Stay in the Loop: Why Knowing What’s Happening on the Mats Matters 🥋

Kristine Jones • December 18, 2025

As parents, we sign our kids up for martial arts because we care about their growth—confidence, discipline, respect, and resilience. But here’s the secret sauce: the more you know about what’s happening in your child’s program, the more value your family gets out of it. At The Pound Martial Arts Center, we’ve built multiple communication channels to make staying informed easy… but using them is a shared responsibility. Especially with younger kids—or by empowering your older kids and teens to take ownership—it’s important to know where updates live and how to get them.


Your Go-To Hub: The Members Portal

Our Members Portal on the website is your one-stop shop for everything program-related. Inside, you’ll find informational videos, student handbooks, helpful graphics, an interactive calendar, and our online store. Winter is a busy season, and weather can be unpredictable—sometimes classes need to be canceled last minute due to snow or weather-related issues. Other times, we’ll pop up a last-minute event for a school holiday or snow day. The portal keeps you in the know so there are no surprises.


Don’t Miss a Beat: The Pound Family Group

Please also make sure you’re plugged into our private Facebook group, “The Pound Family Group.” This is where we post timely reminders, schedule updates, event announcements, and important last-minute notices. If you have a teen, this is a great opportunity to pass the responsibility on to them—teach them how to check the calendar, read updates, and manage their training schedule like a leader.


Be Present, Be Curious

We also encourage parents to stay and observe class once in a while (or regularly, if you can). Seeing your child on the mats helps you understand their progress, notice their struggles, and celebrate their wins. Ask questions. Talk to your child about what they’re learning. We have tons of great information available, and our team is always happy to help you understand how your child’s journey is unfolding.


What You’ll Find Information About

Here’s just a snapshot of what’s available to you:


Membership Options

  • Basic Memberships
  • Upgraded Memberships: Preferred Black Belt Club, Premier Masters Club


Add-On Programs

  • Add Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to Karate (or Karate to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu)
  • Signature Skillz
  • Demo Team
  • Competition Team
  • Leadership Team
  • Assisting Team


Additional Training Opportunities

  • Saturday Open Sparring & Weapons
  • Make-Up Classes
  • Review Belt Boot Camp
  • Weapons Seminars



Staying informed helps your child stay consistent, confident, and connected. When families engage, students thrive—and that’s what we’re all here for.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu student standing confidently while other students kneel in a dojo

Your Role as a High Ranking Student

By Kristine Jones • December 16, 2025
Why higher-ranking BJJ students play a critical role in leadership, humility, and growth—and why staying to help others builds stronger kids.

Respect vs. Courtesy: What’s the Difference—and Why Both Matter

By Kristine Jones • December 13, 2025
Respect and courtesy are words we hear all the time, but many people use them as if they mean the same thing. In reality, they work together—but they are different. Understanding the difference helps young adults build stronger relationships, become better leaders, and carry themselves with confidence both on and off the mat. Respect is an internal mindset. It’s about recognizing the value, effort, and dignity of others—and yourself. Respect grows through understanding, experience, and character. You might respect a coach for their knowledge, a teammate for their work ethic, or a classmate for their perseverance. Respect isn’t about agreeing with everyone; it’s about acknowledging their worth even when opinions differ. Courtesy , on the other hand, is external behavior. It’s how respect shows up in your actions. Courtesy includes manners, tone of voice, body language, and self-control. Saying “yes sir,” holding the door, listening without interrupting, and bowing on the mat are all examples of courtesy. Courtesy can be practiced even when emotions are high—and that’s what makes it powerful. The key difference is this: respect is what you feel and believe; courtesy is what you do . A young adult might not fully respect a new instructor yet, but they can still show courtesy by paying attention and following directions. Over time, consistent courtesy often leads to genuine respect. In martial arts—and in life—this is why behavior comes first. Actions shape mindset.  Youth and adults can practice both respect and courtesy every day. Youth can show courtesy by listening, using respectful language, and being a good training partner; they build respect by appreciating others’ effort and learning from correction. Adults practice courtesy by staying calm, being punctual, and leading by example; they demonstrate respect by valuing others’ time, boundaries, and growth. When respect and courtesy work together, they create trust, discipline, and strong character—skills that last far beyond the dojo.
More Posts