"What lies in our power to do, it also lies in our power not to do." – Aristotle

At Gracie Humaitá Jiu-Jitsu Barrie, we believe that self-control is the foundation of confidence, calmness, and character. As the #1 ranked Jiu-Jitsu school for kids, adults, and families in Barrie, we help our students develop the mindset and skillset to make thoughtful, powerful decisions—both on the mats and in daily life.

Self-control means being able to pause, reflect, and respond rather than react impulsively. It’s how we build strong athletes, respectful partners, confident kids, and resilient adults.

What Is Self-Control?

Self-control is also known as self-discipline. It means:

✅ Managing your emotions

✅ Resisting urges that don’t serve your goals

✅ Choosing to act with patience, maturity, and intention

In Jiu-Jitsu, this looks like:

• Tapping when appropriate, not letting ego take over
• Controlling your breathing during high-pressure moments
• Adjusting your energy to protect your partner
• Accepting feedback and applying it without resistance

We teach our students that strength without control is chaos—and control without ego is power.

Why Self-Control Matters On and Off the Mats

Without self-control, students may:

• React emotionally during sparring
• Quit when things get tough
• Blame others instead of taking ownership
• Struggle with consistency in training and focus

With self-control, they learn to:

✔️ Stay calm under pressure

✔️ Respond with clarity, not emotion

✔️ Accept responsibility

✔️ Become leaders others can trust

This growth goes far beyond martial arts—it shows up in school, work, and relationships.

How We Build Self-Control at Gracie Humaitá Barrie

🥋 Controlled rolling – Teaches respect for your training partner and mastery over your body

🧠 Technical drilling – Builds focus, repetition, and patience

💬 Feedback sessions – Develop mental resilience and emotional maturity

🧘 Mindfulness during challenges – Encourages breathing, awareness, and intention

Our students don’t just learn to win—they learn to lead.

Emotional Triggers That Affect Self-Control

Self-control begins with emotional awareness. We help students explore:

• What emotions cause them to act without thinking?
• What thoughts trigger those emotions?

For example:

😡 Anger → “I always lose”

😞 Discouragement → “I’ll never get it”

😠 Frustration → “Why do they always correct me?”

By identifying these thoughts, students learn to interrupt the cycle—and choose a better response.

Affirmations to Strengthen Self-Control

We encourage students to adopt daily affirmations such as:

🧠 “I control my reactions.”

🧠 “I pause, think, and choose my response.”

🧠 “I am mentally strong and emotionally calm.”

🧠 “I grow stronger with every challenge.”

These affirmations build an inner voice that promotes confidence, accountability, and growth.

Ask Your Child or Yourself:

1. What’s one area where you want to improve your self-control?
2. What thoughts or emotions challenge you the most?
3. What daily affirmation can help you stay focused and composed?

Helping students reflect on these questions strengthens their ability to lead themselves with clarity and consistency.

Self-Control Builds Better Relationships

Students who develop self-control become:

✔️ Better teammates

✔️ More coachable

✔️ Calmer in conflict

✔️ Trusted leaders

At Gracie Humaitá Barrie, we teach that how you treat others reflects your level of control over yourself. When you build self-control, you build trust.

Parents Report Major Wins

Families of students in our program often share that their kids:

• Listen better
• Handle frustration more maturely
• Are more consistent with schoolwork and chores
• Bounce back faster from failure

Adults in our program also benefit:

• Greater discipline in training and lifestyle
• More emotional regulation at home and work
• Increased resilience under stress
• Improved consistency in habits and goals

Challenge of the Week: Control Through Intention

Here’s our challenge for every student this week:

1. Pick one area where you lack self-control
2. Identify the triggering emotion or thought
3. Choose a self-affirmation that counters it
4. Practice that affirmation daily for 7 days
5. Reflect: What changed?

This creates lasting change—because it addresses the root of the behavior.

Jiu-Jitsu = The Practice of Mastering Yourself

At Gracie Humaitá Jiu-Jitsu Barrie, we don’t just teach students how to defend themselves—we teach them how to lead themselves. Through world-class martial arts instruction and real-life mindset coaching, we build students who are:

• Stronger physically
• Sharper mentally
• Calmer emotionally
• More powerful in every aspect of life

Take the First Step to Building Unshakable Control

If you’re ready to help your child—or yourself—develop the focus, emotional control, and discipline to succeed in school, at home, and in life, join the #1 Jiu-Jitsu school for kids, adults, and families in Barrie today.

– Professor Trevor Lewis