Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Classes in Malvern Pa

Posted September 7, 2024 by Somnath Sikdar & filed under News.

Jiu-Jitsu for Everyone: Debunking the Myths of Martial Arts Intimidation

Welcome to Dragon Gym Martial Arts & Fitness, where we believe that martial arts, particularly Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ), is not just for the elite or the fearless, but for everyone. We're adding Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Classes in Malvern. So today, I want to address a common misconception that often keeps people from stepping onto the mat: the myth that martial arts, especially Jiu-Jitsu, is too intimidating or challenging for the average person. Let's dive into why this couldn't be further from the truth, and why our upcoming BJJ Fundamentals Classes at Dragon Gym Malvern, starting October 1st, are perfect for you, no matter your background or fitness level.

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Classes in Malvern PA

The Misconception of Intimidation

When you think of martial arts, what comes to mind? Perhaps images of high-flying kicks, intense sparring sessions, or the physical prowess of professional fighters? These images can be daunting, leading many to believe that martial arts are only for those who are already in peak physical condition or have a background in combat sports. But here's the truth: martial arts, especially Jiu-Jitsu, are designed for everyone.

Why Jiu-Jitsu?

Jiu-Jitsu, particularly Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, was developed with a principle in mind: the smaller, weaker person can successfully defend against a bigger, stronger assailant using leverage and proper technique. This principle alone makes BJJ incredibly accessible. Here’s why:

Technique Over Strength: Unlike many other martial arts, BJJ focuses on technique and leverage rather than brute strength. This means that even if you're not the strongest or the fastest, you can still excel.
Safety First: Our classes emphasize safety. Techniques are taught in a controlled environment where the focus is on learning, not on winning. We practice with partners, ensuring that everyone feels secure.
Progressive Learning: You don't start by jumping into the deep end. BJJ is taught in a structured manner, starting with basic movements and positions, gradually building up to more complex techniques.

Debunking the Myths

Let's address some common myths:

Myth: You Need to Be Young and Fit:
- Reality: BJJ is for all ages. We have kids, adults, and seniors in our classes. Fitness levels vary, and that's okay. The beauty of BJJ is that it can be adapted to your current fitness level.
Myth: It's Too Aggressive:
- Reality: While BJJ can be competitive, our classes focus on mutual respect and learning. Sparring or "rolling" is done with consent and often at a controlled pace, especially for beginners.
Myth: You'll Get Hurt:
- Reality: Injuries are minimal when techniques are taught correctly. We prioritize safety, using mats for cushioning and teaching students how to fall and roll safely.
Myth: It's Just for Men:
- Reality: Women and men train together, with women often finding BJJ particularly empowering due to its emphasis on technique over muscle.

The Benefits Beyond the Mat

At Dragon Gym Malvern, Martial arts like BJJ offer benefits that extend far beyond physical fitness:

Mental Fortitude: Learning to stay calm under pressure, to think strategically, and to persist through challenges.
Community: Joining a martial arts school like Dragon Gym isn't just about learning a sport; it's about becoming part of a community that supports and uplifts each other.
Self-Defense: Practical skills that can be applied in real-life situations, giving you peace of mind.
Discipline and Respect: Core values that we instill in every class, fostering personal growth.

Introducing BJJ Fundamentals at Dragon Gym Malvern

Exciting news! Starting October 1st, we're launching Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Fundamentals Classes at our Malvern location. These classes will be held every Tuesday and Thursday at 7:30 PM. Whether you're completely new to martial arts or looking to refine your skills, these sessions are designed for you:

Beginner Friendly: Tailored for those starting from scratch, ensuring everyone feels comfortable.
Progressive Curriculum: We'll cover the basics, from escapes to submissions, in a structured way that builds confidence and skill.
Community Building: More than just learning moves, it's about making friends, sharing experiences, and growing together.

How to Get Started

If you're intrigued but still a bit hesitant, here's what you can do:

Visit Us: Come for our Quick Start Program. See for yourself the welcoming environment we foster.
Ask Questions: We're here to answer any concerns or queries you might have.
Set Goals: Whether it's fitness, self-defense, or just trying something new, set your goals, and we'll help you achieve them.

Martial arts, particularly Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Classes in Malvern Pa, is not just for the few; it's for everyone. It's about overcoming personal barriers, learning, growing, and becoming part of something bigger. At Dragon Gym Malvern, we're committed to making BJJ accessible and enjoyable for all. So, why wait? Join us on October 1st for our BJJ Fundamentals Classes and start your journey. Remember, everyone starts as a beginner, and every journey begins with a single step—or in this case, a single roll.

