Martial Arts of Waco Leadership Program Detailed 6-Month Curriculum for Adult Jiu-Jitsu Students

MONTH 1: FOUNDATIONAL LEADERSHIP

Week 1 Monday: Importance of Consistent Attendance Lesson Focus:

• Explain how showing up regularly is more valuable than raw talent.
• Use examples of top students who weren’t the best technically but earned belts through consistency.
• Set a 30-day attendance challenge with a visual tracker.
• Share stories of black belts who started slow but trained regularly. Activity:
• Partner journaling: What’s your training goal this month?
• Class accountability cards

Wednesday: Building Reliability Lesson Focus:

• Leaders show up when it’s inconvenient.
• Define reliability in the gym and in life.
• Talk about the cost of being unreliable. Activity:
• Group share: Who do you count on in class? Why?
• Case study discussion: Athlete who lost opportunity due to being unreliable.

Week 2 Monday: Presence and Influence Lesson Focus:

• Break down the difference between being physically present and mentally engaged.
• Discuss how leaders’ attitudes affect others.
• Assign partners to observe leadership examples during training. Activity:
• Journal reflection: What energy do you bring to class?

Wednesday: Reputation Management Lesson Focus:

• Your actions write your reputation daily.
• Talk about long-term effects of repeated behavior. Activity:
• Group circle: “What’s one thing you think you’re known for at the gym?”
• Exercise: Write 3 actions to improve your reputation.

Week 3 Monday: Taking Responsibility Lesson Focus:

• Leadership begins with self-discipline.
• Discuss not blaming coaches, teammates, or circumstances. Activity:
• Role play missing class, owning the consequence, making it right.

Wednesday: Avoiding Blame Lesson Focus:

• Blame shifts focus off solutions.
• Great leaders own the failure and fix the issue. Activity:
• Group discussion: “When is a time you blamed someone else—and how could you have handled it better?”
• Assignment: List one mistake from training and write 3 ways to fix it.

Week 4 Monday: Embracing Problem-Solving Lesson Focus:

• Jiu-Jitsu is a problem-solving art.
• Your mindset in training carries into life’s challenges. Activity:
• Partner drill: One student creates resistance, the other has to calmly find a solution.
• Scenario cards: “What do you do if…” style gym problems.

Wednesday: Self-Management Techniques Lesson Focus:

• Mastering your schedule, diet, rest, attitude.
• Self-leadership always comes first. Activity:
• Journal worksheet: Rate yourself 1-5 on sleep, food, time management, and give one improvement step.

MONTH 2: EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE

Week 5 Monday: Techniques for Calmness Lesson Focus:

• Emotional control is a superpower under pressure.
• Teach breathing techniques used by military, athletes, and first responders.
• Explain the relationship between breath and performance. Activity:
• Practice 4-7-8 breathing as a group.
• Students journal a time when they lost composure and what they learned.

Wednesday: Emotional Control Training Lesson Focus:

• Train yourself not to react emotionally to hard rounds or life stress.
• Identify triggers during rolling (being stuck, tapped, dominated).
• Learn how to reset mid-round. Activity:
• Controlled sparring where students must pause mid-round and breathe.
• Peer feedback on observed emotional reactions.

Week 6 Monday: Confidence Under Pressure Lesson Focus:

• Leaders don’t panic when things go wrong.
• Identify the behaviors of calm vs reactive leaders.
• Confidence must be practiced daily through adversity. Activity:
• Shark tank round with reflection after each roll.
• Journal: Write one thing that made you panic and how you recovered.

Wednesday: Projecting Leadership Lesson Focus:

• Leaders speak with body language first.
• Posture, eye contact, tone—these influence others.
• Demonstrate confident vs insecure body language. Activity:
• Mock scenarios: leading a group warm-up with good posture.
• Partner drills on non-verbal leadership.

Week 7 Monday: Decision-Making Under Pressure Lesson Focus:

• In Jiu-Jitsu, hesitation leads to submission.
• Decision-making is a trainable skill.
• Good leaders make quick choices and accept the outcome. Activity:
• Scenario drill: respond instantly to 5 simulated problems.
• Group discussion: What decisions came easily? Which were hard?

Wednesday: Analyzing Decision Outcomes Lesson Focus:

• Every decision creates ripple effects.
• Reflecting on results builds wisdom.
• Separate outcome from intention. Activity:
• Journal: One decision you regret. What was the lesson?
• Partner share: Learn from each other’s outcomes.

Week 8 Monday: Clear Communication Lesson Focus:

• Poor communication leads to conflict.
• Leaders speak clearly, briefly, and respectfully.
• Give examples of confusing vs clear instruction. Activity:
• Students explain a simple technique to a partner without demoing.
• Partner must try to do it based on instructions alone.

