Team Tooke Mixed Martial Arts - August 2022

Team Tooke Mixed Martial Arts - August 2022

THE TOOKE TRIBUNE

AUGUST 2022

My Passion and Love for Martial Arts

281.955.7300 teamtooke.com

Got Me Where I Am Today

Determination, focus, and optimism are three words I use to describe my journey to becoming a jiujitsu black belt and coach. At first, I had no idea how I could open my own training facility and begin teaching others the skills and values of martial arts. But I knew I wanted to do it, and that motivation led me to where I am today. I still remember the day my fascination with martial arts started. Back in 1993, my friend rented the very first UFC championship. This was the first mixed martial arts event in history, and as soon as the event started, I was hooked. Watching Royce Gracie in the ring at 14 sparked my interest, and I wanted to know more about the sport. At 16, my mom found a facility that taught jiujitsu, and I started training under my first coach who was just a blue belt at the time. During this time, only a handful of people had their black belts. It wasn’t as common when I was growing up because no one knew the art — it was just starting to make its way to America when I began training. It wasn’t until I turned 17 that I began thinking about becoming an instructor and practicing martial arts for a living. So, once I graduated high school at 18, I moved to

Dallas, Texas, and began training more and more. I started working at 24 Hour Fitness as a trainer and began teaching jiujitsu. After a few years, I earned my brown belt and wanted to take the next steps. So, in 2003, I went to Brazil to compete in the World Championship. My time in Brazil was amazing — I loved everything about the country. I lived in Brazil for 14 months, and while I practiced my craft and earned my black belt, I trained students on the side. When I came back to Texas in 2004, my mind was set on opening my own academy. But I had no idea where to start because I didn’t understand the business and marketing side of things. But I was willing to put in the effort and learn as I went. My first facility was in the garage of my dad’s house. I had about “The biggest lesson I learned was not to be afraid of failure and to keep pushing forward … with this mindset, I slowly grew bigger and stronger.”

friends rented spaces in a warehouse and let me rent out a room.

But I was hungry for more, so I began reading books about business and different marketing strategies. I would try anything and everything! If one tactic didn’t work, I would learn from it, modify it, and try again. The biggest lesson I learned was to not be afraid of failure and to keep pushing forward. It would’ve been easy to throw everything away, but with this mindset, I slowly grew bigger and stronger. Fast forward to today, I kept improving my marketing strategies and moved into different warehouses with more room for students. Now, I have a piece of land with a large facility and 315 active students who include kids, adults, and even families. We even have several Team Tooke Affiliate Academies throughout Houston and Texas. Determination, focus, and optimism helped me to achieve my goals and remain hopeful. I learned these tools while participating in martial arts, and I now teach my students these skills during their training. Martial arts is more than just physical activity — it’s mental. We strive to learn these core values each time we hit the mat. I’m so proud of how

10–15 students to train, but once my dad sold his house and moved into a much stricter neighborhood, I had to devise a new game plan. Luckily, one of my

far we’ve come, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds.

1

teamtooke.com

Published by Newsletter Pro • www.NewsletterPro.com

3 Ways to Foster a Positive Attitude In today’s society, we are faced with tragic stories and upsetting information, no matter where we turn. This can quickly lead us to a negative mindset where we believe things can’t be fixed and will only get worse, so it’s even more write a few things you are thankful for each day.

Over time, that thought process will seep into your daily life. SURROUND YOURSELF WITH POSITIVE PEOPLE. The people we associate

important now to establish a positive mindset. Though it might be easier to bury your head in the sand, fostering positivity in your life will provide you with many benefits.

But doing so is easier said than done. If you’re unsure where to begin, try out some of these methods to help you get started.

FOCUS ON THE SILVER LINING. When something bad or unfortunate happens, we are quick to think about the negatives and how they will impact us in the future. Instead, we should be searching for a silver lining. You can find a positive in any situation, but you’ll have to put in the effort to flip your perspective. KEEP A GRATITUDE JOURNAL. When we think about gratitude and thankfulness, our minds usually think about Thanksgiving. But we don’t need to wait for a special day to show gratitude. Things happen to us every day that we should be grateful for. If you’re struggling to acknowledge your blessings, keep a gratitude journal and

with play a huge role in our mental well-being. If you’re constantly around people who put you down or tell you that you can’t accomplish certain things, you will feel worse about yourself — or even believe them. You need to block the negative people from your life and surround yourself with those who think optimistically. Establishing a positive mindset in today’s world may be difficult, but it is not impossible if you develop a strategy and follow through with it.

LEADERSHIP AND MARTIAL ARTS GO HAND IN HAND

Martial arts are more than learning the technique and competing. Being a great teammate and martial artist requires the same qualities as a great leader does. On the surface, it may seem like just physical activity, but our program teaches valuable lessons that apply to all areas of your life. Here are a few qualities that martial arts teach that apply to leadership as well. SELF-DISCIPLINE Students are taught the value of doing what’s right — even if no one is watching. At first, you may not get the proper technique down, but practice and dedication to training helps you improve and accomplish your goals. Likewise, you may have a challenging project or assignment in school or work, but with the right mindset and self- discipline, you can overcome anything that stands in your way. ACCEPTING A LOSS During a competition or practice, you may get caught in a submission and forced to tap out. But losing doesn’t mean failure — it’s only a failure if you don’t learn anything from it. Martial arts teach that accepting a loss is more beneficial than creating excuses for it. In life, things aren’t always going to go your way, and that’s okay. However, you must learn how to move on from these instances and improve

your practice. With our training, you will learn how to view a loss as a win because significant takeaways can improve your way of life.

