In this comprehensive discussion, we delve into the unique approach and philosophy behind our training programs at the Strong Heart Academy.
We explain the benefits of our specialized classes, which cater to various age groups, promoting effective learning and safe practices.
The conversation highlights our online resources and curriculum designed to enhance the learning experience for our students.
Furthermore, we describe the encouraging culture of our academy, our location, and how new students can get started with a free trial.
Please listen to get a deeper understanding of our unique approach to martial arts training.
Video Transcription
Meet Professor Mike and Strong Heart Academy
Hi, it's Professor Mike. I'm really excited to talk to you guys about what makes Strong Heart Academy different. I'm a third-degree black belt under Caio Terra, the 12-time world champion, and we are proud to be the premier school in the North Valley. We are surrounded by other schools, and I just want to point out why we are really excited to be here.
Our Long-Standing Presence
Experience and Establishment in the Community
I've had this academy the longest in this area out of all the academies. I'm the most established. I have more experience. I've been training longer than everyone around me. I have 23 years of experience, multiple black belts, and I also have multiple black belts teaching at my academy. We've been in these locations longer than anybody else too. So we're really established in the community.
Community Outreach and Stability
Reliable, Committed and Community-Centric
We also do outreach in the community. So we're not going anywhere. You know, this isn't something you're going to sign up for and it will be gone. We've been in business for almost 15 years. We were established in 2009.
Cleanliness and Hygiene
A Clean, Safe, and Welcoming Environment
Our academy is very clean, and you'll notice this when you walk in, it smells good. I don't know how many academies you can walk into where it smells fresh. Some people, like gym rats or old wrestlers, might not mind a gym smell, but for parents, you don't want to smell sweat. We always make sure our academy is spotlessly clean. We want it to be like Disney; clean, clean, clean.
Fitness Facilities and Amenities
Beyond Martial Arts: A Comprehensive Fitness Facility
We encourage people to bring water, but we also have a water fountain for refilling your drinks or for drinking from directly. We also have a gym in the back with a full weight setup. We have a squat rack, bench press set, and plenty of dumbbells. We have different barbells, kettlebells, and more.
Shower Facilities
Stay Fresh with our On-site Shower Facility
We just ask that you put your things away. We also have our own shower here. So if, especially for the morning people, you want to take a shower before heading to work, you have access to a shower here. We just ask that you wear shower sandals, and bring your own soap and towel, just like at any other gym, such as LA Fitness.
Class Arrangement
Optimal Class Structuring for Effective Learning
Our facility alone is much nicer than any around us. We also have two rooms with mats. We have a mat on the south side and a mat on the north side. This allows us to run two classes simultaneously. What that does is it allows us to break up all our programs.
Age-Appropriate Training
Separation of Age Groups for Effective Training
So you're not going to have a 20-year-old training with a four-year-old. Some of these academies around me have just one kids' program where they are all jumbled together. Now, you have to do what you got to do, which I understand. But if you think about how your child progresses in school, you know, back in the 1800s, there would be one schoolhouse and everyone's in one class.
Understanding Different Learning Capabilities
Catering to Diverse Learning Needs
But kids don't learn like that. So a four-year-old is not going to learn the same as a nine-year-old. And a nine-year-old is not the same as a 13-year-old. The size difference means they can't wrestle with each other - a four-year-old and a nine-year-old should not be wrestling together.
Age-Specific Class Structure
Our Unique and Age-Appropriate Class Structure
So we have separate classes. We break it up to four and five-year-olds, six and seven-year-olds. And then sometimes we allow seven to 12-year-olds in our last class, which is our kids' class. We have a Tiny Tigers for ages four to five, Mat Monkeys, which is six to seven, and then our older kids' class which is eight to 12.
Adolescents and Adult Training Classes
Classes for Teens, Adults, and Masters
And then from there, we have a teens' class, another class that is separated. So that's, you know, your 13 to 15, and then 16-17 year-olds, depending on their size, they can join the adult class. And then pretty soon I'm really excited because we're going to have a master's class. And I don't think anyone in the valley has this, but it's going to be 35 and older.
Master's Class
The Master's Class: For Mature Practitioners
So if you're, you know, in your 30s, late 30s, 40s, 50s, and just feel a little intimidated and don't want to go against a 20-year-old that's been doing this since they were a teenager, this class is going to be at a great pace for both men and women 35 and older. I'm really excited about that. Hopefully, we'll get that going in June. It's just a couple of weeks now.