Wednesday: Communication in Tense Situations Lesson Focus:

• Don’t raise your voice when tensions rise—raise your clarity.
• Stay calm, direct, and respectful.
• Model correction without shaming. Activity:
• Mock situations: redirecting a teammate not following gym rules.
• Group feedback: Was it respectful, clear, and firm?

MONTH 3: HUMILITY & GROWTH MINDSET

Week 9 Monday: Maintaining a Learning Mindset Lesson Focus:

• Emphasize lifelong learning—always be a student.
• Share examples of black belts who remain humble learners.
• Highlight the danger of complacency. Activity:
• Ask students to list three areas they want to improve.
• Journal: What did you learn this week from a lower rank?

Wednesday: Seeking Feedback Lesson Focus:

• Learning to ask, listen, and apply feedback.
• Differentiate between criticism and constructive input.
• Model how to request feedback after rolling. Activity:
• Partner drill: give and receive technical feedback respectfully.
• Worksheet: What did you learn from today’s feedback?

Week 10 Monday: Encouraging Curiosity Lesson Focus:

• Leaders explore, ask questions, and study outside class.
• Curiosity drives innovation and growth.
• Normalize asking “why” in training. Activity:
• Small group discussion: “What’s a position you’re curious about?”
• Assign one question to research and bring back to class.

Wednesday: Continuous Growth Lesson Focus:

• Growth requires honest self-assessment and consistent work.
• Leaders seek tough rounds and new challenges. Activity:
• Self-check worksheet: Have you improved this month? Where?
• Create a 30-day growth challenge: technical, physical, or mindset.

Week 11 Monday: Recognizing Ego Behaviors Lesson Focus:

• Spot when ego prevents learning.
• Review common ego traps: refusing help, blaming others, not tapping.
• Model vulnerability in training. Activity:
• Role play: ego-based reactions vs growth-based reactions.
• Write: When does ego show up in your training?

Wednesday: Ego to Growth Shift Lesson Focus:

• Replace defensive thoughts with open-minded ones.
• Encourage emotional maturity in tough moments.
• Celebrate improvement, not domination. Activity:
• Share: When did you turn a frustrating moment into growth?
• Partner encouragement drill: Point out growth in others.

Week 12 Monday: Celebrating Success Lesson Focus:

• Leaders shine a light on others.
• Create a culture where everyone wins.
• Recognize unseen effort. Activity:
• Pick a teammate to highlight for effort or attitude.
• Post a positive note for someone on the gym wall.

Wednesday: Fostering Team Success Lesson Focus:

• Strong leaders elevate the group, not just themselves.
• Promote healthy competition and mutual growth. Activity:
• Group drill: Mixed ranks helping each other improve.
• Journal: How did you help your team grow this week?

MONTH 4: SERVICE & COMMUNITY

Week 13 Monday: Practicing Servant Leadership Lesson Focus:

• Leadership is about service, not spotlight.
• True leaders clean mats, reset gear, and help others without being asked.
• Teach how consistent selfless acts build credibility. Activity:
• Group assignment: Identify and complete 3 small acts of service in class.
• Reflection journal: How did it feel to serve your teammates?

Wednesday: Actions over Titles Lesson Focus:

• Titles mean nothing without example.
• Highlight examples of quiet leaders at the academy.
• Discuss how humility amplifies influence. Activity:
• Story circle: Who in this room do you learn from without them speaking?
• Partner up to discuss one area where you can lead better by doing.

Week 14 Monday: Creating Positive Environments Lesson Focus:

• Leaders shape the culture by their tone, reactions, and energy.
• Positivity is contagious and a leadership multiplier.
• Contrast toxic vs positive environments. Activity:
• Partner drill: Give 3 genuine compliments during training.
• Class discussion: What’s one positive phrase you want to hear more in this gym?

Wednesday: Building Academy Culture Lesson Focus:

• Culture doesn’t happen by accident—it’s curated daily.
• Discuss the values MAOW wants to pass down.
• Define roles in maintaining and enforcing culture. Activity:
• Brainstorm session: “What makes our gym feel like home?”
• Post a class-wide reminder: 5 shared values we commit to as leaders.

Week 15 Monday: Benefits of Mentoring Lesson Focus:

• Mentorship lifts others and reinforces your own fundamentals.
• Teaching improves retention and sharpens awareness.
• Leaders know when to guide and when to listen. Activity:
• Assign upper belts to shadow newer students.
• Journal: What surprised you while mentoring today?

Wednesday: Empathy and Patience Lesson Focus:

• Empathy strengthens community bonds.
• Patience builds trust with struggling students.
• Practice understanding before correcting. Activity:
• Reflection: Write about a time someone was patient with you.
• Drill: Let newer partners set the pace during a technique.