For more information or to sign up, visit our website or drop by Dragon Gym Malvern. Let's break the myths together and embrace the world of Jiu-Jitsu.

9 Ways Martial Arts Can Help with ADD and ADHD

Posted May 11, 2017 by Somnath Sikdar & filed under Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, kids martial arts, martial arts, Tae Kwon Do, training tips.

I'm came across a great article in understood.org which I've also found to be a useful parenting resource. At the Dragon Gym we've been teaching martial arts to kids with attention and learning issues like ADD and ADHD for years and years. While we aren't physicians or therapists, I've personally seen the advances these students make and their parents often credit their martial arts classes.

Here are the nine key points from the article:

What Martial Arts Can Offer Kids With Learning and Attention Issues

There are lots of reasons martial arts can be a good match for kids with learning and attention issues. Here are nine potential benefits:

They focus on individual growth, not on team competition. Many kids with learning and attention issues struggle with the pressure of having to compete with other kids. So traditional sports may not appeal to them. But in martial arts, the focus is on self-improvement. There’s no “letting down the team.”
They offer concrete, attainable goals. Some kids with learning and attention issues may feel like they never “win” at anything. In martial arts, kids work at their own pace. They’re awarded a different colored belt every time they reach a new skill level. This can boost self-esteem and keep them motivated.
Routines are broken down into manageable chunks. A technique or form in martial arts can have dozens of different movements. But kids learn gradually, repeating and adding steps as they go. They learn to anticipate which step comes next and eventually put everything together into fluid movements. All of this gives working memory a workout, but in a way that kids may find manageable.
They emphasize self-control and concentration. Attention is central to martial arts. Kids must stay focused to learn and to perform. When a child’s focus drifts, instructors will often ask them to take the “ready stance.” This position allows them to reset and ready themselves for what’s next.
They can help with coordination. The deliberate, repetitive movements of martial arts can help kids develop a better feel for their body in space, which can be useful to kids who struggle with motor skills. This may also help some kids understand the power of the mind over the body, which some find to be valuable for kids with ADHD.
They provide structure and clear expectations for behavior. Good martial arts instructors have clear rules and constantly reinforce them. They also emphasize good behavior in and out of class. Some even send kids home with behavior charts their parents must sign. (If you like this idea, here are printable behavior contracts you can try.)
They can provide a safe outlet for excess energy. Contrary to what some might expect, martial arts don’t encourage violent behavior. In fact, instructors often emphasize that fighting is a last resort. At the same time, kicking and karate chopping can allow kids to work out frustration or anger, while also practicing self-control.
The environment is accepting and communal. Respect is a core value in martial arts. Students are expected to show it for their instructor and their peers. Negativity is generally not tolerated in class, and students are encouraged to support each other.
They’re just plain cool! Kids with learning and attention issues can often feel awkward or socially out of the loop. But lots of kids think martial arts are cool. It’s hard not to feel special when you’re wearing martial arts gear and breaking boards in half.

Go HERE for the full article

If you're interested in learning more about martial arts for your child, give us a call at 610-363-7575 and we'd be happy to answer your questions and set you up with a free pre-evaluation and trial lesson if you like.

Sincerely,

Somnath Sikdar

Master Instructor

Dragon Gym

Protect Your Heart with Martial Arts

Posted April 6, 2017 by Somnath Sikdar & filed under Adult Martial Arts, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Kettlebells, kickboxing, martial arts, Motivational, Muay Thai, nutrition, Tae Kwon Do, training tips.

Valentine’s Day has just passed, but February is still all about the heart. Every year, the American Heart Association celebrates Heart Month to raise awareness about heart disease and heart health.

What you may not know is that martial arts are great for the heart. In fact, the cardiac benefits of martial arts give a whole new meaning to the idea of cardiovascular fitness.

With that in mind, here are some ways that taking martial arts classes can protect and strengthen your heart.

Martial Arts Raise the Heart Rate

The first way that martial arts can help the heart is by raising your heart rate when you work out. The heart is a muscle and it needs to be worked. When you take a martial arts class, your heart rate is elevated.

The benefit of raising the heart rate is that it oxygenates the blood, and helps promote calorie burning even after you’re done working out. People of all ages need to keep their hearts pumping, and martial arts is a great way to do it.

