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- Jiu Jitsu
Thursday, April 18, 2024
There’s nothing the Community Services Athletics Division loves more than hearing success stories from our programs.
We recently received an incredible essay from one of our Jiu-Jitsu participants, Thomas Highsmith. Thomas recounts his experience moving to Southlake from Washington D.C. at eight years old and finding his home with Sensei George Weidenhof and the Southlake Jiu-Jitsu community.
Thomas felt like a “tiny twig in a forest of giant oak trees,” during his first few classes as a second grader. In order to accommodate his busy schedule, Thomas started out his Jiu-Jitsu journey in the advanced class. Rising to the challenge of being amongst older and more experienced peers, Thomas knew early on that Jiu-Jitsu was where he wanted to spend his evenings after school.
The road to becoming a black belt was long and winding. Thomas had to prove competency in over a dozen techniques and build up the stamina to learn more than 15 School Rules. Sensei Weidenhof’s community encouraged him in his practice and encouraged him to become a leader on and off the mat.
After multiple years of dedication, determination, and practice, Thomas Highsmith is officially a black belt! He feels “truly humbled by this experience, all I have learned, the history that precedes me, and the sacrifices of many people involved. I have gained so much confidence, kindled a burning internal desire to always achieve my very best, learned the difference between kindness and being nice, and am grasping the challenging tenets of effective leadership.”
Thomas’s story demonstrates the positive impact participating in youth athletics can have on a child’s life. Finding Jiu-Jitsu helped Thomas grow as an athlete, person, and leader and eased his transition to Southlake to the point of becoming an active participant in the community. The confidence Jiu-Jitsu gave Thomas on the mat transferred to him “actively embracing leadership roles in academic team projects and at the Southlake Public Library.” Thomas attributes this seamless transition to “the art of Jiujitsu, its virtues, Sensei’s consistent reinforcement, and the accountability he places upon every member of [the] class.”
Sensei Weidenhof was kind enough to pass Thomas’s moving essay to our staff. According to Weidenhof, he is “so proud of Thomas, an amazing young man! The support was the best from the monitors at the Front Desk to Athletics Supervisor Jonathan Weeks.”
Congratulations on your achievements, Thomas, and thank you for sharing your journey with us!
Session 2 of our youth jiu jitsu program begins Monday, February 25 and runs through Monday, April 3. Registration closes the Friday before classes begin (February 22).
One of our most popular youth classes, jiu jitsu is a true mind-body workout that strengthens children’s physical, emotional and social skills. In addition to learning age-appropriate martial arts techniques that will prepare them to one day become a Black Belt, Jiu jitsu students also learn respect, responsibility, self-esteem, confidence, discipline, heightened awareness and much more.
Registration is now open for our spring 2019 jiu jitsu classes. Click your desired session and time below to see what all the excitement is about!
Resident Fee: $94
Non-Resident Fee: $118
SESSION 2
February 25 – April 3
Ages 5–11: 6:15–7:00pm
Ages 12–18: 7:00–8:00pm
SESSION 3
April 15 – May 15
Ages 5–11: 6:15–7:00pm
Ages 12–18: 7:00–8:00pm
If you have any questions, please contact Southlake Community Services at (817) 748-8019.
On March 19, 2018, the Southlake Parks and Recreation team celebrated Jiu Jitsu student Logan Hamilton’s successful promotion to Black Belt 1st Dan Shodan.
Logan (first row, far right) is the 38th Black Belt generated by Southlake’s martial arts program. His impressive accomplishment is just one example of the dedication, discipline and honor that our amazing students bring to the program under the leadership of instructor George Weidenhof.
One of our most popular youth classes, Jiu-Jitsu is a true mind-body experience that strengthens children’s physical, emotional and social skills. In addition to learning age-appropriate martial arts techniques that will prepare them to one day become a Black Belt, Jiu Jitsu students also learn respect, responsibility, self-esteem, confidence, discipline, heightened awareness and much more.
Registration is currently open for the City of Southlake’s spring Jiu Jitsu classes. Sign up today to see what all the excitement is about!
Class Dates: April 16 – May 23, 2018
Registration Closes: Sunday, April 15 (In-person registration closes Friday, April 13)
Ages: 5-18
Session 1: 6:15 – 7:00 p.m. Mon & Wed
Session 2: 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. Mon & Wed
For more information, please contact Southlake Parks and Recreation at 817-748-8019.
What better way to kick off 2017 than with Southlake Parks and Recreation! Check out all the programs we have to offer to you this year. With a wide assortment of programs and activities to choose from, there’s something that everyone will love.
Lil Chefs (Ages 3-8): Lil’ Chefs is a hands on creative class where our chefs in training will learn to mix, measure, decorate, and taste. We will be making things like: polar bear biscuits, edible snowmen, Valentine tarts, pizza pinwheels, rainbow cupcakes, butterfly cookies and much more!
Bollywood Dance (5 – 13): Learn all the moves of Bollywood from Madhini Dixit to our Alia Bhatt, Hritik Rosham & Govinda.
Beginner Guitar Classes (8+): Students will learn how to play guitar. Please make sure to have an instrument to practice. We give a free instrument when you sign up for four one-hour classes. We can’t wait to meet you and see you be successful.
