It uses leverage to overcome muscle and weight.

What you will need to train BJJ from The Great Flip:

Whether you are training at home, at school or after school, you will need these items to get started:

Membership Plan with The Great Flip. Click here to find a plan that works for you.
Internet connection to stream the videos from Vimeo.com.
Comfortable exercise clothes
A designated training space with mats (interlocking mats, gymnastics mats and/or yoga mats.) Here is my workout space at home: https://vimeo.com/289726478
A training partner. (I do have a few “no-contact” modifications to get started, but eventually, you’ll need a training buddy.)

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Enroll in The Great Flip online courses

The Great Flip offers faith-filled empowerment interviews, blogs, and podcasts! Click here.

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

Coach Jody is a contributing writer to True Girl, a Dannah Gresh ministry, Christian Parenting.org, and Homeschool.com.

New Strength

Learning self-defense is fun. It strengthens the body. But God’s power strengthens the body, mind and spirit. Enjoy this devotion and activity with your daughter. (As featured in the True Girl subscription box.)

“He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:29-31

My daughters are small-framed young ladies. Girls, in general, are smaller and less muscular than our male counterparts. If my daughters were to find themselves in a self-defense situation and their adversary is stronger, no amount of their strength will win the fight.

My husband and I chose a martial art called Brazilian jiu-jitsu. The training method in jiu-jitsu says a smaller, weaker person can successfully defend themselves against a bigger, stronger, heavier opponent by using leverage and weight distribution, taking the fight to the ground and using a number of holds and submissions to defeat them. Jiu-jitsu trains the body and mind to not grow weary, outsmart the opponent and overcome the situation.

When God spoke these words to Isaiah, his people were in exile. They had rebelled against God and overcome by a stronger advisory because of their sin. Yet, God in his mercy promised to rescue, redeem and revive them. Not because of their strength or ability, but because of his power, mercy and love toward them.

When you feel weak, powerless, tired and exhausted, God has good news for you. Romans 5:6 says, “When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners.”

Wow! His death and resurrection power gives you new strength to overcome your toughest battles. Remember your identity and your power comes from Jesus!

Activity Point: Pretend and fly around the room like a soaring eagle thanking God for new strength through Jesus! To learn more about your identity and power in Christ, read Colossians 2. To learn about Brazilian jiu-jitsu contact Coach Jody at her online program www.thegreatflip.com. Contact me and I’ll send you a free video!

Bio: Jody Token is the creator and coach of The Great Flip, online self-defense, safety and faith-filled empowerment for girls age six and up at www.thegreatflip.com

#thegreatflip

Feeling worried? Five tips to transform worry into peace.

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

There is a lot of research now about mental health, especially as it affects our daughters. The dawn of social media opened a pandora’s box on our daughters. Research reveals that girls are more negatively impacted by social media. I was just telling my daughter (now in college) that she represents the first generation “guinea pigs” experimented on by the big media giants. The results are devastating. But there is hope.

Understanding the mental health of your daughter is important to evaluate. But offering real remedies to worry, anxiety and fear are key to empowering her to manage her own mental health.

God’s word gives us tangle tips to battle worry and anxiety. I wrote this devotion for True Girl, a ministry of Dannah Gresh and it offers five tips to transform worry into peace. Share this devotion and these five tips with your daughter.

What is the “Therefore” there for?

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”

{Philippians 4:6-8}

Easy for you to say! “Don’t worry.” Sometimes it’s so hard to pray and be thankful when I’m filled with so much worry. Help!

This Bible verse can serve as either a word of despair or a word of comfort. How do you receive these words when you first read them?

Interestingly enough, before Paul wrote these words, he began chapter four with this weird word; “Therefore.” When I see “Therefore,” I want to know what’s it “there for?”

If you go back to chapter three, you’ll find the answer. Paul reminds himself, his church and you to focus on knowing Jesus. He says that “everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus, my Lord.” Philippians 3:8.

Knowing Jesus will give you the power to battle worry.

Paul does not sugar-coat life. He reminds us that no matter how hard life gets (and it will be hard), you have a peace that exceeds your understanding. When you focus on Jesus, he will guard your heart and mind.

When worry knocks at your door, God gives you a battle plan! Therefore:

Pray;
Tell God what you need;
Thank Him;
Experience God’s peace; and
Know that His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

ACTION POINT: Next time you feel worried or anxious, grab your Bible, read a favorite Bible verse to remember God’s unconditional love for you. My favorite is Psalm 121. Read it together.

