In our last blog, we shared three of the most common martial arts injuries that we feel all martial arts students (karate students, Jiu Jitsu students and more) should know a little something about. Today, the good news that we’d like to share is that although injuries are a natural part of martial arts training, they can be prevented so long as you know what to do. Read on to learn how martial arts students can be proactive and help keep themselves healthy and in good standing:

Get a Physical

Before starting any kind of physical activity, athletes should make an appointment with their doctor for a physical exam. By getting the proper screening, athletes can confirm whether or not their body is ready to take on such vigorous training.

Warm Up

Muscles that aren’t warmed up before activity are more likely to experience an injury, so martial arts students should always stretch and perform the warm up routine their instructor suggests. Even when the first part of a class is dedicated to warming up, it never hurts for athletes to do a little warming up before they arrive at the gym. Bonus tip: don’t forget to cool down after activity too!

Stay Hydrated

When our bodies aren’t hydrated, athletic performance can be compromised – naturally this can cause an injury. That said, students should always drink enough water before, during AND after class so that their body knows how to properly react to the activity it’s experiencing.

In addition to the above, martial arts students should always make sure they are wearing the proper safety equipment (ask your instructor if you aren’t sure what that is!), and should always practice under the right supervision.

Have additional questions about martial arts injuries and how you can work to keep yourself safe? Contact the team here at Renzo Gracie NH! Our students’ safety is one of our main priorities, so we would be happy to discuss some safety tips with you. To reach our team, please call (603) 777-2775.

If you’ve been thinking about signing up for a Jiu Jitsu class, then there is no better time to start than now! By starting your training as soon as you can, you’ll not only learn some of the most important self defense skills, but you’ll also get the physical activity you need to live a happy and healthy life – it’s a win, win!

Before you head to your training academy for the first time, though, there are a few important things that we think you should know:

1. Don’t hesitate to ask questions. Students often shy away from speaking up in fear of looking like they don’t know something, but if you don’t ask, you won’t! You’re there to learn, so always keep communication open with your instructor, other students in your class, and even those more advanced students you see throughout the gym.
2. Be prepared to trust others. You’ll likely be working closely with other students in your class, so you’ll need to be prepared to put your trust in them. On the other hand, you should also make an effort to show your fellow classmates that they can trust you! Don’t worry if this seems hard to do at first – it will get easier as you get more comfortable with those around you.
3. Know that practice makes perfect. As a first time Jiu Jitsu student, it can be easy to get frustrated if you have trouble with a technique or two. But, you have to remember that practice makes perfect! After all, Rome wasn’t built in a day, and the same idea applies for anyone training in Jiu Jitsu!
4. Listen closely. It’s one thing to just follow along with what your instructor is telling you, but the key to success is really listening and understanding what they say. Each time you enter the gym, be ready to make a mental note of everything you hear so that you can remember it in the future – every tip and piece of advice will come in handy!

As a Jiu Jitsu training academy led by martial arts experts, the fifth and most important thing we want to remind new students about is to have fun. Here at Renzo Gracie NH, we invite students to train with some of the best regardless of how much experience they have – all ages and levels are welcome!

To learn more about the Jiu Jitsu programs we offer, please give us a call at (603) 777-2775. You can also sign up for a FREE introductory lesson at our academy here!

According to Pacer’s National Bullying Prevention Center, 22% of students report being bullied during the school year. Although this number may seem low, if you ask us, it is 22% higher than it should be. But since bullying is something that children can encounter at any time, our goal is to at the very least help them be prepared. Below, we’ve compiled a few of our favorite self defense tips that we believe all children should know.

Use The Right Body Language

A person’s body language says a lot to those around them, and children who appear nervous may be more likely to be targeted. That said, all children should exhibit confident body language and behavior, which includes, but is not limited to, standing up tall and making eye contact. Even when they don’t actually feel confident, just the act of looking confident can make a huge difference before and even during a situation that requires self defense.

Travel In Groups

It doesn’t matter if they are on the playground, at the mall, or walking down the street – children should always travel in groups. Not to mention, they must always be aware of their surroundings so that nothing comes as a surprise. When you travel with others by your side, it becomes much harder for a bully or other dangerous person to successfully approach one particular individual.

Be Ready To Walk

It can be easy for children to want to fight back against someone who is targeting them, but the best way to keep a situation from getting out of hand is to be ready and willing to walk away. Although some children view walking away as being cowardly, the truth is that those who make the first move to leave an uncomfortable situation are much stronger.

At Renzo Gracie NH, we never want to see a child placed in a dangerous or uncomfortable situation, but should they be, we want them to be prepared! That’s why we offer several kids self defense classes at both our Exeter and Salem academies. To learn more about our programs for kids, please give us a call at (603) 777-2775 today.