Show Up for the Moments That Matter
One of the things I’ve come to appreciate after all these years of teaching Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is that some of the most meaningful moments in an academy aren’t necessarily the biggest ones.
Sometimes it’s a student finally understanding a technique they’ve struggled with for weeks. Sometimes it’s watching a child stand a little taller after earning a stripe. Sometimes it’s seeing someone walk back through the doors after being away for a while.
And sometimes, it’s simply showing up for someone else when they’ve earned a moment worth celebrating.
This is going to be one of those weeks at Otomi Martial Arts.
First, we want to remind all of our families that youth testing will take place Wednesday, September 30, during normal youth class times. Our students have spent the last several weeks preparing, but in reality, they’ve been preparing much longer than that. Every class attended, every repetition, every correction from a coach, and every time they chose to keep trying when something was difficult has helped bring them to this point.
Testing is our opportunity to recognize that work.
Parents, please help your children come to class ready to do their best. They don’t need to be perfect. We simply want them prepared, focused, and willing to demonstrate what they’ve learned.
We also have an incredibly special promotion happening during our Monday evening adult Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu class.
Gwyneth Hayes will be receiving her Juvenile Blue Belt.
For those of you who have watched Gwyneth grow up on our mats, you know how special this moment is. A blue belt is a significant milestone in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and earning one as a juvenile represents years of training, thousands of repetitions, plenty of difficult days, competitions, victories, losses, lessons learned, and the decision to keep coming back.
That’s why I would really like to encourage any of our adult students who can make Monday night’s class to please be there.
Promotions aren’t only about the person receiving the belt. They’re also about the community that helped that person get there.
Training partners matter. Coaches matter. Parents matter. Teammates matter.
And sometimes simply standing in the room and applauding when someone you train alongside reaches an important milestone matters more than we realize.
Let’s give Gwyneth the kind of support she deserves.
This week also gives us another reason to celebrate as we welcome Garrett Cox and his son Rory back to the mats.
Garrett and Rory, we’re happy to have you with us, and we’re excited to see you training again.
For prospective families who may have found this page while searching for kids Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu or martial arts in Parker, Colorado, weeks like this probably tell you more about our academy than a list of techniques ever could.
Yes, we teach Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu through the Caio Terra Association curriculum. We care deeply about good technique, self-defense, and helping our students become skilled martial artists.
But we’re also trying to build something bigger.
We want our kids to learn how to work toward something that takes time. We want them to understand that accomplishments mean more when they’re earned. We want them to experience what it feels like when teammates genuinely celebrate their success.
And perhaps most importantly, we want them to learn to do the same for someone else.
That’s community.
It’s one of the things that makes Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu different, and it’s something we’re incredibly proud of at Otomi Martial Arts.
A Few Important Reminders for This Week
Monday: Adult students, please make every effort to attend the evening adult BJJ class as we celebrate Gwyneth Hayes receiving her Juvenile Blue Belt.
Wednesday, September 30: Youth testing will take place during normal youth class times. Please arrive prepared and ready to work.
Saturday: There will be NO Saturday classes this week. Please plan your training accordingly.
And once again, please help us welcome Garrett and Rory Cox back to the Otomi mats. We’re very happy to have you both back.
This Week’s Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Curriculum
For everyone preparing to test, this is your opportunity to trust the work you’ve already done.
Don’t worry about being perfect.
Listen to your coaches. Focus on the details. Help your teammates. Give your best effort.
And when someone beside you accomplishes something special, take a moment to celebrate them too.
Because years from now, we may not remember every technique we practiced during a particular week.
But we’ll remember the people who were standing beside us for the moments that mattered.
Let’s have a great week of training.
Monday – September 28, 2026
11:00 am (Fitness Kickboxing): Coaches Choice
12:00 pm (CT-B Advanced Fundamentals): Lasso sweeps
4:45 pm (Kids II Bobcats): BULL PASS + DOUBLE UNDER – LESSON PLAN
4:45 pm (Pre-Teen Cougars): COLLAR DRAG – LESSON PLAN
5:45 pm (CT-A Fundamentals): Single leg and arm out guillotine
Tuesday – September 29, 2026
11:00 am (Fitness Kickboxing): Coaches Choice
12:00 pm (CT-A Fundamentals): Double leg takedown
1:00 pm (FMA): Coaches Choice
4:15 pm (Kids I Alligators): SINGLE UNDER, SINGLE UNDER TO HALF GUARD- LESSON PLAN
4:45 pm (Kids II Bobcats): BULL PASS + DOUBLE UNDER – LESSON PLAN
4:45 pm (Pre-Teen Cougars): COLLAR DRAG – LESSON PLAN
5:45 pm (CT-C classes): Omoplata and crucifix
Wednesday – September 30, 2026
11:00 am (Fitness Kickboxing): Coaches Choice
12:00 pm (CT-A Advanced Fundamentals): Scissor sweep
1:00 pm (FMA): Coaches Choice
4:15 pm (Kids I Alligators): Youth Testing
4:45 pm (Kids II Bobcats): Youth Testing
4:45 pm (Pre-Teen Cougars): Youth Testing
5:45 pm (CT-B Fundamentals): Spider passes
Thursday – October 01, 2026
11:00 am (Fitness Kickboxing): Coaches Choice
12:00 pm (CT-A Fundamentals): Cross choke
1:00 pm (FMA): Coaches Choice
4:15 pm (Kids I Alligators): Standing Pulling Closed Guard lesson plan
4:45 pm (Kids II Bobcats): Standing Pulling Closed Guard lesson plan
4:45 pm (Pre-Teen Cougars): Standing Pulling Closed Guard lesson plan
5:45 pm (CT-C classes): Closed guard vs standing opponent
Friday – October 02, 2026
11:00 am (Fitness Kickboxing): Coaches Choice
12:00 pm (CT-B Advanced Fundamentals): OLX sweeps
4:45 pm (Nogi Kids II Bobcats): Standing Pulling Closed Guard lesson plan
4:45 pm (Nogi Pre-Teen Cougars): Standing Pulling Closed Guard lesson plan
5:45 pm (No Gi Adults – CTA Uniform Required): Posturing and opening the closed guard
Saturday – October 03, 2026
9:00 am (Family Class): No Classes
10:00 am (CT-A Fundamentals): No Classes
Sunday – October 04, 2026
10:00 am Open Mat: Team Only (Guests with Pre-Approval)