How can you incorporate these five tips to transform worry into peace into your habits this week?

And next time you see a “Therefore” try and figure out what it’s there for.

Anxiety Remedy Tip – Limit Social Media.

And speaking of social media, if your daughter is experiencing anxiety or depression, help her to identify the cause of her worry. Is she stressed about school? Her grades? Peer pressure? Sports performance? Girls are negatively impacted by “comparison” than boys, especially on social media.

Limit her time on social media. This can be difficult because the big tech companies have designed social media to be addictive just like drugs. I encourage parents to watch “The Social Dilemma” a PG-13 Netflix documentary on how social media’s design nurtures an addiction, manipulates people’s views, emotions, and behavior, and spreads conspiracy theories and disinformation, to maximize profit. Set limits! You can find apps and tools to limit the time your daughter is on social media.

Welcome to The Great Flip, online self-defense, safety and faith-filled empowerment resources for your daughter age six and up. Request a free self-defense video and lesson plan here.

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

five tips to transform worry into peace

The Bible, Mary Poppins, a Curb, A Mirror and a Guide. What?!

/in Empowerment, Motivation, Recent Blog Posts/by coachjody

What are you reading this summer? Do you have a summer reading list? How about a favorite movie? There’s nothing better than a good book or movie on a summer day. Have you considered adding the Bible to your summer?

So what in the world does the Bible, Mary Poppins, a curb, a mirror and a guide have in common? Well, I’m so glad you asked.

The Bible.

I decided to add the Psalms to my summer reads. The book of Psalms is an Old Testament book of the Bible filled with poetry, prophecy, prayer, comfort and wisdom. Whether you are a Bible scholar or a beginner, reading the Psalms gives you a great summary of the entire Bible.

Martin Luther said,

“The Psalms are a Little Bible, wherein everything contained in the entire Bible is beautifully and briefly comprehended.”

So according to good old reformer Martin Luther, if you read the Psalms, you get a great summary of the Bible.

Mary Poppins.

Have you seen the new (not so new) “Mary Poppins Returns” movie featuring Emily Blunt? I know the classic Julia Andrews will always be cherished, but you need to give Emily a try. I loved it! I used a reference from the new Mary Poppins movie in my devotion for True Girl (a ministry of Dannah Gresh). In this devotion, I teach moms and daughters about the use of “law” and “gospel” in the Bible. Just read my devotion (below) and you’ll get it! Just know that everything in the Bible always points to Jesus. Jesus is the fulfillment of law and gospel … for you! When you know this, you can better understand what you are reading.

A Curb, a Mirror and a Guide.

Go on, now read the devotion. As Mary Poppins says in her song, “A Cover is Not the Book,” … “The quicker you’re into it, the quicker you’re out of it.”

A curb, a mirror and a guide.

Written by Jody Token

“If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction. I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have given me life.” Psalm 119:92-93

I grew up under the teaching that the law serves three primary functions: A curb, a mirror and a guide.

A Curb.

As a curb, the law creates boundaries. I can’t help but picture the scene in the Disney movie, Mary Poppins Returns as they take a joyful carriage ride (Is there any other kind?) inside a family heirloom china bowl. At the end of the song, “Royal Doulton Music Hall,” the lyrics explain:

“Get yourself some peanuts and candy floss and go right on in!”

“May we Mary Poppins?”

“Yes- just keep away from the edge of the bowl”

The children learned the boundary (the curb) is there to protect them.

In the Psalm, David realizes the law is a delight because God desires to protect him, not to harm him. Without the law, David would perish in his own sin and affliction. He desires to remember the law because the law gives him life.

A mirror and a guide.

The law and the gospel work together in this verse. The acronym S.O.S. a simple way to understand the mirror and the guide. First, S.O.S. “Shows Our Sins.” When we look in a mirror through the lens of the law, we recognize ourselves as sinners. At the same time, we see Christ’s finished work on the cross in us, therefore the mirror “Shows Our Savior.”

S.O.S. Shows Our Sin & Shows Our Savior

The law becomes a joyful guide to love and serve the world around us.

Action Point: Look in a mirror. Who do you see? First, see yourself as a sinner in need of a Savior. Now see yourself fully forgiven because of Jesus’ finished work on the cross. Smile, you are a Saint!

