I have three children with the youngest being two months. As a result, my oldest was getting less and less attention and was starting to act out for it. My husband and I knew we wanted him in a discipline-oriented sport and it seemed about the right time to start looking. We thought Jiu Jitsu would be a great lifetime skill. As a SAHM, I'm very flexible on the days, hours, and location as long as it works with my sons school schedule. I live in Manassas and all the classes here were either 2-3 days a week with some not even a hour long. So I expanded my search and found Double Phoenix Jiu Jitsu in Sterling which had 1hr classes 5 days a week. I thought it a bit far to travel everyday, but I'd give it a try.
My son took to it so well! He was happy to exercise and even though he wasn't as worn out as I hoped, the 5:30-6:30 class had him hungry and ready for bed when we got home. He is with mostly women all day, so its nice to get him around other people and more boys/men to connect with (the class does have a few girls too!). There's several payment plans to choose from, which are all month-month based vs. per class, as there is no limit on the classes you attend for the months that you pay. Very easy, very relaxed - which, even though this is a serious sport and has competitions, it has a wonderful sense of laid-back cooperation to it. The easiest example being M,W,F are Gi/uniform days, and T,R are dress down days.
We've only attended a week at this point and I'm quite impressed by what I've already seen. Both of the owners coach and are patient with my son and the rest of the class. The class itself is also encouraged to help one another, which is great team building and social skill off the mat as well. I feel comfortable leaving for the hour if I need to, or staying to watch with my other two kids. I'm hoping the have another day camp before school starts. Additionally, the office manager is very kind and is always happy to help - to which I am always grateful for.
I also like that they utilize a group app called Band. I get notifications of cancelations, competitions, etc. right on my phone and it's simple to have everyone in one place. Its much more personal than FB and its nice to see the pictures of the adult classes, competitions, and even pets of the members.
Overall, we are very happy to have found DPJJ and the small but strong community it continues to foster. Definitely worth the drive and funds not only to keep my son busy, but to help build the skills he needs as he grows. Looking forward to attending for the long haul!
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Posted 5 years ago