Approximately 1 in 4 youth are affected by bullying during the school year. This negatively impacts millions of people around the world and sadly has taken many lives.

Back in 2015 Naomi Johnson, a young teen was brutally attacked by a group of girls who she considered “friends”. Naomi was knocked unconscious and suffered other physical, and mental injuries. After seeing the video on social media, Ryron and Rener Gracie sought out Naomi and her family to sponsor them for a one-week training experience, so that Naomi and her family could learn self defense and build confidence. Not only did it do just that for Naomi, Eve and Victoria Gracie also helped her learn about setting boundaries.

Every July, the Gracie Bullyproof Summer Camp is offered in Torrance, California along with many other Certified Training Centers around the world. The camp is open to all children ages 6-14 and no experience is necessary.

If you want to learn more about Summer Camp and how the Gracie Bullyproof program can help you and your child, visit www.BullyproofSummerCamp.com.

If you can’t make it to the camp the program is also available online.

Jiu jitsu is a wonderful tool for self defense, discipline and confidence building. This sport allows people to build their confidence in knowing how to defend themselves in potentially dangerous situations. It builds a great team atmosphere and a sense of moral and safety with people you can trust.

So far we’ve seen inspiring people who play wheelchair basketball, wheelchair skating… but now wheelchair Jiu Jitsu? How can a person do martial arts without the use of their legs? And yet, Brian Freeman dominates in Jiu Jitsu as a partially paralyzed martial artist.

After Brian’s accident left him wheelchair bound, Brian decided to put his daughter in martial arts classes, so she could learn self-defense. As his daughter’s love for martial arts grew, she encouraged him take up the hobby himself. Brian sees his Jiu Jitsu as a new life purpose and an opportunity to help make the impossible possible for others.

Brian’s amazing story is part of our collaboration with The Happiness Stories and director Ron Parida, who presents portraits of individuals who have been dealt life’s toughest challenges, but who choose to persevere and do inspiring things.

Luis Moux choked his mother’s 43 years old attacker, Stanley Washington, when he showed up at their apartment in the Bronx and began fighting with her around 4:30 a.m. Monday.

Washington first started squabbling with Louis Moux’s mother, Lorena Sesma, 37, in the hallway of the building before following the woman inside the apartment, where he began beating her.

Moux, who heard the commotion from his bedroom, came running to his mother’s aid and saw Washington on top of her.

According to detectives, the 5-foot-8, 220-pound offensive lineman pulled Washington off of his mother and put him in chokehold, which caused the man to pass out, reported CBS New York.

Louis Mox won’t be charged for murder but for manslaughter as he had no previous charges.

What keeps you consistent? Do you want to compete? Lose weight? Stay healthy?
What helps you maintain this?

This is probably one of the most important things in order to see success in just about anything. Being consistent will bring faster and better results. Not saying that with consistency that people don’t hit plateaus, but they do happen and being consistent and increasing intensity during this time help break those plateaus.

At just about any gym there are teammates out there that complain that they are not progressing, or seeing improvement in their game. Nine times out of ten those people are not consistent. They miss class due to injury, or other circumstances, they don’t push themselves during class or outside of it. With that said no ones life is perfect, and we all have crazy lives. But making regular class attendance is what differs between a hobbyist and an athlete.

For instance look at Jiu Jitsu guru Tom DeBlass, he pushes himself every day, inside and outside the gym. He is dedicated to his gym, and affiliates, his health, and most of all he is dedicated to his family. He makes time. He and many other well known practitioners have consistency, and that is what makes them successful. They do everything they can to be successful. Being in the gym and rolling and drilling will improve your game, but what you do outside of class and mat time help alleviate your game to the next level. Eating healthy, doing cross training, drinking water and adequate sleep amplify your training.

Doing these things not only will help your overall health and mood, but they will assist in recovery, and energy.

What are you goals? What are your struggles? Where do you want to see your overall health and Jiu Jitsu game in 6 months?