Short bio: Jody Token is the creator and coach of The Great Flip, online self-defense, safety and faith-filled empowerment for girls age six and up.

Request a free video at www.thegreatflip.com.

Click here to learn more about The Great Flip online self-defense, safety and faith-filled empowerment.

No-contact safety tip #3. Manage your “social” distance.

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

One year ago, two new words entered into our vocabulary: “Social Distance.”

What’s your favorite “Social Distance” sign? I live in the country so it seems to resonate with everyone out here. LOL.

Prior to the expression “social distance”, I spent a lot of time teaching girls about “distance management” and “situational awareness.” I guess if I were to offer a positive result of “social distancing” is the awareness we have regarding our surroundings. I’m still not a big fan, but let’s look at the bright side and put those social distancing skills to good use for self-defense training.

Share this activity with your daughter.

List the five senses:

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Answer: touch, taste, sight, smell, hearing. The senses send information to the brain to help us understand and perceive the world around us.

Discussion: Talk to your daughter about each sense and how it can help her be more aware of her surroundings.

Let’s talk about “distance management” and how it relates to self-defense.

What is “distance management?”

Answers:

Distance management is the awareness of your personal space. Your personal space is anything inside your arm’s length.
Distance management is the awareness of your surroundings such as people, places and situations happening around you.
Good distance management is making sure people are outside of your arm’s length (personal space). Now, it’s six feet apart remembering health and safety for COVID-19 and other viruses.
Good distance management is being aware of your surroundings (all around you).

Discussion:

In self-defense, I teach and drill a “distance management” game referring to two zones:

Safety Zone – Your personal space is safe. No one is inside your arm’s length which means no one can kick or strike you.

Danger Zone – Your personal space is in danger. Someone is inside your arm’s length and they have the ability to kick or strike you. Take immediate action to recover your safety zone.

List ways to escape the danger zone and re-establish your personal space aka safety zone?

Take one or two steps back to re-establish your personal space.
Remember to use your voice to communicate boundaries.

Activity:

Work with a partner (your training buddy). Face each other and extend your arms straight out and begin to step forward into each other’s personal space. Try and maintain your personal space by stepping backward and/or in a circular area depending on your training space.

A little “push kick” dance.

Learn the push kick and dance with your training partner

Click here for a glimpse of the training.

This skill and many others have been modified for “no-contact” training too!

If you have a membership to The Great Flip, login and look for the “no-contact” PDF and videos.

Not a member, yet? Shop the online plans here.

Request a free video.

Talk about ways to greet each other without physical contact.

What are acceptable ways to greet each other without a handshake?

Bump elbows
Place your hand on your heart and slightly bow while verbally greeting your friend
Use your Voice and say “hi” with no physical contact or gestures.
Other ideas?

How can we show kindness to one another without physical contact?

Acts of service, Speak kind words, Compliment someone, Smile. Share ideas …

I’ll see you on the mat! – Coach Jody

Be sure to follow me on Facebook and Instagram @thegreatflip. Post your training experience and use the hashtag #thegreatflip

No-contact safety tip #2. Body language is self-defense!

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

Share this fun, playful and empowering activity with your daughter.

How can body language be a form of “no-contact” self-defense?

Bullies seek victims who look weak. Poor posture can make you appear weak. Strong body language can make you appear strong. Strong body language creates an image of confidence and deters victimization. Even if you don’t feel confident, you can still look strong as a form of “no-contact” self-defense. Now let’s practice strong, empowered body language!

Activity

Place a hardcover book on your head. Now balance it so that you do not need to hold it. See how far you can walk around before the book falls off. What changes in your body occurred to balance the book? What changes occurred when it fell off?

If don’t have a book, find a wall. Place your back on the wall and connect your heels, shoulders and back of your hands to the wall. Slowly walk away from the wall maintaining a correct posture. Walk around the room then reconnect to the wall and see if you’ve maintained the same posture.

Faith-filled empowerment tip

What does God say about your body according to these Bible verses:

“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.” Psalm 139:13-14

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. Ephesians 1:3

“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. 1 Cor. 6:19

Who created your body? Where was it created? How does God describe your body?

When did God choose you and love you?

How can you honor God with your body this week?

Do you remember the #1 no-contact safety tip? What is it? Here’s a link to the answer!

Have you subscribed to an online self-defense plan and downloaded the six no-contact lesson plans? Subscribe here.

