Fitness

Why get your children involved in martial arts?  Kids that train Martial Arts at Vanguard Gym develop physical attributes that surpass their peers.  The activities in the children’s classes build coordination, balance, flexibility, strength, and agility.  They learn positive habits that can contribute positively to their overall fitness habits for a lifetime.

Lifetime commitments to exercise and weight control  lead to a better over-all quality of life.  Many find the different regimens and varied techniques of Mixed Martial Arts more stimulating and challenging than standard weightlifting and cardio classes. They find the functional movements of CrossFit and the martial arts classes help them stay prepared for everyday physical demands, and fight off the ravages of aging. While many enjoy the improved health that their weight loss brings them, others find the workouts help them build lean muscle mass and functional strength and flexibility. Cardiovascular health, strength, power, flexibility, coordination, stamina, balance, fat-loss, healthy living habits, better quality sleep and less sleeplessness are just a few of the benefits available to people who apply these disciplines to their lives.

Kid’s Program Tops at Vanguard Gym

I have worked for martial arts summer camps and after school programs for the past three years, and I have never helped lead a better program. The coaches keep the kids active and teach them great morals long with in depth martial art training to help them in almost any situation. The adult classes are the best part of my day. I have never had a greater workout. Doug knows how to teach simple and effective techniques that will make anybody willing to put enough effort and time into MMA, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and Muay Thai the best they can be.

- Reed

Family “having a blast” together with mixed martial arts!

Coach Doug is an exceptional Mixed Martial Arts instructor. In 8 months at his gym, my two kids, ages 8 and 5, have progressed at an amazing rate. With over 10 years as a federal law enforcement agent and defensive tactics instructor, I have been privileged to receive world-class self-defense instruction. Doug is among the best I have ever met. He is great with children and my kids can’t wait to go to class each week. My children are receiving superior martial arts instruction, increased confidence, strength, balance, coordination, teamwork, and they are having a blast!

-John

Daughter and Dad reap many benefits from training martial arts.

I had briefly trained in BJJ at another gym a couple of years ago, but stopped for about a year before coming to Vanguard in early 2009.  In that off year, I didn’t replace BJJ with anything physical, I didn’t feel motivated to exercise, I put on extra weight, and didn’t eat too well.  As a guy in my mid-30s with a family, this was not a good path to be on.  Of all things, my seven-year-old daughter prompted me to look for a new BJJ place when had expressed interest in it after my wife and I encouraged her to take up some sport.  I had heard good things about Vanguard, which was close to where I live, so we took advantage of the free trial period.
I quickly saw that Doug runs his gym with a constant eye on safety, improving your technique, and creating an atmosphere where people help each other improve.  I have access to knowledgeable, advanced students who are always willing to help, and I enjoy the chance to practice with people of all levels of experience.
My daughter has always been verbally assertive but was very timid physically.  As a father, I want my daughter to be bright, but also have confidence and skills to stand up for herself when appropriate.  I’m also concerned that my kids get plenty of fun exercise.  Since attending Vanguard, she has gained confidence physically and is in better shape than she started.  It’s great to hear her describe that she’s learning how to escape from a bad position, or that “the warm-up exercises feel like they’re getting easier.”  The kids class instructors are patient and in good proportion to the number of kids.  I like how the instructors make exercise fun by having fun warm-up drills, or by setting up an obstacle course to get the kids to jump, run, roll, and swing.  And all the kids love the occasional treat of playing dodge ball with the big pilates exercise balls at the end of class.
In the first six months I was at Vanguard, I lost about 30 lbs.  I’ve always known that losing weight occurs when you eat healthy and exercise; Vanguard provided the motivation I needed by exposing me to positive peer pressure to get into shape.  When I’m at home and at that moment of asking myself if I feel like exercising, I actually feel an internal push to get something done simply so that for the next class, there’s an incremental improvement in my cardio, strength, or flexibility.  Belonging to Vanguard makes me hold myself accountable for improving myself.
In my opinion, BJJ is the best combination of physical and mental activity I’ve ever found.  For those who’ve done it with a good partner, they know it is a wonderful blend of using your body in efficient ways, thinking a couple moves ahead of your partner.  Most importantly, it’s fun to learn submissions and techniques to improve my position.  Life in NOVA can be stressful, and practicing BJJ is one of the few times during my week when I can lose myself in the moment, not thinking of anything else.  Plus, there is a tremendous rush and immediate reward when I am able to perform a new escape or submission on my teammates.

-Matthew

Building Self-Confidence with Family Members

Vanguard Gym has provided my son and I the opportunity to participate in a sport together, build our father-son bond, improve our level of fitness, self-confidence, and have fun.  My son has significantly improved his school grades and self-confidence since attending Vanguard.  Doug and the other coaches are true professionals who take the time to ensure that all the students, no matter what level of experience, grasp the techniques being taught and demonstrate proper execution of each sequential move.

-Michael

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu as a Family Activity

Vanguard Gym has allowed me and my son to do something together and get in better physical shape at the same time.  Some people take their son hiking, fishing, or camping; I take my son to jujitsu.  Also, I have noticed his confidence go up since we both started taking classes together.  Jujitsu has provided a common place, time, and event that we can talk about and learn from.  It has provided a basis for common knowledge that can be used as an example for both him and I to understand each other when trying to express a viewpoint.   In the beginning I was just looking to spend some time with my son and I have gotten something better; a common experience we both talk about.

-Jason

About

Our children’s curriculum combines wrestling, striking, and the positional control of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. We don’t teach submissions (joint locks and chokes) until the higher levels when the children have demonstrated the ability and knowledge of when and where it is appropriate to execute those kinds of techniques (self-defense or competition against a knowledgeable opponent).

We also combine fitness and agility exercises to help build a healthy lifestyle and physical attributes. We utilize games and drills that are fun so that half the time the kids don’t even realize they are learning self-defense and discipline.

Safety is our highest priority, and all of our activities have rigorous safety protocols built in. Our next highest priority is building realistic and useable physical and life skills. Our third priority is having a fun, constructive training curriculum.

Some of the things we DON’T do:
We don’t produce six-year-old Blackbelts. We are not a belt factory. We have a belt system to give structure to our curriculum and allow for short-term and long-term goals for each individual.

We don’t charge for belt tests. When your child has completed the requirements to progress to the next belt we will award your child the next belt rank. We don’t charge for the initial test, and we don’t charge for re-tests.

We don’t sell a false bill of goods.

Some of the things we DO:
Provide a safe, clean, well supervised program for your child. Build useable physical and personal skills in a fun environment.