StandStrong Academy - Martial Arts and Self Defence

One thing I really enjoy about coaching Jiu Jitsu is that no two sessions look exactly the same.

Some days are highly technical.

We slow everything down, break movements into small pieces and help the students understand why a technique works.

Other days are fast-paced.

Lots of games.

Lots of resistance.

Lots of live training where the students get to test what they’ve learned against a partner who’s trying to stop them.

Neither approach is better than the other.

The magic happens when you combine the two.

Learn the skill.

Test the skill.

Refine the skill.

Then repeat.

Every child learns differently, so it’s important that our sessions challenge them in different ways too.

This clip is a nice example of one of our more technical sessions, where the students were linking together a guard pass, establishing control and then working towards a submission.

Piece by piece, they’re building a deeper understanding of Jiu Jitsu - and having plenty of fun along the way. 🥋

One of the things we spend a lot of time teaching our youth students is wrestling.

And no, it’s not just because takedowns look cool. 😅

In self-defence, one of the first priorities is often staying on your feet.

If someone can’t take you to the ground, you generally have more options available to you.

That’s why learning to defend takedowns and control grips is such an important skill.

But there’s another side to it too.

Sometimes, if a situation can’t be avoided, a well-executed takedown can actually be a safer option than striking.

Done well, it can create an opportunity to disengage, create distance, call for help, or, if absolutely necessary, restrain someone until help arrives.

That’s why we don’t just teach techniques.

We teach decision-making.

When is wrestling the right option?

When should you disengage?

What are the risks of choosing to wrestle?

Because every choice in self-defence has consequences.

Our aim is to help young people develop not only the skills to protect themselves, but also the judgement to make good decisions under pressure.

The techniques are important.

Understanding when and why to use them is just as important.

For many children, making new friends is one of the biggest worries about starting secondary school.

The good news?

Friendship isn’t a skill you’re born with.

It’s something that grows through small moments.

Saying yes to opportunities.

Starting conversations.

Being patient while you find the people you click with.

One thing I’d also remind parents is this…

Friendships don’t have to be formed in the first week.

Some children find “their people” straight away.

For others, it might take a few weeks or even a term.

And that’s completely normal.

That’s one of the reasons we’re running our Secondary School Success Workshops this August.

Helping children build confidence, social skills and resilience before they take that next big step into Year 7.

📅 Saturday 8th & Saturday 22nd August
⏰ 11:30am–1:00pm

👉 Register now – link in bio.

We spend a lot of time talking about what children learn in martial arts.

But here’s a question that’s just as important…

What makes a good coach?

Rather than answering it ourselves, we decided to ask the children.

Their answers were brilliant.

Kind.

Fun.

Helpful.

Someone who listens.

Someone who understands them.

Someone who teaches them well.

It was a lovely reminder that whilst martial arts is about learning skills, children remember far more than just the techniques.

They remember how a coach made them feel.

When you’re choosing an activity for your child, it’s easy to focus on the timetable, the syllabus or the price.

But I’d encourage every parent to ask a different question too:

Does my child feel safe, supported and excited to come back next week?

Because when children enjoy the environment and trust the people teaching them, that’s where the real learning begins.

❤️ I think the kids summed it up far better than I ever could.

One of the very first things we teach our youngest students is how to maintain their personal space.

At first glance, escaping a wrist grab might seem like a very simple skill.

But it’s actually one of the foundations of self-defence.

Whether someone grabs your wrist, your sleeve, your hoodie or your backpack, the first priority is often the same:

Can you free yourself and create space?

That’s why you’ll see these games regularly in our Infants classes.

They’re fun, they’re active, and they teach children one of the most fundamental skills they’ll use throughout their martial arts journey.

As they get older, these same ideas develop into wrestling, grip fighting and more advanced self-defence skills.

It all starts here.

Building confidence, coordination and practical skills in a way that’s appropriate for their age and, most importantly, enjoyable.

I think they did a pretty good job with these ones too! 🥋💪

A pretty special moment… and perhaps the youngest belt presenter we’ve ever had 🥋😂

This time, Bean was in charge of handing out the belt.

I don’t think she fully understood the significance of what she was doing… but I know this young man certainly did.

One of the things I love most about our progression system is that promotions genuinely mean something.

They’re not about being the best in the class.

They’re about the work that’s been put in.

The consistency.

The willingness to keep learning.

The determination to keep showing up, even when things don’t come easily.

Watching a child realise that all of that hard work has paid off is one of the best parts of coaching.

Moments like this remind me that a belt isn’t just a new colour around someone’s waist.

For many children, it’s proof that effort really does lead to progress.

Congratulations - you’ve earned it. 👏

Every year we meet children who are excited about starting secondary school.

And every year we meet children who are worried.

Usually… they’re the same children.

It’s completely normal to feel excited about this next chapter while also wondering whether you’ll make friends, fit in, or find your way around.

Those feelings don’t mean a child isn’t ready.

They simply mean they’re about to do something new.

That’s exactly why we’ve created our Secondary School Success Workshops.

Not to promise children they’ll never feel nervous.

But to help them build the confidence, resilience and practical skills to walk into September feeling a little more prepared for whatever comes their way.

If your child is moving into Year 7 this September, we’d love to help them start this next chapter with confidence.

📅 Saturday 8th & Saturday 22nd August
⏰ 11:30am–1:00pm

👉 Register now – link in bio.

There are a lot of reasons people join our Women’s Kickboxing programme.

Some are looking for a new way to exercise.

Some want to learn genuine kickboxing skills.

Some want to build confidence.

Some simply want to find something they’ll actually enjoy doing every week.

What’s been really interesting is that, when you ask our members what keeps them coming back, they rarely talk about just one thing.

It’s the coaching.

It’s the atmosphere.

It’s the community.

It’s leaving every session feeling better than when they arrived.

We could tell you all of that ourselves…

But we thought it would be much better to let the women who train here do the talking.

If you’ve been thinking about giving kickboxing a go but haven’t quite built up the confidence yet, hopefully this gives you a little insight into what you can expect.