The “no-contact” online videos and lesson plans are a great way to introduce girls to self-defense in a safe, no-contact environment and for those dealing with social distancing protocols.

Introduce your daughter to self-defense in a safe and positive way … your way! The Great Flip is online self-defense safety and faith-filled empowerment for girls age six and up.

Shop online plans

Request a free video

The Great Flip is an American Heritage Girls national program alliance! See you on the mat! – Coach Jody

No-contact safety tip #1. Your first line of self-defense starts here.

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

You have one self-defense tool immediately available to you. You have it with you everywhere you go. You use it all the time (maybe more or less than you should, ha!) What is it?

This tool requires zero physical contact. As a matter of fact, this one simple, yet powerful resource just might deter any physical interaction. It can change the entire outcome of a situation based on how you use this resource. What is it?

Share this self-defense, safety and faith-filled empowerment activity with your daughter!

In my previous blog post, I introduced a “no-contact” self-defense plan from The Great Flip. To get up-to-speed, take a look at this blog. Click here.

Your Voice!

Yes, your voice is a powerful self-defense tool. No physical contact required. How can your voice be a form of self-defense? How can the tone/volume of your voice make a situation better or worse?

Answer:

To communicate boundaries.
To communicate intentions.
To yell for help.
To escalate or de-escalate a situation.
Your voice is a powerful weapon. Use it first to try to calm people versus anger people. Choose your words carefully.

Roleplaying activity:

Try different scenarios using your voice. How would you use your voice in these situations:

You see a bully who looks like she may not “social distance.”
You see a stranger coming too close to you.
You are lost in a crowded place.

Use your voice and communicate your boundaries. Stay calm but assertive. Don’t be bossy. How might a bossy voice help or hurt the situation? When is it okay to be loud and more aggressive with your voice?

No-contact Exercise Activity:

Practice projecting your voice during warm-up exercises by counting 1-10 from The Great Flip online self-defense video series. Do not scream, but use a strong commanding voice. Your voice matters.

Not a member? Click here to shop plans.

Faith-filled Empowerment

How can your voice be used for good?

Answer and Assignment:

Speak kindness. Practice speaking kind words to people this week. Use your voice to lift people up, not to tear down.

Going Deeper

How would you describe your inner voice (that voice inside your head)?

What can you do to change and improve your self-talk?

What does God’s voice say about you according to these Bible verses:

John 3:16 and Romans 8:37-39

God’s voice is referred to as “the word” in John 1:1-5; 1:14. Who is the Word?

Assignment: Review, write and/or memorize one of these uplifting Bible verses to improve your inner voice.

Bible Verses

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Romans 8:37-39 “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

John 1:1-5 “In the beginning, was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made.In him was life, and the life was the light of men.The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

Find an online self-defense plan for your daughter.

Click here to shop.

Request a free video.

See you on the mat! – Coach Jody

The Great Flip is online self-defense, safety and faith-filled empowerment for girls age six and up. Learn simple self-defense skills that are fun, playful and empowering at home, at school, anywhere!

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

Why your daughter should learn Brazilian jiu-jitsu for self-defense and train at home.

/in Recent Blog Posts, Self Defense, Uncategorized/by coachjody

If you want your daughter to have self-defense skills, I recommend beginning your journey when she is young (age six and older) with the martial art called Brazilian jiu-jitsu. I will tell you why your daughter should learn Brazilian jiu-jitsu for self-defense and train at home! The Great Flip offers everything you need to create a martial arts experience at home.

What is Brazilian jiu-jitsu(Bjj)?

Bjj is a grappling-based martial art where the main objective is to control a resisting opponent. Since gaining control over an opponent has been proven to be easier on the ground than in a standing position, much of the techniques of BJJ is centered around the skill of taking an opponent down to the ground and wrestling for dominant control positions.

Bjj promotes the concept that a smaller, weaker person can successfully defend against a bigger, stronger assailant by using leverage and proper technique. Students of the sport gain a deep understanding of the workings and limits of the human body.

The Gentle Art.

“Jiu-jitsu” translates from the Japanese as “the gentle art.” The idea here is that practitioners can execute moves realistically and at full speed without having to worry they will injure their partner. If caught in a submission, practitioners are taught to “tap” their partner to signify discomfort, and the submitter will release the submission. Jiu-jitsu doesn’t rely, necessarily, on strength; it relies on technique. It uses leverage to overcome muscle and weight. Jiu-jitsu practitioners know that if they can’t be stronger, they can always be smarter.

