Values at Home
Character grows on and off the mat
Jiu jitsu is more than technique. The habits children practice at home — how they treat others, approach challenges and care for responsibilities — are part of their growth as martial artists.
Our partnership
Elevate Values at Home is adapted from the character-development approach of Pura Vida Fighting for Kids in Jacó, Costa Rica, with age-appropriate responsibilities and a shared parent-and-instructor review.
Our five values
One value each week
Week 1 · Blue stripe
Respect
Treating people and their belongings with kindness and care.
At home: Kind words and taking turns.
On the mat: Treating partners and coaches with care.
Week 2 · Yellow stripe
Discipline
Doing what needs to be done, even when we do not feel like it.
At home: Following routines and finishing clean-up.
On the mat: Self-control and continuing to practice.
Week 3 · Red stripe
Focus
Giving our attention and effort to what we are doing.
At home: Listening and completing one activity.
On the mat: Watching demonstrations and returning attention to the lesson.
Week 4 · Orange stripe
Courage
Trying difficult things and speaking up, even when nervous.
At home: Trying a safe challenge and asking for help.
On the mat: Attempting new skills and speaking up when unsure.
Week 5 · Green stripe
Consistency
Practicing our values repeatedly until they become lasting habits.
At home: Practicing respect, discipline, focus, and courage each day.
On the mat: Returning to our values during every class and challenge.
How the weekly sheet works
01
Begin the week
Write the student's name and the starting date. The academy uses a repeating five-week rotation.
02
Practice three responsibilities
Two fixed, age-appropriate responsibilities plus one chosen by the family.
03
Check each day
Mark each responsibility completed. The goal is five of seven days per task.
04
Review together
Talk about successes and challenges. A parent signs the sheet and the student returns it to class.
05
Instructor review
An instructor considers the home sheet alongside on-mat conduct for the week's character stripe.
How your child progresses
5 character stripes + technique = 1 white stripe
Each completed five-value cycle plus technical proficiency earns one regular stripe. Four white stripes lead to belt promotion.
1. Respect
Blue
2. Discipline
Blue, Yellow
3. Focus
Blue, Yellow, Red
4. Courage
Blue, Yellow, Red, Orange
5. Consistency
Blue, Yellow, Red, Orange, Green
Then repeat the cycle
Our goal is progress, not perfection. We celebrate honest effort, consistency and growth — every child develops at their own pace.