We’re thrilled to share the news of not one student being recognized as student of the month. An entire family—the Zack family. Tim, Amy, Matthan and Lucy Zack have embarked on a Jiu Jitsu journey and we’ve truly enjoyed hearing their story!
The Beginning
Tim’s introduction, to arts began with a nudge from his boss and friend Mike Cottmeyer who encouraged him to give Jiu Jitsu a try. After some persuasion Tim decided to take lessons in the Foundations program with Coach Sean. His experience exceeded his expectations—he found it enjoyable. Tim quickly discovered clarity and physical strength through his training in Jiu Jitsu during our 6am classes setting a tone for his day ahead.
A Family Bond
Tims enthusiasm for Jiu Jitsu soon rubbed off on his two kids; Matthan and Lucy ( 6 and 8 at the time). They were captivated after watching a video of Tims class! Their excitement led them to request signing up for classes themselves. Lucy was so eager that she couldn’t wait to put on her Gi and even wore it out of the gym!
Tim is grateful that Jiu Jitsu has become a shared activity, for their family.
They have all witnessed transformations, in areas like sportsmanship, self assurance and resilience during their time at SBG.
Facing Challenges
For their daughter Lucy who has always been one of the smallest in her class this has presented a hurdle. However the lessons she has learned include perseverance and tackling tasks. Her resolve bore fruit when she emerged victorious in her matches at the Gorilla Cup with a well thought out strategy. On the other hand her older brother Matthan, who has experienced victories and defeats alike, has learned to handle setbacks and achieve success through hard work and commitment.
Creating a Sense of Community
The Zacks are a homeschooling family. SBG serves as a community for them. SBG provides a setting where they can interact and practice with individuals from different backgrounds who share a passion for Jiu Jitsu, offering support and camaraderie. Tim greatly appreciates this aspect as it mirrors real world experiences while imparting life lessons to his children in a yet challenging environment.
Amys Path
Amy, Tims wife, primarily focuses on fitness training and performance enhancement.
The Zack familys journey has been marked by a couple of pregnancies, which have expanded their family. They are still excited to get to SBG and keep making progress! Despite the “pauses” caused by pregnancies, they are enthusiastic about returning to the gym and continuing their training. The support from the SBG Tribe has been invaluable to them. Amy can’t wait to reunite with her SBG family on the mats.
A Unique Community
Tim compared SBG to schools and gyms of its kind highlighting the culture it offers. At SBG children actively participate in training than just showing up passively. There is a blend of seriousness and fun that caters well to their familys requirements. This sense of community and philosophy is what motivates the Zacks in their martial arts journey.
Unexpected Adventures
Tim never expected that Jiu Jitsu would evolve into such a fulfilling family adventure. What started as a friends suggestion has now become a shared experience that brings them together as a family. Going through the highs and lows of training and competition together has been an immensely gratifying journey for them all.
In Summary
The Zack family embodies the essence of Tribe—dedication, community spirit and striving for improvement.
We are delighted to have them as members of our SBG community. And we are excited to witness their progress and achievements, both in training and beyond.
Zacks: We appreciate & value your presence in our Tribe. Your journey motivates us to aim for greatness and cherish the experiences we share together.
