Hendo BJJ Core Values
The cornerstone of Hendo BJJ is our CORE VALUES. It is how we run our school, build our culture; it can be our problem solving tool…it’s who we are. Our CORE VALUES make Hendo BJJ….Hendo BJJ.
HENDO BJJ culture did not just happen, it’s by design. Students, please re-read and understand what you are already a part of; potential students check us out and see if this works for you.
Most of us have jobs, families, often times young kids, and wish to be our “best selves”, and are looking for positive family outlets. Hendo BJJ JUST MIGHT BE THE PLACE for you and for your family!
This is who we ARE:
Safety and humility are first and foremost” “If you have ego, then you can’t keep your safety and the safety of others as a priority. Safety and humility go hand-in-hand. This is rule number one. This rule also applies to the culture and environment of our gym; we believe people should feel safe, comfortable, and accepted.
“Respect the lineage and the Academy” “We teach fundamentals from the source. Professor Larry Shealy learned Gracie Jiu Jitsu from legendary figures such as Rickson, Royce, and the Machado Brothers. Larry is a 4th degree Rigan Machado black belt. We believe fundamentals and perfect practice are core to growing excellent Jiu Jitsu skills. Rorion Gracie once said “The water is the purest the closer it is to the source.”
“This ain’t tennis” Gracie Jiu Jitsu is a complete fighting system, designed and adopted for self-defense. At Hendo BJJ we focus on the martial art vs. sport jiu jitsu. We believe Gracie Jiu Jitsu is more about being a competent fighter to defend yourself and others than it is about scoring points for competition. If you want to travel to other gyms to train, or compete every once in a while, you will do well. But know that this gym is focused on real self-defense, not sport. We often mix in Brazilian “Vale Tudo” into our practice to keep our Jiu Jitsu honest.
“Everything is earned” No participation trophies at Hendo BJJ. If you get a stripe or a new belt be proud; you earned it. This is as important with our kids programs as it is our adult programs. There are no shortcuts.
“Just show up: If you come train, stay safe, and keep your ego out of it then you will get better. The safer you are, the more you can train. The more you train, the more you learn. The discipline to show up even when you aren’t motivated shows your heart. Motivation is hit or miss, discipline is consistent.
“Be a great training partner” “We are a team. We are here to learn and teach each other, always. We are not training to ‘beat’ our teammates or to ‘win’ practice. We are here to make ourselves better and to help our teammates get better as iron sharpens iron. Wether it’s your first moment experiencing martial arts, or you’ve been honing your Jiu Jitsu skills for 30 years, we believe that everyone has something new to learn.
“God created all necks equal” “While anyone is welcome to train with us, Hendo BJJ and our core values are anchored in Christian values. We support several non-profits that raise money for things like shoes and food for those in need, and are a huddle group with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Come join us on Saturday mornings for Bible study prior to training.
Train Smart, be humble.
Professor Larry Shealy
What will get you fired from Hendo BJJ
– Not abiding by core value #1. Being unsafe, or demonstrating repeated ego-driven behavior without correction will lead to you being asked to train elsewhere.
– Not trusting the program. Not listening to your professor or coaches, asking about belt promotions (or being too obsessed with stripes/belts vs. learning) or doing things your own way will not only cause you to stall in your Jiu Jitsu journey, it will degrade your ability to be a good team member.
– Foul language, or putting down/hurting others with your words and actions.
– Stealing
– Racism or Sexism and any harassing behavior comments or behavior.