May Week 4: ATTITUDE – Training Positive Thinking from the Mat to Life

**"Keep your thoughts positive because your thoughts become your words.

Keep your words positive because your words become your behavior.

Keep your behavior positive because your behavior becomes your habits.

Keep your habits positive because your habits become your values.

Keep your values positive because your values become your destiny."**

– Lou Holtz

At Gracie Humaitá Jiu-Jitsu Alliston, we believe that what happens inside your mind shapes what happens outside your life. As the #1 ranked Jiu-Jitsu school for kids, adults, and families in Alliston, Ontario, we emphasize not just what students learn physically—but what they practice mentally.

This week, our final ATTITUDE lesson shows how positive thinking is the root of every strong behavior, habit, and value.

Why It Starts With a Thought

Whether you’re new to martial arts or years into your journey, the way you think determines how you feel, how you act, and how far you go.

A negative thought pattern leads to:

❌ Doubt

❌ Frustration

❌ Quitting

A positive mindset leads to:

✅ Confidence

✅ Growth

✅ Success

That’s why we help our students think clearly, positively, and with intention—on and off the mats.

The Jiu-Jitsu Chain Reaction: Thoughts → Destiny

Let’s break down the Lou Holtz quote in Jiu-Jitsu terms:

✔️ Positive thoughts: “I’m learning,” “I’ll try again,” “I’ve got this.”

✔️ Positive words: “Nice job,” “Let’s keep going,” “Thanks for the help.”

✔️ Positive behavior: Showing respect, rolling safely, supporting teammates.

✔️ Positive habits: Training consistently, staying focused, staying kind.

✔️ Positive values: Leadership, humility, perseverance, confidence.

Ask Your Child (or Yourself):

  1. Do you notice how your thoughts affect your mood or behavior?
  2. When you think positively, does training feel better?
  3. Can you catch a bad attitude and turn it into something stronger?

These questions teach students they’re in charge of how they think—and who they become.

How We Build Mental Strength at Gracie Humaitá Alliston

🥋 Rolling teaches patience under pressure

💬 Feedback helps students reframe frustration into learning

🤝 Partner work develops humility and communication

🔥 Goal-setting teaches consistency and internal drive

We tell our students: Don’t just train the body—train the brain.

Catching the Bad, Choosing the Better

It’s easy to fall into thoughts like:

❌ “I’ll never get this.”

❌ “They’re better than me.”

❌ “I’m too tired for this.”

We teach them to flip the script:

✅ “I’m improving every class.”

✅ “I’m learning from them.”

✅ “Even tired reps build strength.”

This mental shift becomes a habit—and that habit becomes character.

Why Families Love Our Program

Parents often share:

💬 “My child talks more positively.”

💬 “They’re more respectful and less reactive.”

💬 “They bounce back from mistakes more easily.”

That’s because our Jiu-Jitsu curriculum is built on:

✔️ Leadership

✔️ Responsibility

✔️ Positive reinforcement

✔️ Emotional maturity

Adults Grow Here, Too

Jiu-Jitsu helps our adult students:

✔️ Reset their mindset after a tough day

✔️ Think with intention before reacting

✔️ Build better daily habits

✔️ Feel confident in their growth

You’re never too young—or too experienced—to get better at managing your mindset.

Challenge of the Week: Think → Speak → Lead

We challenge every student to:

  1. Notice one negative thought this week
  2. Flip it into a positive one
  3. Speak it aloud to a teammate or instructor
  4. Reflect on how it shaped their behavior during class

This habit strengthens the full chain from thought to destiny.

From the Mats to Real Life

Jiu-Jitsu helps students succeed not just in competition, but in:

  • School
  • Relationships
  • Leadership roles
  • Emotional regulation

And that’s why we focus so much on attitude—it’s the true foundation of success.

Lead With Values—Lead With Confidence

When you:

✔️ Think clearly

✔️ Speak respectfully

✔️ Act consistently

…you become a leader people can count on.

That’s the ultimate goal of our academy—not just building martial artists, but building positive, principled people.

Want to Build a Life Rooted in Confidence and Values?

At Gracie Humaitá Jiu-Jitsu Alliston, we guide kids, teens, and adults to build their character as much as their technique. If you want to grow stronger in every area of life—starting with your mindset—join the #1 Jiu-Jitsu school for kids, adults, and families in Alliston today.

– Professor Jason Figliano & Coach Vito