Request a free video and give it a try!

A brief history.

In the last days of the 19th century, some jiu-jitsu masters emigrated from Japan to other continents. Mitsuyo Maeda was one such master. Maeda arrived in Brazil in 1915, and settled in Belem do Para, where he met a man named Gastao Gracie.

The father of eight children, among them five boys and three girls, Gastao became a jiu-jitsu enthusiast and brought his oldest son, Carlos, to learn from the Japanese master.

For a naturally frail fifteen-year old Carlos Gracie, jiu-jitsu became a method not simply for fighting, but for personal improvement. At nineteen, he moved to Rio de Janeiro with his family and began teaching and fighting. In his travels, Carlos would teach classes, and also proved the efficiency of the art by beating opponents who were physically stronger. In 1925, he returned to Rio and opened the first school, known as the “Academia Gracie de Jiu-Jitsu.”

Why learn a martial art?

There are many benefits to learning a martial art. Training in martial arts produces confidence and courage. It offers an effective way to be physically fit, mentally tough while learning valuable life skills such as self-defense. Bjj is considered one of the best martial arts as it applies to self-defense situations. It is a worldwide sport with the opportunity to join teams and compete at an individual and team level.

Brazilian Jiu-jitsu is best for children’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 real self-defense situations.
Most self-defense altercations (more than 80 percent) end up on the ground. No other martial art addresses ground situations like Bjj.
Bjj empowers, builds confidence, and increases mental and physical strength.
Bjj is referred to as the “gentle martial art” giving children a positive martial arts experience.

Benefits of Brazilian Jiu-jitsu

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

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 will walk you through the steps to recreate a martial arts experience at home using my online 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!)

Choose a plan. Enroll. Train!

See you on the mat!

A family-fun, “girl-power” approved activity!

/in Curriculum, Recent Blog Posts, Self Defense/by coachjody

The Great Flip online self-defense videos are a family-fun, “girl-power” approved activity!

While my daughters are home from college, we are brushing up on our Brazilian jiu-jitsu skills. You can join us … virtually! Roll out your favorite yoga mats and interlocking mats and let’s roll!

Shop online self-defense plans here.

My coaching style is fun, playful and empowering for the whole family.

Request a free video to try online self-defense!

I trained for seven years and earned my Brazilian jiu-jitsu purple belt (a big accomplishment) when COVID hit the martial arts world and shut everything down. Suddenly, rolling around with strangers didn’t sound fun to me. I decided to step off the big mats for a while and train at home. With the information now available, I’m 99.4 percent sure I’d make a speedy recovery if I got sick. Maybe I’ve already had COVID. Leading a healthy lifestyle pays off in times like these.

But learning self-defense and safety skills is still important because bullies and bad guys don’t social distance!

Training at home with trusted family and friends is a great option until you are ready to resume public gym and martial art gym activities. My online program will help you accomplish these goals at home:

Introduce you to simple self-defense skills for ages six and up
Introduce you to the martial art Brazilian jiu-jitsu
Add fitness with a purpose to your family activities
Add physical education credits to your homeschool curriculum
Replicate a martial arts academy experience (American Heritage Girls earn their Martial Arts Sports Pin)
A fantastic full-body workout!

Shop online self-defense plans here.

My coaching style is fun, playful and empowering for the whole family.

Request a free video to try online self-defense!

Shop online self-defense plans here.

Learn self-defense at home

/in Self Defense/by coachjody

COVID19 Stay-At-Home ready! Who knew online self-defense would become more important than ever. Families and teachers are seeking wholesome, instructional and educational online curriculum. The Great Flip online self-defense is for everyone, ages six and up, inspired by the martial art Brazilian jiu-jitsu, safety and empowerment.

In this blog, you will learn how to set up a training space at home. The Great Flip is designed to be fun, playful and empowering. Each video inspires confidence and courage while you maintain a safe and controlled environment. Let’s get started!

Reasons to learn self-defense at home:

Increase your child’s confidence and courage in a controlled environment.
Avoid the germy gym.
Prep for a martial arts academy experience.
Introduce your children to the martial art Brazilian jiu-jitsu in a safe, positive and affordable environment.

Shop the Plan

Create an exercise area at home. Watch this short video and watch Coach Jody set up her training space.