RESPECT Respect is a fundamental value taught in martial arts from the first time a student steps onto the mat. Students must honor and show kindness to their fellow students. We are a team, and we build each other up. If you don’t think you can master a certain skill, you have a supportive team behind you to encourage you. This experience will help you in everyday life, because you’ll learn to be a good teammate, coworker, spouse, friend, and parent. Leadership and martial arts go hand in hand. The traits you learn every time you step foot on the mat will help you become a better athlete and member of society. Even if you don’t take on a major leadership role, you can be a leader in your own life. So, show up to class at Team Tooke today to become a better leader for tomorrow!

2

281.955.7300

Published by Newsletter Pro • www.NewsletterPro.com

Martial Arts Can Prevent Bullying 3 Methods You Will Learn

Bullying is a problem that can affect anyone, no matter how old you are. About 20% of students ages 12–18 experience bullying nationwide. A recent survey by Harris Poll found that 31% of Americans are bullied as adults, and 43% say the behavior is becoming more common and accepted. So, what do we do about it? How can learning martial arts help the situation? At first glance, students learn self-defense techniques in martial arts. But that’s not all they learn. We emphasize that physical fighting should always be the last resort, so we don’t encourage our students to fight because they know the skills and techniques. Instead, they are to use the mindset and attitudes we teach to help them to hold themselves more confidently. Here are a few methods you will learn to help you avoid being the target of a bully. BREATHING TECHNIQUES The breathing exercises taught in martial arts, such as abdominal breathing,and attention breathing not only help you with your techniques on the mat but will also help you control your emotions. They will help you remain calm and not act out based on your feelings. This will also help you keep a firm and assertive tone, which will most likely deter a bully from bothering you since your voice projects confidence. BODY LANGUAGE The sad truth is that bullies will go after individuals they view as weak and timid. In martial arts, how you hold yourself and your posture is critical when learning the techniques and skills. We teach our students how to walk with purpose by keeping their backs straight, shoulders back, and heads high. This posture is useful every day, and you will have a confident and assertive demeanor. SELF-DEFENSE Fighting is the last resort when you’re a target of bullying. But, unfortunately, sometimes it’s necessary. When taking martial arts, you will learn how to defend yourself against physical aggression. But you will also learn to use extreme caution when using your skills. It is a self-defense technique, not a tool to attack others. The truth is that students with knowledge of self-defense have a more confident attitude and are less likely to be the targets of bullying, so they don’t usually have to fight anyway.

ADVENTURE DOGS

MOTORCYCLE MUGGY RELAXATION

FRIENDSHIP GLADIOLUS HEAT MARSHMALLOW

SANDWICH SWIMMING VACATION

BODY WORKOUT

With the help of martial arts, you will find strategies to avoid bullying that don’t involve fighting — it’s all about how you present yourself. So, try a free class today and learn more about how martial arts can benefit you and your kids!

Set a running clock and perform each exercise for :45 and rest :15

1. Mountain Climbers 2. Push Ups 3. Sprawls 4. Walking Lunges 5. Sit Ups Rest 1:00, then repeat for two more rounds

3

teamtooke.com

Published by Newsletter Pro • www.NewsletterPro.com

10111 Grant Rd. Ste. R Houston, TX 77070 281.955.7300 teamtooke.com

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

INSIDE

• 3 Core Values Helped Me on My Journey PAGE 1 • Dealing With Negativity? Try These 3 Things! • 3 Leadership Traits You Learn in Martial Arts PAGE 2 • Prevent Bullying With Martial Arts • Workout With Alyssa PAGE 3 • Choose the Best Channel for the Family PAGE 4

Explore Kid-Friendly YouTube Channels And Enhance Your Child’s Learning

face. To kids, it’s just an interesting video, but in reality, they’re getting a deeper understanding of the world they live in. Give it a try at YouTube.com/c/PBSKIDS/featured.

Every family has their own approach when it comes to their children watching online content. The vast world of videos and channels in the media can be dicey. When media is used thoughtfully and appropriately, though, it can enhance your child’s learning experience. Here are four great YouTube channels for your kids, or even your whole family, to watch. DODO KIDS After years of parents telling The Dodo they loved watching their videos with the whole family, Dodo Kids was created. This channel is great for kids who have an interest in or passion for animals and enjoy watching cute, heartwarming animal videos. This channel features kid hosts, funny voice-overs, and colorful graphics to make stories fun and engaging. Check out the cuteness at YouTube.com/c/TheDodoKids/featured. PBS KIDS This channel is committed to making a positive impact in the lives of children through their curriculum-based media. A large inventory of educational videos feeds your child’s curiosity about science, the world, or even emotional challenges they may

NETFLIX JR. In 2022, Netflix will launch Netflix Jr., where kids can watch feature characters from their favorite shows, like “StoryBots” or “Super Monsters.” Children can learn and sing along with engaging content like the “ABC Jamboree” or educational videos like “What Makes an Airplane Fly?” See all the fun at YouTube.com/c/NetflixJr/featured. CRASH COURSE KIDS From the producers of Crash Course, this new channel for kids highlights grade school science. They focus on the Earth, habitats, space, chemical reactions, engineering, and much more. Many teachers and homeschool parents use Crash Course in their classrooms because it’s full of engaging topics and enhances the learning experience visually versus reading from a textbook. Discover what you can learn at YouTube.com/c/crashcoursekids/featured. YouTube can be a great outlet for children to learn and engage their creativity. They can discover new interests, learn from diverse perspectives, and even enjoy a greater sense of community. Who knows? You might even learn something along the way!

4

281.955.7300

Published by Newsletter Pro • www.NewsletterPro.com