Since 2020
OUR ACADEMY
OUR Martial arts schools are typically full of people like you who want to get fitter and stronger, lose weight and make new friends.
Our Academy
The IKIGAI Academy was founded in April 2020 as a team effort to spread Jiu Jitsu and its healthy lifestyle and make positive impact on the community. Our Coaches are the first generation of the Straight edge Fighters Program a program that installs the values and concepts of discipline, loyalty, respect, honour and the importance of sports. Our Coaches are patient, well-trained, experienced and ready to help you reach your goals. The IKIGAI vision is to offer a world class instruction in a traditional yet safe environment. We are focused on Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Aikido, self-defense and Kids program.
In the The IKIGAI Academy are proud to teach the purest and most original form of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. We are passionate about our art and we are using all resources available to us to expand and share our passion.
Our Academy was built with that same underlying sentiment of friendship and love for martial arts, and it is being transmitted through to our coaches, students and competitors. In essence it is the key to this academy’s success.
Popular Programs
KIDS PROGRAM
BJJ PROGRAM
AIKIDO PROGRAM
NOGI PROGRAM
YOGA PROGRAM
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Real People
Real Results
Martial arts focuses on tenets and philosophies that revolve around self-discipline, integrity and resilience which comes from within ourselves. According to Psychotherapeutic aspects of the martial arts, “MA’s enhance self-esteem through the provision of physical activity and group experience, and the teaching of relaxation, concentration, assertiveness, and directiveness and honesty in communication.”
Obtaining a black belt is extremely challenging. Reaching the goals you set is a tremendous accomplishment and requires a lot of self-discipline and motivation. Earning these different belts and rankings help students feel a sense of progress and accomplishment. Our mental agility is strengthened on this self-mastery journey.
Am I too old to learn a martial art?
You are never too old, my friends. Some have tried my class and thought it was a little too demanding. Perhaps that is true, but until you try something a few times, there is no way to tell if it is or is not right for you. It’s impossible to keep up with any kind of class when you first start because you don’t know what you are doing yet. A painting class, a language class…can you possibly understand it at first glance?
You are going to huff and puff a little, push yourself, and even feel a little sore from doing it. If you’re willing to go out and jog on the hard concrete, or start lifting weights on a regular schedule, then you can certainly participate in a martial arts class. Age is less a barrier than mindset, willingness, and belief. If you want a good workout, you will have to build up to it. Like learning to jog, it’s unlikely you’ll be able to run a 5k when you first start jogging.
While karate seems strenuous, no one in my class is required to kick over my head, get thrown without learning how to fall properly, or memorize a kata on the spot.
No, there is no age limit. The trick is finding a class that interests you, where you like the instructor and philosophies, and where you feel welcomed.
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Can a pre-school aged child learn a martial art?
I teach pre-school aged children. I love their innocence and willingness to learn. They are open to learning and ready to try just about anything. They start class excited and eventually learn to focus. They are the best learners. They soak it all up happily, willingly, and with excitement. They lack the trepidation of older students or adults. While they cannot perform every complicated movement or skill, they can learn the basics of everything. As they grow older, they will be better martial artists than others because the base to their martial art has been set. It is like a pyramid where the base supports the rest. Age four is about the youngest I teach and classes are generally martial arts game-play and fun drills. It must be a fun class with games and a lot of activity to keep them happy and engaged.
Do you teach the same things to kids and adults?
We will teach the same things to kids and adults, although they are modified to suit the age of the particular group. Obviously, pre-school children need a level of kindness and encouragement, but they still are taught the mechanics of a kick or punch. Teenagers have a lot of energy, so teaching them skills and giving them opportunities to spar in class and put some of those skills in motion is important. Adults have a different level of maturity and ambition. They are able to learn a wide array of skills and apply them in class, in life, and in their roles as adults.
How are your classes separated? Age? Rank?
There are several ways in which schools split their classes. Most split their class by rank (experience level) while others split their class by age group. This is a very important distinction. The idea of grouping students by experience level ‘sounds’ like a good idea, but having to wide of an age range in class is a BIG mistake. Four year olds, six year olds, eight year olds, and ten year olds all learn in very different ways. More important that ‘what’ they are learning is ‘how’ they are learning it. It is crucial, especially at younger ages, that student are taught in a way that is most conducive to their age and learning level.
What is the Best Self Defense for a Women?
We are living in an uncertain world where the self defense has become a priority for all irrespective of the fact whether you are a female or a male. The sad truth, however, is that females become are more prone to become victims of mugging and sudden attacks; therefore, they need to be more alert and carry a contingency plan with them at all times. Women can learn all kinds of self defense martial arts as well; in fact, we believe that all girls and women need to invest some of their time, effort, dedication, and energy towards learning at least one of the best martial arts for self defense and fitness.
What is Best Martial Arts for Beginners?
After you have thoroughly made up your mind that you will learn the best martial arts for self defense, then we can proceed to the next steps. Firstly, you ought to understand that there is no age limit which means that you can get enrolled in a Judo class at the age of 5. Even at the age of 50, you are still able to join the martial art class of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. The range of self defense martial arts is huge which means that you can also try your hands on the recent self defense martial arts of Aikido.
What is the best martial art for a child to learn?
BJJ is much akin to our natural movements and innate self-defense skills. Like tiger cubs that practice sparring before leaving the safety of their mother, so to do we as humans practice fighting when we are young, pliable, and less likely to hurt one another, and ourselves.
Any parent with multiple children, or adults who grew up with siblings knows this to be true. Growing up in the 70’s and 80’s, we were always getting in tussles some playful, some not so much.
Watch untrained kids go at it with one another. What do you see? They have a natural predilection towards a rolling around, wrestling modality. If they had fur, a tail, and pink butts you’d think they were monkeys.
BJJ works within the natural instincts we are all born with. It operates predominantly on the ground where it shines above all other martial arts.
Is martial arts all about fighting?
No, it isn’t.It’s about physical, mental , and emotional well being. It is for me, anyway. Studying, practicing any of the martial arts will teach you control. Self control. You learn to control your breathing, physical pain. all your muscles. You learn to control your emotions, by managing fear and rage. Self assurance grows as you progress in your studies. Movements, stances , blocks, and strikes become fluid, precise.
Passion.Mission.VOCATION
A REASON FOR BEING
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