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| - Thanks to Stout Training, I find myself an unlikely convert to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
I am a mother of 2 boys in my late 30's. I work full-time and have an extremely busy schedule. I am amazed to say that I have found a place I love to go and that I feel more fit, both mentally and physically, than I have in years.
My initial goal was to find classes for my son.
The instructors have been amazing with my high energy kids They are creative and enthusiastic and they have also clearly invested in learning teaching techniques appropriate for children at various levels of development. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is an excellent choice for young children. The belt system is set up to provide regular encouragement and the instructors carefully explain to the class that stripes and belts are earned by hard work. Stout Training has a robust selection of classes for kids who are 5 and over and two classes a week for children as young as 3. I plan to get my second son involved soon and expect that both boys will be long-term members of this community.
I felt so welcome that I decided I should get off the sidelines.
I am not an athletic person. And I started this year at least 25 pounds overweight. I have known for a long time that I probably needed to engage in resistance training
but honestly, I was completely intimidated by the idea of going to a gym. I imagined myself feeling very alone in a room of barbells with no idea what to do. I also imagined that it would be pretty clear to anyone else in the gym - that I didn't belong. After a month or so of bringing my son to class twice a week at Stout Training, I had a bit of an epiphany. I was honestly shocked at the warmth of the community at Stout. Of course there are a lot of very serious athletes here, both male and female, but there are also a fair amount of regular folks just trying to get healthier and a lot of parents and small children who all feel at home. It takes a pretty special place to foster such a welcoming tone with such a diverse range of people.
Kettlebells.
Honestly, the only reason I made it through the first month or so of weekly kettlebell class was because there is a beginners class at the same time as the youth Jiu-Jitsu program on Tuesday nights, and if I was going to leave work early, I was determined to multi-task during that time. Then there was a day, maybe 2 months in, when the instructor, Will, announced that warm-ups would include 15 push-ups. I laughed a bit to myself, thinking that I hadn't done even ONE push-up from my knees in likely 15 years. But when I attempted my first regular push-up, I realized that kettlebells was working for me. I was able to do all 15 push-up - from my feet! Kettlebells is a perfect way to build strength, because it really lets you start wherever you are. Will is a fantastic instructor. He explains the techniques with clarity and patience and makes me feel like I will learn to do things I would have once said were completely impossible.
Jiu-Jitsu.
Again, the first month of class was pretty rough. I didn't think I was going to make it through the very first warm-up. But the structure of the classes is great. You focus on drilling a technique with a training partner for most of the class and then you end with sparring sessions. I generally have either Dean or Warren as my instructor and, as with the youth program, it is evident that they are not only talented Jiu-Jitsu practitioners, but excellent teachers. I am starting to see huge improvements in my fitness. The callisthenic warm-ups have gone from torturous to breezy. And I LOVE how I feel headed back to my office job after an hour of rolling. Oddly, it isn't just the physical workout I enjoy. Jiu-Jitsu challenges you to take a deep breath when you are in a tight spot and think strategically about how to create some room to maneuver. This is a matter of mindfulness that easily transfers into my professional life.
The Results.
I give Stout Training my highest accolades. Before I found this community, I had a strong desire to find a way to be healthy, but very little hope. And now I have an exercise routine that I can honestly say I relish. I love to go to class. I love sharing this activity with my son. But the kicker is, at only 3 classes a week, I have dropped 10 pounds since the first of year, and I just bought new suits that are 2 sizes smaller than I was wearing at Christmas. But beyond the weight loss, I have gained a new perspective about myself and what my body might be able to do. I am excited to imagine a life full of fun, physical activities with my boys.
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