October Newsletter — Thank you
Dear GRA Community,
It has been a very exciting first year at Ground Rules Academy. Our school has grown to 40 students and the culture we have developed is truly heartwarming. I'm not surprised at our growth, because building a strong community focused on personal development through jiu jitsu was always the plan, but it is nevertheless surreal to be living the dream. I am filled with gratitude every day for the opportunity to connect with you and your amazing children. To have earned your trust, to have the support of my own wonderful family, and to share the joy of lifelong learning is truly a gift. I am not a particularly spiritual person, but there is no better word to describe this experience than blessed.
The academy has reached a massive milestone by breaking even financially. Thank you for your support! But long-term survival will require continued growth. Your touching online reviews and word of mouth have helped immensely and we truly appreciate your effort. Keep being yourselves and we will surely attract new students with our shared values.
Stay tuned for new promotions in the coming year. We will be introducing a modest price increase for new students early in 2026, but current students will have rates/promotional offerings locked into 2025 prices as long as they remain enrolled. I am also exploring potential affiliations that would allow us to connect with a broader BJJ community, pursue higher levels of competition when we are ready, and give me the opportunity to seek mentorship of my own for continued growth as an athlete, instructor, and team leader.
This experience has been a dream come true -- thank you all for being a part of it! I look forward to another fantastic year of new learning opportunities with you all.
Sincerely,
Russ
Movie Night is Back!
Join us for a fun-filled Movie Night at Ground Rules Academy on Saturday, October 18th, from 5 to 8 PM! We'll provide pizza, snacks, and drinks for everyone to enjoy.
Parents, this is a perfect chance to drop off your kids and enjoy a date night! Friends, family (including siblings), and neighbors are all welcome to join the fun.
Mark your calendars and come make some movie memories with us!
October Curriculum
Each month, I observe weaknesses in our students’ Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu techniques and prioritize those for the next month’s training. This approach, applicable to both BJJ and daily life, emphasizes improving weaknesses alongside strengths for balanced growth. This drives rapid improvement in weaker areas, building well-rounded, versatile BJJ practitioners.
This October, we’ll break through plateaus by targeting key Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu techniques: back submission attacks, wrestling for BJJ, mount submission attacks, and bottom half guard strategies.