Martial Arts Lower Blood Pressure

Did you know that a high-intensity martial arts workout can help lower your blood pressure? It’s true. Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a leading contributor to heart disease.

When you work out, your heart becomes stronger – and that means that it can pump blood more efficiently than it can without exercise. The less effort your heart has to expend on pumping blood, the lower your blood pressure is.

Martial Arts Lower Cholesterol

LDL cholesterol – the so-called “bad” cholesterol” – is a contributing factor in heart disease. Regular participation in martial arts helps you lose weight and that decreases the amount of LDL cholesterol in your blood.

There’s evidence that working out also shrinks the proteins that carry cholesterol through the bloodstream, making them less dangerous to the heart.

On a related note, regular vigorous exercise – such as the kind you get in a martial arts workout – helps to increase HDL or “good” cholesterol.

Martial Arts Reduces Stress

One thing that separates martial arts from many other forms of exercise is that it requires mental stillness combined with physical exertion.

Mental stillness contributes to mindfulness, a practice that can significantly decrease stress and anxiety in both children and adults.

Considering that there is a direct link between stress and heart health (stress contributes to high blood pressure and related issues), the fact that participating in martial arts can reduce stress is a huge benefit for the heart.

Conclusion

In addition to the benefits already mentioned, martial arts training also helps to improve discipline, build muscle coordination, and increase self-confidence.

This month, why not give your heart a boost by adding martial arts to your workout routine? If you're interested in learning more about the Martial Arts and Fitness Programs that the Dragon Gym Offers, please visit our Main website: www.dragongym.com We're conveniently located in Exton, PA with quick and easy access from Downingtown, Malvern, and West Chester, PA.

5 Halloween Safety Tips

Posted October 27, 2016 by Somnath Sikdar & filed under kids martial arts, Tae Kwon Do.

Halloween is such a fun time of the year for children; but when children encounter tricks instead of treats, this holiday can become very scary – and not just because of the decorations and frightening costumes. Abductions, bullying, candy that has been compromised; these are all things that can make Halloween a dreadful holiday for children and parents alike.

In order to keep your kids safe this Halloween, educate them before they put on their costumes and start knocking on the neighbors doors. Here are 5 tips from Dragon Gym that can help keep those little ghosts and ghouls safe this – and every – Halloween.

Plan a Route. Before your kids hit the town to gather goodies, plan a route for them. It should be one that leads them through well-lit areas that are heavily populated. The lighter the area and the more people around, the less likely there will danger lurking. Make sure to discuss the route with your kids beforehand.
Give them a Cell Phone. You may not want your kids to have a cell phone on a regular basis, but on Halloween, you might want to make an exception. Pre-program the phone with emergency contact numbers so that if there is an emergency, your child will be able to easily call for help. Also, it will allow you to call and check up on your child at regular intervals. They’ll have the freedom to trick-or-treat by themselves, but you’ll still be able to keep a watchful eye, or ear, on them.
Talk to Your Child About Potential Dangers. Discuss possible scenarios that could occur that would be dangerous. For example, what they should do if someone tries to ask them to get into their car, or go into their house. Provide them with the right response so that they know how to react and so that they can avoid a potentially dangerous situation.
Light them Up. Give you children flashlights or have them wear glow bracelets or necklaces while they are trick-or-treating. Doing so will allow them to not only see what is around them, but will allow others to easily see them. Cars can be a particular danger while walking on dark streets; lighting up your kids will make them more visible to drivers.
Don’t Eat Candy! Of course, children are going to find it difficult to keep their goodies out of their mouths; however, you really need to stress the importance of waiting until they get home to eat their candy. Once they get home, you can inspect them to make sure they are safe. Spread the candy out and go through it together. Remove anything that is unwrapped or looks questionable. And while homemade treats may seem like a nice gesture, there is no telling what is inside of them, so nix them.

Your kids can have fun while being independent this Halloween. By following these 5 tips, you can ensure that they have plenty of treats and avoid any tricks.

Sincerely,

Somnath Sikdar

President, Dragon Gym

www.dragongym.com

How Martial Arts Can Help Improve Your Child's Behavior At Home and Performance at School

Posted October 20, 2016 by Somnath Sikdar & filed under Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, kids martial arts, martial arts, Tae Kwon Do.

Download as a PDF HERE

First, let me give you some background on how we run the kids karate classes at DG.

