Free Jiu Jitsu training offered for youths and adults

According to youth leader Bradyn Harvey, "Jiu-Jitsu is known as the gentle art. That's actually what 'Jiu-Jitsu' means, the 'gentle art', because you can end a fight without severe injury. Karate, boxing, you're always hitting. You can punch somebody in the face, hit them in a bundle of nerves, whatever. In Jiu-Jitsu, you can enter the submission with a choke or a lock where you can de-escalate without permanent injury. It's also one of the few sports that you can practice live without injury, whereas karate, you can't really spar live. Boxing, you can kind of spar live, but not without damage. Jiu-Jitsu you can practice it and you can apply it in real life without permanent injury to yourself or permanently injuring the other person."

The Thermopolis Vale Tudo/Brazilian Jiu Jitsu youth group attended the 2024 Western Plains Open in Gillette on Saturday, June 1. William McCawley placed 2nd, Bentley Harvey was 6th, Lizzy Harvey was 7th, all in Gi 66-80lbs. Kylie Schenck was 9th in Gi 51-60lbs. Jayden Hanson was 9th Gi 81-100 lbs.

For the adults group, Chris King and Trystan Tuttle recently both received their blue belts. The adults are led by Sensei Justin Jacobs (black belt under Raphael Lavato Sr.), Senpai Mike Nelson (brown belt) and Brian Johnson (purple belt).

Harvey added about Jiu-Jitsu, "Besides learning a self-defense skill that you can use in case of emergency, you're also learning self-confidence. My kids personally have been a lot more confident just in everyday life now that they know some Jiu-Jitsu. You also learn some control. You have to control your emotions. Control of your body."

Harvey also said, "They're all kinds of health benefits as well. Most people think you have to be in shape to start Jiu-Jitsu. Instead, with Jiu-Jitsu, it's getting you in shape. Everybody thinks that 'well I can't do that because I'm not in shape, I'm not flexible' or 'I have to do cardio to do it.' But a lot of people I know think they need to jog and get in shape before they start to get or get to a certain level of flexibility before you start, but it helps you get flexible. It's pretty easy to stretch out during the warm-ups and also the grappling cardio is a whole different from jogging cardio. You can jog 20 miles and still not be in shape. You just got to get in and do active balance. Just the working out, athletic part of self-confidence is a huge one."

Harvey also described the bonding with the different athletes in class. He said, "The camaraderie is awesome...The gym brings people together a lot. The kids' are super excited to see each other downtown just because they're all on the same Jiu-Jitsu team. They also have learned respect for each other. They know that if they pick a fight that it could turn into something because they both are skilled. So they've learned a lot of respect for each other too."

The youth group meets weekly on Mondays and Thursday at the Armory from 5:30-6:30 p.m. The adult group meets every weekday mornings from 7-9:30 a.m. Also, there is an adult beginner's class that meets Thursdays from 6:30-9 p.m. All groups are free to participate.