Services
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Train Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu right in your own neighborhood! Serving Irondale, Cahaba Heights, and Liberty Park
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is one of the most popular martial arts in the world. Its rise in popularity over the last 30 years is due, in no small part, to its effectiveness, as seen in MMA competitions like the UFC. Known as the "Gentle Art" jiu-jitsu uses grip, angle, and position, along with your opponent's own energy to gain the upper hand of any conflict without resorting to blows or unnecessarily damaging your opponent. It is the only art I've ever practiced that allows both practitioners to train at full speed safely.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioners are famous for their conditioning. Nothing gets you in as good a shape as jiu-jitsu. Jiu-jitsu build practical multi-dimensional strength, meaning that you get strong in all planes and angles, not just one or two like with machines and most free weight routines. Jiu-jitsu strength strength translates into the real world whether you're re-doing your landscaping or just playing around with your kids.
What's not so well known are two other qualities of jiu-jitsu. Ones I consider to be its finest gifts. These are character and community.
Have you heard the adage iron sharpens iron? Nowhere is that more apparent than on the mats in jiu-jitsu. Jiu-jitsu is hard. It's complicated. There's a lot going on and it takes a long time to get good at it. Rather than being a negative this becomes a positive quality as over time it tempers who you are as a person and brings out qualities like persistence, patience, endurance, creativity, and resilience. Jiu-jitsu requires focus and diligence. With the repeated practice jiu-jitsu offers these qualities soon become second nature.
One of the biggest secrets of jiu-jitsu is its community. Not only do you develop deep and lasting friendships with your training partners, you become part of a much larger global community of practitioners. Jiu-jitsu is a giant family and once you're in, you're in. Whenever I travel I take my gi. I can almost always find a class. When I do I not only get new knowledge and insights into my art but I gain new friends as well. I've attended classes in different cities around the country as well as internationally. I've always been made to feel welcome and a part of the group. For more information on jiu-jitsu at Alabama Sasquatch check out our FAQ.
Kid's Jiu-Jitsu Classes
For ages 6 to 16, boys and girls. This is a games based class aimed at teaching the fundamental skills of jiu-jitsu. As your child progresses the complexity increases but only at a rate appropriate to your child's development. Our emphasis is on building the traits of persistence, responsibility, self discipline, confidence, and good character. All the physical benefits of strength, flexibility, and good cardio are an added bonus.
For more information leave your name and email address in the contact form below. Someone will be in touch with you right away to answer any questions and schedule a free trial class.
Adult Jiu-Jitsu Classes
We get it.
You're not a kid anymore. You may be interested in jiu-jitsu and may have even checked out a few schools, but it looks intimidating. All the other students are much younger, faster, and stronger. Some are even downright scary looking. You've a got a career and a family that depends on you. You can't afford to be hurt all the time. You've got responsibilities.
We got you.
Our program is designed to deliver all benefits of jiu-jitsu while minimizing the risk. We're grown. We've checked our egos at the door. Our goal is to learn. To better ourselves. And to have a blast while doing it.
For more information leave your name and email address in the contact form below. Someone will be in touch with you right away to answer any questions and schedule a free trial class.
Strength Training
Build muscle and gain real world strength using a variety of tools with workouts designed specifically for your needs. Classes are kept small to ensure you get the attention you deserve.
It has been famously said, "Strong people are harder to kill." While I'm not willing to actually put that claim to the test, I can say strength is one of the single greatest indicators of overall health. Life is easier when you're strong and strength is much easier to gain than most people realize.
Clients can train with me directly at The Squatchery or online from the comfort of their own homes. To see our class schedule click HERE. To schedule a consultation email me at Dave@AlabamaSasquatch.com.
The Dawn Patrol
The Dawn Patrol is my early morning strength training class. This class is limited to six participants. We'll work with a variety of tools, from barbells to kettlebells, dumbbells, sandbags, and clubs, heck even your own bodyweight. Explore getting stronger and learning to get the most of this marvelous machine we call our bodies. This class meets at 6:00 am Monday, Wednesday, Friday. Two days a week are devoted to strength training and one day a week is for conditioning.
Yoga
This is an online class that let's you work on flexibility, strength, and mobility all from the comfort of your own home. Originally designed to be practiced from a chair, this is a perfect class for beginners of all abilities. Classes meet Wednesday at 5:30 pm and Saturday at 9:00 am.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Our Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu class is a gi based grappling class ideal for beginners. If you are not already familiar, jiu-jitsu is one of the world's most popular martial arts for both self defense and for fitness. Kids classes meet Tuesday and Thursday at 5:00 pm. Adult Classes meet Tuesday and Thursday at 6:00 pm. For more information on click HERE.
Personalized Coaching
Through Personalized Coaching I can offer either locally, in my own gym, or remotely, via phone or email, program design and support. This is for intermediate and advanced trainees who know their way around a gym and are looking something shy of one on one instruction to help them along their journeys. Personalized Coaching includes programming and regular updates, plus a weekly check-in for support and troubleshooting. Access to the Squatchery (my home gym) and the Adult Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Kali classes is included.
Private Training
Private Training is the Cadillac plan at Alabama Sasquatch. With Private Training you get all the benefits of all the other plans plus direct access to me every workout. I'll teach you everything you need to know from warmups and mobility work to getting the most out of your strength training. You'll get the direct benefit of my over 15 years in the fitness industry and 30 years of martial arts training. I guarantee you'll come out feeling better about your body and armed with knowledge that will serve you for years to come. Private Training includes up to 3 sessions a week, plus unlimited classes.
Online Programming
Yoga
This is an online class that let's you work on flexibility, strength, and mobility all from the comfort of your own home. Originally designed to be practiced from a chair, this is a perfect class for beginners of all abilities. Classes meet Wednesday at 5:30 pm and Saturday at 9:00 am. Use the schedule above to register. First class is FREE!
For more information leave your name and email address in the contact form below. Someone will be in touch with you right away to answer any questions and schedule a free trial class.
Women's Self Defense
We live in a less than perfect world and sometimes bad things happen to good people.
My Women's Self Defense Class evolved from two factors, the first being that I am a husband and a father to three daughters. As a life long martial artist I am acutely aware of the aggressive side of human nature. I've seen what it can do. As a husband and a father I felt it my duty to help the women in my life develop a healthy understanding of the dangers and to empower them to not only avoid those dangers and, if necessary, to fight back.
The second factor was my relationship with Central Alabama Firearms Training. It was through CAFT that we set up our first series of Women's Self Defense classes and I began to see how strong the need was in our community.
Through our classes you will learn:
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Situational awareness. Understanding your environment is crucial to avoiding an altercation. We'll discuss body language as well as tips and cues on how not to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.
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Strikes. Most women have been taught from an early age that hitting is not okay. We'll work on defining the times it is not only okay, but necessary to hit. We'll also work on the most effective ways to hit without hurting yourself.
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Blocks. More important than learning how to hit is how not to get hit. We'll cover the essentials on how to minimize damage from a striking assailant.
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Escapes, These are techniques for getting out of chokes and holds.
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The Ground. Many times in a fight you will be knocked to the ground. We'll cover best practices for getting back up again.
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Sexual Assault. You have an absolute right to your own personal autonomy. That means no one touches you without your permission. We'll cover tactics for fighting off sexual assault and maintaining your own personal autonomy.
For more information about scheduling a private session or a small group class, please fill out the form below. Someone will be in touch to answer all of your questions within 48 hours.