Ramona Brazilian Jiu Jitsu teams with Boys and Girls Club
By Brian Mendoza
Ramona Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is teaming up with the Ramona Boys and Girls club to offer Jiu Jitsu/self-defense classes to club members.
Once a month youngsters from the Boys and Girls Club will take a supervised walk from the club in Collier Park to the Ramona Jiu Jitsu academy for lessons. Although the program is open to all Boys and Girls club members, initially 14 students will be selected based on positive behavior. More students will be invited as the program expands.
“I would like to expose as many kids, and the community, to self-defense and Jiu Jitsu as possible,” said Kevin Hosseini, Jiu Jitsu instructor.
With the trend of bullying on the rise in schools, both Ramona Jiu Jitsu and the Boys and Girls Club would like to build self-confidence through Jiu Jitsu. This self-confidence deters bullies from harassing.
According to the National Education Association, 160,000 students miss school every day because of bullying. This partnership is looking to avoid allowing students in Ramona to become a statistic, said Hosseini.
Like the popular Gracie Bullyproofing program, Ramona JIu Jitsu will offer basic self-defense taught through games and real-life scenarios along with teaching students how to dissolve problems with verbal moderation. Hosseini provides a fun, family atmosphere to the program, while at the same time teaching effective self-defense.
“This is the first martial arts program being offered through the Ramona Boys and Girls Club,” said Simone McCune, director of the Ramona club. “We look forward to expanding the program so that all of our kids can benefit.”
The program will start the second Monday in January and will run from 4 to 5 p.m. The youngsters who are already signed up are excited and looking forward to the new experience, and Hosseini is looking forward to teaching another group of kids from the community.
The Ramona Branch of the Boys and Girls Club of Greater San Diego serves all school-age students in Ramona and is open from Monday and Tuesday from 2 to 6 p.m. and Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 1 to 6 p.m. in Collier Park at 622 E St.
For more information about the youth club, call 760-789-1416 or visit www.sdyouth.org/locations/ramona.
Two Jiu Jitsu classes for children are available Tuesdays through Thursdays from 4:15 to 6:15 p.m. For enrollment information, contact Hosseini at 760-787-5855 or visit the academy at 850 Main St., Suite 102. More information is also online at www.ramonabjj.com.