Oh, and yes, distractions happen. Meet my dog, Brandy.

Now, let’s make your equipment list:

You!

Duh. I cannot wait to see you on the mat! You will be so happy you are learning a new life skill in the privacy of your home.

A training buddy

Grab a family member and/or group of friends. There are a several solo-drills and techniques, but most of the videos require a training partner. Plus, training with family and friends is fun! Go get your training buddy!

Soft training space

Before you start training, I recommend setting up a designated training space that’s soft. Yoga mats, beach towels and even the carpet is better than the hard floor. The best option would be mats. As you saw in the video, I bought the interlocking mats . These are reasonably priced and have multi-functions. The folding gymnastic mats are nice too. You can get fancy and buy jiu-jitsu/MMA mats, but that is not necessary. Bottom line, set-up a training space big enough for two people to train. I started with a 4×6 space and I just doubled it to have a little more room. I use the interlocking mats. I recommend the 8×12 space so two people can comfortably perform all the techniques.

I bought my mats on Amazon. The mats come in a 4×6 package for $20. So I spent$40. Share the price with your training buddies! Or, ask your school, church or fitness center if you can borrow mats! Be sure to keep them clean with disinfect wipes or spray before and after use.

Comfortable Clothes

You don’t have to buy fancy work-out clothes, but wear clothes you can comfortably move around in while standing and while moving on the ground.

No shoes

I prefer to train without shoes. Typically, I’m on an exercise or yoga mat which needs to stay clean. I don’t wear shoes or socks. Plus, wearing socks can be slippery. Training in bare feet will keep your training space clean, strengthen your feet and encourage better balance.

Hair bands

Yes girls, please pull your hair back into a pony tail or whatever you prefer. When your hair is up and out of your face, you can see better and train better. And when you work with a partner, you are less likely to accidentally pull each other’s hair.

A teachable spirit

I’ll be honest, when I started learning jiu-jitsu, I walked off the mat several times completely frustrated.

The techniques look so simple and easy, yet I was unable to do them right away. The techniques take practice. Be patient with yourself. The online instructional videos are designed to be watched repeatedly. And you can watch and practice from the comfort of your own home and training space until you master the technique.

I remember going to a one-day self-defense workshop and learning a million cool techniques. But when I got home to share my new knowledge, everything was mixed up or had vanished from my brain. I had not practiced enough to create the muscle memory. BJJ techniques are simple but requires practice. This is just like any other sport. You can’t expect to hit a three-pointer in basketball or pitch the perfect strike in softball without practice. Come to the mat with a good attitude, willingness to learn, discipline to practice … and you will succeed!

That’s it! Gather yourself, your positive attitude, friends and a soft place to train. See you on the mat!

Remember to tell me about your training space! Send me an email to jody@thegreatflip.com or follow me on Instagram @thegreatflip and use hashtag #thegreatflip in your posts!

Three easy steps to begin your online self-defense training experience.

Choose a training experience.👈
Enroll.
Train.

See you on the mat! – Coach Jody

The Great Flip is a national program partner for American Heritage Girls!

Fun, playful and empowering online self-defense

/in Recent Blog Posts, Self Defense/by coachjody

“Fun, playful and empowering; Great for the whole family!”

This is how a parent described The Great Flip online self-defense videos.

And this is exactly my hope for you and your family. I want the training experience to be empowering, of course, but also playful and fun. Self-defense training doesn’t need to be any scarier than the topic usually is for kids. Learning skills in a playful way can make the topic of self-defense easier to talk about with your family.

This is achieved in my step-by-step streaming self-defense videos suitable for ages six and up.

Each video is three minutes or less and you will learn one empowering technique. I also have solo conditioning drills and “social-distancing” approved videos too. These videos will introduce you to the martial art called Brazilian jiu-jitsu and complement your fitness goals. Oh, don’t have any fitness goals? … well, now you do! 😍

Request a free video

And while we are all at home quarantined due to COVID19, learning self-defense skills is a fun and meaningful family activity.

Give your kids confidence and courage while you maintain a controlled environment. You will discover meaningful time together learning these skills and talking about the value of these skills as you deem appropriate for your family.

And when you subscribe, I’ll teach you how to set up a safe place to train in your home (so you don’t knock over the lamp or hurt yourself). See you on the mat! – Coach Jody

Choose a plan and let’s get started!