Black Arrow Martial Arts -
“It takes a tribe”
Well, a village (so to speak) to navigate through life. To challenge yourself physically and creatively; the end goal is to develop into a role model, one can look up to for support. In the Community or as a family — it’s that extra thing you did not know you needed.
So how do you prepare yourself for something you never thought would happen to you? You think “I’m too old”, or “they’re too young” to do anything to protect yourselves. How do you build the best version of yourself and the kids, in this crazy world?
The art of preparation takes on many forms. Imagine for a moment a day like today. It is one from a movie; birds chirping, sun shining with a cool breeze rustling the leaves, as you take your children for a daily walk. You spot someone off the side of the path not far ahead; a hooded figure wearing sunglasses, keeps looking down and away. The body language causes something in the air to feel (off).
You holler back for your kiddo’s to keep up and stay by you, but they are not there. Realizing you are walking alone, fear tightly grips as you look around frantically! Shoulder to shoulder, with people all around, your mind is in chaos and then you spot them! They stopped to look at a toy vendor - carefree and oblivious to the world. “It won't happen to me..” is what everyone says, but now this stranger rapidly moves in, but (on you)! Would you be ready and able?
Professor Kyle Matuszak, 1st degree Black Belt at Black Arrow Martial Arts in Brainerd, said it best, ”positivity spreads around… if you plant good seeds, all you get is good seeds”.
Black Arrow Martial Arts was founded in 2012 by Guerrilla Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt Professor Jared Feierabend. With the sole goal of helping individuals become the best versions of themselves, on and off the mats, Professor Jared, Professor Kyle and Professor Adian collectively have 60+ years of martial arts experience.
From traveling to do Jiu-Jitsu seminars in California, Australia or closer to home (coming up in Iowa - July of 2023), they expand horizons and distances. Training Special Operations personnel for the US Military these past ten years, as well as speaking for the Brainerd school district on character building; they are partnering with Just For Kix in Brainerd, for self defense classes during the (highschool dance camp) in July — they breathe and sweat nothing but passion and excellence! They focus on teaching individuals to be aware, stay disciplined, to have a fighting spirit and fight for what they want in life.
Helping build strong relationships and bonds when a parent and child decide to take this journey by training together and passing on tradition. Lukas Lind (15), who won the Gold medal in the 2017 MN Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation (BJJF) Winter Open and his father Jesse Lind, a two-time International (IBJJF) Pan American Jiu-Jitsu champion, are driven by the competitive spirit. They have continued to train and grow together in their journey to become the best version of themselves these past ten years. Lukas has grown and learned to apply himself to be helpful, kind, polite, respectful, hard working and become a great mentor– the epitome of what Black Arrow is all about.
They offer free Jiu-Jitsu classes — no experience necessary — no matter your age or skill level. With close to 200 students, ranging in age from 3 to 60+, from many different professions, such as sports medicine, law enforcement, health care and teachers from around the state, they have classes taught six days a week, all by a Black Belt instructor. Once or twice a year, they have three international guest instructors from Brazil come and teach.
When we think about a village, a community, a family, or a support system, this is it. You can feel the passion and the gratitude flow as they pour their heart and souls into this community to help build our kids up to become the best versions of themselves. When thinking about the craziness of how this world is, we want to be prepared, whether for self defense or for building character in ourselves and our children. — many times, in order to help others, we need to grow ourselves first! Start your journey today.
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