Gi and No Gi Options
The Flexibility of Gi and No Gi Training
And we also have options for Gi and No Gi for adults. And those are just some of the things that kind of set us apart.
Our Unique Curriculum
The Strong Heart Academy Curriculum
What separates us so much is my curriculum. I have an online curriculum that is free. Okay, we have another one that is a paid option, but that's going to give you more options. You can look up anything you want. Gi, No Gi, yoga, foam rolling, everything. But our curriculum itself, every month you have access to one month of curriculum.
Lesson Breakdown
How Our Training Week is Structured
So you'll know what we're teaching every week. Okay. And basically, we break up our Mondays and Tuesdays and our Wednesdays and Thursdays. Every position is broken up. So let's say this week would be guard. We're working on guard at the beginning of the week, we're working on passing the guard the second part of the week or defense.
Reviewing the Curriculum
Optimal Learning through Curriculum Reviews
And it goes through every week, different position, offense, and defense. And you're going to have the option of watching it before you participate in class. So you're not completely lost. "What are we doing today?" Or if you didn't understand something, you can go back to those videos and rewatch them just to get a better understanding.
Continuous Learning
Rewatching and Understanding the Curriculum
Maybe we taught three things and you've only remembered one. If you want to know the other two, go back to the videos; it gives you that access.
Kid-Friendly Curriculum
The Kids' Curriculum: Learning with Peers
On top of that, we have a separate program that I filmed with my own children. That's the kids' curriculum. So, kids have a separate curriculum from adults, and they can watch other kids doing Jiu-Jitsu. I've found that kids don't watch adult shows. They watch shows with other kids in them. So, I wanted to make a curriculum that they can watch kids doing.
Easy Access to Requirements
Test Requirements and Student Info Access
I thought it'd be easier for them to understand. They have access to all that as well. And so, they also know what their testing requirements are going to be; that information is on their student info page. They're going to have all the requirements for all the tests. They're going to have all the videos set up for that as well.
Our Open Environment
Transparency and Clarity in Training Goals
So, there's never any confusion about our curriculum or what you're trying to achieve for each position. You will know what that is. It's not a guessing game. And we have such a friendly, open environment that everyone comes in and can ask questions of other students.
Collective Growth
Learning from Each Other: The Strong Heart Academy Way
Not just the professors, but my purple belts, my blue belts, and my brown belts. They're going to give you great advice and help you work through positions, and everyone is very patient.
Uplifting Each Other
The Power of Community in Skill Development
We're all trying to uplift each other together so that we can all get better together. If the people below you are getting better, then you are too. There's no one pushing them forward. You need people behind you. You need them to be pushing you forward.
The Principle of Sharing Knowledge
The No-Secret Techniques Policy
So if you're not willing to help the people behind you, you're not going to be able to push the people in front of you, because you're not getting better; you're holding back. We don't want to hold back information from anybody. There are no secret techniques here. Everything is explained, and you'll fully understand what you're trying to achieve here.
Aligning Goals
Understanding and Accomplishing Your Goals
And we want to help you through your goals. What are your goals when you come in? We want to help walk you through those goals.
Identifying Your Goals
The Variety of Goals Welcome at Strong Heart Academy
Is your goal fitness, self-defense, or simply to meet new people and learn a new skill? All of these are valid goals in our positive culture, where everyone is willing to help each other.
Building an Academy Culture
The Importance of Time in Cultivating an Academy's Culture
When you're starting with a new academy, there isn't a culture yet. It takes time to build a culture.
Invitation to Join
A Warm Welcome to Try Out a Class
We would love to have you guys come in and try out a class. We're located on the border of Scottsdale, at 30th Street and Union Hills. We're just two minutes from Desert Ridge and Scottsdale.
Easy Accessibility
Finding Us Made Easy
You can find us right off the 101 or the 51, whichever is most convenient for you. If you're in the North Valley, you can get to us in 20 minutes or less.
Trying Out the Academy
The Invitation to Experience a Free Trial
We would love to have you on the mat to see if we can meet your goals and make sure we align together. You can try out a free trial. We offer a free trial. Check out our website, StrongHeartAcademy.com, fill out the waiver, click on the link, and you're ready to go.
Connect with Us
For Any Questions, Feel Free to Reach Out
If you have any questions, you can ask us on our website or call us. We prefer that you try out a class to get a good understanding of our structure and to make sure it fits your needs.
Thank you.