Dragon Gym Children’s martial arts programs are age specific. That means the programs are specifically designed to be appropriate for a child’s physical, intellectual, social and emotional stage of development.

The EARLY group is for 3-4 years olds catering to their need for play and imagination while developing primary physical skills.

The BASIC group is for 5-6 year olds catering to their enthusiasm and new desire for creativity and problem solving. In addition to a higher level of physical instruction they are also now able to follow higher-level instructions and task.

The CORE group is for 7-9 year olds suited for their more advanced vocabulary, listening skills and problem solving ability. The program teaches them more advanced physical skills while encouraging more independence and personal responsibility.

Finally, our EXTREME program is for 10-14 year olds. They are highly intelligent, eager to learn and ready for more physical challenges. Our program combines this need for a challenging program with the guidance needed to help manage the social and emotional instability that comes with adolescence.

The Three Key Areas of Our Kids Martial Arts Program:

Martial Arts Technique, Academic Performance, Behavior and Discipline at Home

Key Benefits of Martial Arts for Kids:

Improve Concentration, Focus, and Listening Skills
Develop Discipline and homework habits
Attain Confidence to ask questions
Learn How to peacefully resolve conflicts
Develop Respect for themselves and others
Achieve Academic Excellence

The Dragon Gym Gold Star System

Kids Martial Arts Classes in West Chester Pa The three key areas of the children’s martial arts program are tied together by our belt promotion and gold star system. The martial arts system inherently teaches children about setting short and long-term goals. The long-term goal is Black Belt and the short term goals are the color belts.

Children learn how to break down a large task into smaller attainable pieces. When they are successful in these small steps they develop confidence and eventually leadership.

With each belt test we are going to ask for feedback on how your child is doing at home and at school. So, we’ll need some information when it comes times for a belt promotion.

On the student’s test form, you’ll let us know if your child is doing “Excellent”, “Good” or “Poor” at home in terms of attitude, behavior, listening, getting along with siblings, etc. We also ask that you get similar feedback from your child’s school-teacher.

As long as a student receives “Good” from both you, the parent, and his/her school teacher, they will be eligible for belt promotion.

If you child receives two “Excellent” scores then they will be awarded a Gold Star at the belt promotion.

Finally, if any “Poor” ratings are indicated a conversation between the instructors and parents should occur. During this conversation, we will discuss ways to improve this rating and if belt promotion should be withheld for a period of time.

If you have any questions about our approach, comment below or send us a message on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Dragongymexton/

So, how does all of this come together to help kids improve their behavior and their grades?

The age-specific program helps ensure that the children develop the skills needed and appropriate with their physical, intellectual, emotional and social stage of development. Here are 5 more ways that martial arts training will help them.

Doing well in school (and at home) required discipline.

Here's the cool thing about discipline, it is contagious. Kids and adults that have discipline in one area tend to have discipline in ALL areas. The discipline that your child will develop in his or her martial arts classes will carry over to their school work as well

2. Martial Arts students learn about preparation and preparation leads to success

The martial arts have a built in framework for goal setting. The structure teaches kids to not only break down goals but they have to work on achieving the intermediate steps in a regular and consistent way. Kids that learn martial arts also understand that by studying a little bit every day it's way easier to get good grades.

3. Focus, Focus, Focus

Focus is the ability to pay attention to one thing at a time, especially the most important task at hand. There are so many more distractions for kids these days. It used to be just TV. Now it's video games, social media, apps, mobile games, messaging, texting, etc. Martial Arts classes teach kids how to focus and how to prioritize that focus.

4. Goal Setting

We've already talked about the critical step of identifying a long term goal and the ability to break it down into smaller more achievable milestones. This is what martial arts is all about. Kids that learn martial arts are able to transfer this skill to all areas of their life. They can better articulate their goals and aspirations and they can more easily find ways to map out their success

5. A Healthy Body equals a Healthy Mind

Researchers have discovered that physical activity levels have been positively linked to cognitive function during development in school-aged children. Besides the neurological connotations, giving kids an outlet to move their bodies can actually help them academically by improving their memory and increasing their attention span. Martial Arts classes are a very physical activity so can help build cognitive functions as well as serve as an outlet to help improve memory.

If you're considering martial arts classes for your child or family and are in the Exton, West Chester or Downingtown, PA area, fill out the form below or visit our main website: www.dragongym.com to get more information on schedule, pricing and to set up a free orientation session.

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