FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

 

• Is MMA something that's good for Kids?

           Yes, absolutely!  At AZ Tiger MMA our Youth and Teen programs promote self discipline, manners, respect, self confidence, leadership and other important life skills.  Our programs prepares kids to have a life long love of physical fitness during a period where child obesity is at all time high. Our classes meet the requirements for physical activity as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics.  Safety is our number one concern and any student violating our Code of Conduct in or out of the dojo will be expelled from the academy.  Most importantly, the self defense taught prepares boys and girls with the skills to protect themselves in all kinds of real world scenarios from bullies to stranger danger.

 

• What Class should we register for?

         - Children ages 10 months to 3 years old can only enroll in a Kinder Cubs Program.

         -Children ages 4-5 years old can select Tiny Tigers or Kinder Cubs classes and also attend Kinder Cubs    

        summer camp, half day camps, Parent's Night Out, Drop n Shop, Select seminars, and other special events.        

        -Children ages 6-8 can select Youth MMA Recreation or Team, Bullyproofing classes,  Kinder Cubs summer             camp, Youth MMA Camp, Parent's Night Out, Drop n Shop, Select seminars, and other special events.

        -children ages 10-11 can select Youth MMA Recreation or Team, Bullyproofing classes,  Youth MMA Camp,        

        Parent's Night Out, Drop n Shop, Select seminars, and other special events.

        -students ages 12-17 can select Teen MMA Recreation or Team, Bullyproofing classes, Teen Camp, Seminars,

        and special events. Select teens who demonstrate academy leadership criteria may be invited to youth  

        special events as a Jr. Counselor.

        -females ages 13 and up seeking fitness or self defense should register for Empowering Women's Practical

       Self Defense

       -females ages 18 and up seeking training in sport jiu jitsu and competition MMA should register for Adult

      Striking, Adult Jiu Jitsu, or Adult Combination.

      -males ages 18 and up seeking fitness recreation should select adult Striking, Adult Jiu Jitsu, or Adult

      Combination; males ages 18 and up seeking sport jiu jitsu and competition training should select Combination

      class.

 

• Can my kids come to special events like camp and Parent's Night Out if we are not members?

           Yes, kids and teens who are not members of the dojo are welcome to attend special events at the non-        member pricing.

 

• Are you available for seminars?

           Yes! we can custom create a seminar for you and your Women's groups, Scouts, team building, and more.  We have a sampling of our Seminar Offerings on our Course offerings page. For a complete list please contact us.

 

• Does your academy attend competitions?

           Our Youth, Teen, and Adult Competition Teams do attend competitions, but it is optional. No one is required to attend competitions. We attend non-striking competitions like grappling and jiu jitsu competitions.

 

• What does it mean that Kinder Cubs and some events are "educational?"

           If a class is color coded in green it means there is an educational component. Unlike any dojo we know of in the state,  We are fortunate to have an educational curriculum development specialist who was formally a state certified educator consulting specifically for the purpose of these educational classes.  We want to be clear that Kinder Cubs Programs are first and foremost education classes like preschool, kindergarten, first grade, ect.  Martial Arts is simply one of the tools we use to teach.  See the Kinder Cubs page for more information.  We can also customize tutoring for struggling students in private lessons. If you are seeking classes that instruct only MMA we suggest you register for Tiny Tigers, Youth/Teen MMA, or our Bullyproofing Program. 

 

• What should I wear to class?

          A gi is ideal, but if you do not have one see the following suggestions.  Whether or not you wear a t-shirt under your gi for men is your preference.  You must wear underwear under your gi pants.  If you decide to register for a session or attend classes regularly you will need a jiu jitsu gi.  Our jiu jitsu gis vary from other martial arts gis due to the nature of grappling.  Jiu jitsu gis are much thicker to with stand the wear that takes place in our classes.  We recommend pants or shorts that cover the knee to prevent mat burn during jiu-jitsu.  Women must wear shirts over sports bras.  Hair should be pulled back. No clothes bearing inappropriate language or images as we are serving students of all ages at our academy.

 

 

• What is the difference between the Women's classes and the Adult classes?

           The Women's curriculum is designed  to teach women to defend against the most common attacks specifically on women such as being pulled by your hair or being pinned to the ground.  The adult class curriculum prepares students for both practical self defense in real scenarios as well as competitive sport jiu jitsu and MMA.

 

• Why do you have to be at least 18 years old for some seminars?

           For liability purposes we can only allow students  who are at least 18 years of age on the day the seminar takes place to register. You may register if you are 17, but will be 18 by the date of the seminar.  If you have a group with any members under 18 please select a different seminar or ask about a custom seminar for your event.

 

• ​​Do I need to pay a registration fee for a seminar if I am only attending to accompany my child?

       No, you do not need to pay if you are only attending to accompany a child or take pictures for a family member.  If you plan on practicing any technique or handling any gear including but not limited to weapons in select seminars, you must pay the registration fee.

 

• Will my or my child's belt from another academy transfer to your academy?

Belt rank will be assigned based on individual review. Belts in jiu jitsu are different from belts in other martial arts.  It can take longer in jiu jitsu to progress through belt colors because there are curriculum requirement for both stand up striking and ground work grappling.

 

• I'm just starting down the path to better fitness and am out of shape. Will classes be too difficult?

             We welcome all fitness levels and can accommodate beginners in all classes and also  those facing specialized health challenges in private lessons.