Commitment

Commitment – by committing to short and long-term goals practitioners of Mixed Martial Arts find the value and reap the benefits of following through with their commitments.

Focus

Mental and spiritual focus comprise the      philosophical components of  Martial Arts.    By learning to deal with stressful situations  and we learn to control anger and fear.  Many  find Stress Management tools in the training,  and learn to work toward near-term and far-  term goals.   Practitioners learn to stay calm  and respond to stressful situations appropriately.

Family

Family – families enjoy activities together.  Being able to build life skills in a fun and safe  training environment together is a benefit that  many find invaluable.

Competition

Competition in a Year Round Sport – Mixed Martial Arts, Grappling, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Thai Boxing, and CrossFit have no seasons associated with them. People are able to compete when it fits their schedule. With the growing popularity of these sports there are more and more opportunities to push your limits and test your mettle.

Children learn sportsmanship and the value of hard work when they challenge themselves in competition.  While we never require or push individuals to compete, we are here to support those who wish to, and have a very active and successful competition team.

Individual Achievement

Individual Achievement – even though we train together as a team and benefit from the mutual support of those around us, when it comes down to the match you are challenged and overcome your adversary based on your abilities. Many find the challenge exhilarating and that the sense of accomplishment helps them overcome other challenges in life.  By having short term goals such as learning specific techniques or preparing for their next belt level, children learn to feel a sense of accomplishment when they apply themselves and achieve their goal.

Team Training

Team Training Environment – whether you compete, have goals to compete, or have no interest in competing; you can’t help but grow and progress at an astonishing rate when you have a strong team around you that supports your goals. Mixed Martial Arts is one of the few sports that does as much to develop individual skills as it contributes to a healthy team environment. Teammates learn to work together towards a common goal, helping each other with technique development, drills, and skill. They also learn the benefits of having others to help push past your limits. At the same time, by being responsible for learning and demonstrating the knowledge of a curriculum teaches them to take responsibility for their own actions.

Positive Social Interaction

Social Activity and Interaction– Mixed Martial Arts is a self-paced activity in a highly social environment. Camaraderie and friendships grow with people who train together.  Helping each other push our limits and achieve goals forge positive mutually-supportive and healthy relationships.  Watching the fights together on “fight night” and going out to the amateur local fights together to support your teammates that are fighting that night are a high point for many who train in mixed martial arts. Traveling together for tournaments and events builds positive experiences and lasting friendships.

Self-Control / Self-Discipline

The formalities of Mixed Martial Arts classes and learning to follow directions, take turns, and work with others teach self-discipline and self-control. Participants in the martial arts learn good behavior and respect for themselves and those around them, be they fellow students, adults, or coaches. This discipline transfers to good study habits for kids, increases in grades, and more social adaptability. The longer they train, the less hostile, aggressive, or anxious they become.

Confidence / Self-Esteem

How do children who train at Vanguard Gym develop confidence and self esteem?  By dealing with the physical and mental challenges placed for them in class.  Overcoming obstacles helps people deal with the other things they find difficult in their lives. By learning to set and achieve personal goals in their training they are able to apply these skills to other areas of their life, which contributes to positive growth. Success is grown and cultivated through hard work and commitment. As people learn to value themselves they learn to value others. This also helps them feel less vulnerable and able to help those around them and be a positive role model.

Self-Defense

Why should your child understand what self-defense is?

The ability to protect yourself and those around you in a worst-case situation is important to many participants. Even more important, is being able to make good decisions to keep you out of trouble. Adults and more importantly children who train at Vanguard Gym learn when violence is an acceptable last resort and to avoid conflict when ever possible.