**30-minute Beginner Guitar Private Lessons are offered from 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM on select Saturdays throughout the months of January – May. Each private lesson is $120 and includes 4 lessons (Age 4+).
Jiu Jitsu (5 – 18): This Jiu-Jitsu program will develop children and preteens physically, emotionally and socially. Children will learn age-appropriate martial arts skills to prepare them to one day become a black-belt, a very high accomplishment and honor. This program also teaches important life skills such as respect, responsibility, self-esteem, confidence, discipline, heightened awareness and much more. Come and see what the excitement is all about!
Soccer Tots – Teddies Soccer (2 – 3): This class develops more advances motor skills using engaging, fun games. The goal is to improve the child’s fitness, soccer skills and athleticism.
Soccer Tots – Cubs Soccer (4 – 6): The goal of this class is to develop kicking, running control, and dribbling. It also teaches listening and following directions. The class uses a variety of fun games with a lot of physical activity.
Cheer Tots- Blue Birds (2 – 3): These classes offer the very basics of cheerleading. A variety of fun games are used to introduce jumps, cheers and motions techniques. Very fun and active!
Cheer Tots- Robins (4 – 5): These classes offer the very basics of cheerleading. A variety of fun games are used to introduce jumps, cheers and motions techniques. Very fun and active!
All these programs and more can be found here in The Southlake Scene.
For more information and registration go to SouthlakeParksandRec.com or call
(817) 748-8019
Sign-up your child now for Southlake Parks and Recreation Youth programs! With a wide assortment of programs to choose from, there’s something that everyone will love.
Jump into cooking with your little one in Lil’ Chefs, a cooking program where kids ages 3 – 8 can learn to measure, mix, whip and decorate their way to an array of yummy treats!
Or Chess! The program teaches kids to learn the basics of competitive Chess, including notation, tournament procedures and etiquette as well. Give their brains a workout!
If your’re looking for a more active program try Jiu-Jitsu! For ages 5 – 17, the Jiu-Jitsu program has been running in Soutlake since 2002 and has since become a crowd favorite, teaching kids age appropriate marshal arts.
Show off your moves with Bollywood Dance! A program designed to teach kids ages 5 – 13 poise, grace, and the moves of their favorite Bollywood stars!
Or put their survival skills to the test with The Ultimate Survival Test, where kids are put through a series of games designed to make sure that they are ready for the apocalypse!
All these programs and more can be found here in The Southlake Scene.
For more information and registration go to SouthlakeParksandRec.com
or call (817) 748-8019
Is your child age 5-17 interested in learning the art of Jiu Jitsu while also gaining life skills in leadership, responsibility, and commitment? Sign them up for a unique martial arts experience taught by Southlake’s own Sensei Weidenhof.
The class, that’s been running each year since 2001, teaches students age appropriate Jiu-Jitsu techniques to help prepare them to one day earn a black-belt, the highest accolade of the art. The class however is much more than just Jiu-Jitsu lessons, as Sensei Weidenhof focuses on the emotional and social aspects of his students as well.
Sensei Weidenhof aims to teach his students the importance of leadership, character, and academics, keeping both the mind and the body strong. Students are rewarded along the way for being role models and using effective teamwork through The “Star” Program, encouraging participants to develop a positive attitude and stronger work ethic, in class and out. This extra effort on Sensei Weidenhof’s part ensures a Jiu-Jitsu experience like no other.
Sign your child up today!
For more information Call (817) 748-8019 or go to SouthlakeParksandRec.com
Students test for Black Belt in Jiu Jitsu.
Over the past two weeks, five students enrolled in Sensei George Weidenh’s Southlake Parks and Recreation Jiu Jitsu Program [Aubrey Pham, Grayson Vasquez, and Gavin Gibbs (three of those students)] tested for their First Degree Black Belt (Shodan) in Jiu Jitsu. These students have put in as many as 5 years of training through the Southlake Parks & Recreation Children’s Martial Arts Program. Testing and training for the black belt requires discipline, sacrifice, focus and commitment.
All recipients have been long time students of Sensei George Weidenhof, who has been teaching Jiu Jitsu with the Southlake Parks and Recreation department for over 10 years.
These black belt recipients join an elite group of students who have studied and trained Jiu Jitsu for many years with Sensei Weidenhof . Their success and dedication can be attributed to Sensei Weidenhof’s diligent and committed instruction. Sensei Weidenhof focuses on developing the students as whole. He spends part of each class discussing the importance of leadership, good character and academics. Students are rewarded for academic excellence, reading, acts of kindness, being a role model and teamwork through the Star Program. Sensei Weidenhof ensures that all students develop the ” yes I can attitude ” which heightens their confidence and erases all doubt.
Since 2001 when the Children’s Martial Arts Program began with the City of Southlake Parks & Recreation Department, we have since promoted 27 to the rank of Black Belt (Shodan).
Southlake’s Park and Recreation Jiu Jitsu program is open to youth ages 5-17 register online or contact 817-748-8019 for more information. The next Jiu Jitsu training session will being on Monday April 20, 2015.