The Work Happens Before the Test
There are weeks at the academy when you look around the mats and get a really good reminder of what makes this place special. This was one of those weeks.
First, we are very excited to officially welcome Vivian F. as one of the newest members of our Otomi Martial Arts family. Starting Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a big step, and we’re grateful every time a student or family chooses to trust us with their journey. Vivian, we’re happy to have you on the team, and we’re looking forward to watching you learn, grow, and make the mats your own.
We also got to experience something this week that I especially love seeing: more families training together.
During our Saturday Family Class, we had the opportunity to welcome the second half of the Perez family onto the mats. Then today at Open Mat, we were excited to have Mrs. Musiienko join us as well.
There is something pretty special about seeing parents step onto the same mats where they’ve spent countless hours watching their children train.
For many parents, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu begins from the sidelines. You bring your child to class. You watch them struggle with a technique. You see them become frustrated, work through it, and eventually figure it out. You celebrate their stripes, belt promotions, victories, and all those little breakthroughs that nobody outside the academy ever sees.
But something changes when a parent actually steps onto the mat.
Suddenly, you understand why your child sometimes comes home exhausted. You understand why something that looks simple from the sidelines can be incredibly difficult when you’re the one trying to do it. And maybe most importantly, your child gets to see you become a beginner too.
I think that’s an incredibly powerful example.
As adults, we sometimes unintentionally give our children the impression that we’re supposed to have everything figured out. But there is tremendous value in letting our kids see us try something we’re not immediately good at. They get to watch us listen, make mistakes, laugh at ourselves, get frustrated, try again, and continue learning.
That’s one of the reasons we’ve enjoyed watching our Family Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu class at Otomi Martial Arts in Parker, Colorado continue to grow. BJJ can certainly teach children confidence, discipline, self-defense, problem-solving, and resilience, but those lessons become even more meaningful when families get an opportunity to experience them together.
And this week, that idea of learning together couldn’t come at a better time because we are now entering our final week before testing.
For our students who are eligible to test next week, this isn’t the time to panic or suddenly try to become perfect.
The work happens before the test.
Every class you’ve attended matters.
Every repetition matters.
Every time your coach corrected a detail and you tried it again matters.
Every difficult round, every mistake, every moment when you couldn’t quite remember what came next—and then finally figured it out—has been part of the preparation.
Testing simply gives us an opportunity to see where that work has taken you.
For our younger students especially, I hope parents will help us reinforce that message this week. We want our kids to prepare and do their best, but we don’t want them afraid of making mistakes. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a learning process, and testing is simply another part of that process.
A stripe or a new belt is exciting, but the real accomplishment is the student they’ve become while earning it.
That’s also something prospective parents should understand when considering kids Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Parker, CO. At Otomi Martial Arts, our goal isn’t to rush children through belts or simply teach them enough techniques to pass the next test. Through the Caio Terra Association curriculum, we’re working to build a strong technical foundation while helping our students develop habits and qualities that can serve them away from the academy as well.
Patience.
Confidence.
Discipline.
Resilience.
The willingness to be a beginner.
And the understanding that meaningful progress usually comes from consistently doing small things well.
So this week, let’s enjoy the process.
Welcome to the team, Vivian.
Welcome to the mats, Perez family and Mrs. Musiienko.
And to everyone preparing for testing next week: trust the work you’ve already put in, pay attention to the details, ask questions when you need help, and let’s have one more great week of training together.
This Week’s Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Curriculum
This is our final week of curriculum before testing next week, so make the most of every opportunity you have to train.
Come to class. Pay attention to the details. Help your teammates. Ask your coaches questions. And remember that nobody expects perfection—we’re looking for progress.
For those of you who are already part of the Otomi family, let’s get ready for a great week.
And if you’re a parent in Parker, Colorado or the surrounding area who has been thinking about Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for your child—or perhaps you’ve been sitting on the sidelines thinking about trying it yourself—there may not be a better time to see what we’re about.
You don’t need to be in shape first.
You don’t need previous martial arts experience.
And you definitely don’t need to know Jiu-Jitsu before you start.
You just need to be willing to step onto the mat.
Here’s what we’re working on this week.
Monday – September 21, 2026
11:00 am (Fitness Kickboxing): Coaches Choice
12:00 pm (CT-B Advanced Fundamentals): Tripod sweep
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): Keylock
Tuesday – September 22, 2026
11:00 am (Fitness Kickboxing): Coaches Choice
12:00 pm (CT-A Fundamentals): Armlock and breaking my opponents grips
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): Attacking from turtle
Wednesday – September 23, 2026
11:00 am (Fitness Kickboxing): Coaches Choice
12:00 pm (CT-A Advanced Fundamentals): Crosschoke
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-B Fundamentals): X pass
Thursday – September 24, 2026
11:00 am (Fitness Kickboxing): Coaches Choice
12:00 pm (CT-A Fundamentals): Escaping the back
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): Jiu Jitsu Takedowns
Friday – September 25, 2026
11:00 am (Fitness Kickboxing): Coaches Choice
12:00 pm (CT-B Advanced Fundamentals): Spider triangle and escape
4:45 pm (Nogi Kids II Bobcats): BULL PASS + DOUBLE UNDER – LESSON PLAN
4:45 pm (Nogi Pre-Teen Cougars): COLLAR DRAG – LESSON PLAN
5:45 pm (No Gi Adults – CTA Uniform Required): Armlock
Saturday – September 26, 2026
9:00 am (Family Class): Coaches Choice
10:00 am (CT-A Fundamentals): Rear naked choke
Sunday – September 27, 2026
10:00 am Open Mat: Team Only (Guests with Pre-Approval)