Week 16 Monday: Strengthening through Teaching Lesson Focus:

• Teaching reveals gaps in your own understanding.
• Build confidence through repetition, demonstration, and support.
• Emphasize tone, pacing, and attitude. Activity:
• Each student teaches 1 move from start to finish.
• Peer feedback form: Was it clear, helpful, and encouraging?

Wednesday: Mentorship Practice Lesson Focus:

• Mentorship is a long-term responsibility.
• Discuss boundaries, consistency, and humility as mentors.
• Reinforce that being watched comes with expectations. Activity:
• Partner interviews: “What does being mentored mean to you?”
• Create a mentor commitment list: 3 promises each mentor makes to their peers.

MONTH 5: DISCIPLINE & ACCOUNTABILITY

Week 17 Monday: Developing Leadership Habits Lesson Focus:

• Good habits compound over time—leadership is about consistency, not intensity.
• Examine daily routines of successful martial artists.
• Habits reflect priorities—what do your habits say about you? Activity:
• Habit inventory worksheet: identify current productive vs. unproductive habits.
• Set 3 small daily habits to focus on for 21 days.

Wednesday: Routine Discipline Lesson Focus:

• Discipline must outlast motivation.
• Discuss how structure reduces emotional decision-making.
• Use examples from competition prep and recovery. Activity:
• Group plan: What is your evening routine before training?
• Design a sample week of discipline: diet, sleep, hydration, training.

Week 18 Monday: Integrating Martial Arts Principles Lesson Focus:

• Respect, honor, effort—bring them off the mats.
• Integrity means acting with the same character outside the academy.
• Explore martial values and their daily application. Activity:
• Journal: Where in life are you not living the values you train by?
• Partner share: 1 principle you want to practice more outside the gym.

Wednesday: Consistent Discipline Lesson Focus:

• Repetition builds resilience.
• Compare disciplined training to chaotic, inconsistent patterns.
• Help students analyze their progress patterns. Activity:
• Create a discipline calendar for one month.
• Group challenge: Track completion of one consistent habit for 14 days.

Week 19 Monday: Self-Assessment Strategies Lesson Focus:

• Growth requires clear measurement.
• Teach how to evaluate progress honestly and regularly.
• Break down skills into micro-goals. Activity:
• Create a self-rating system (technical, mental, physical, leadership).
• Reflect and write: What area needs immediate focus?

Wednesday: Partner Accountability Lesson Focus:

• A strong training partner can double your growth.
• Teach how to give tough love with care.
• Promote checking in with others consistently. Activity:
• Choose an accountability partner and set weekly check-in goals.
• Fill out a joint tracker for consistency, goals, and support.

MONTH 6: LEGACY & EXAMPLE

Week 21 Monday: What Leadership Looks Like at MAOW Lesson Focus:

• Define what a good leader looks like within our culture.
• Explain how daily habits, language, and presence reflect leadership.
• Encourage living the standard, not just enforcing it. Activity:
• Role-play: Positive vs. negative leadership examples in class settings.
• Class brainstorming: What behaviors do we want MAOW leaders to model?

Wednesday: Representing the Academy Lesson Focus:

• Every student represents the academy on and off the mats.
• Explore examples of students earning respect outside by living MAOW values. Activity:
• Share a story where you represented the gym with pride.
• Worksheet: What message do I send when I train, speak, and act in public?

Week 22 Monday: Modeling Discipline for Others Lesson Focus:

• Lead by example—train through fatigue, correct your own mistakes, stay coachable.
• People imitate what you do more than what you say. Activity:
• Set a personal challenge and track it publicly.
• Journal: How are you leading this week without saying a word?

Wednesday: Recognizing Leadership Moments Lesson Focus:

• Leadership isn’t always big moments—often it’s in unseen effort.
• Teach awareness of small opportunities to lead (helping, listening, guiding). Activity:
• Peer recognition: nominate someone for quiet leadership.
• Reflection: What small thing can you do tomorrow to lead better?

Week 23 Monday: Leadership Under Stress Lesson Focus:

• Reinforce the importance of posture, tone, and presence when stressed.
• Teach strategies for de-escalating situations. Activity:
• Drill: Lead a group after physical exertion (simulate decision-making under pressure).
• Group share: How did you feel when leading under fatigue?

Wednesday: Creating a Leadership Identity Lesson Focus:

• Define who you are as a leader—your values, habits, and vision.
• Create a leadership identity statement. Activity:
• Write: “At Martial Arts of Waco, I want to be known as someone who…”
• Create a 3-part leadership promise: to self, to team, and to gym.

Week 24 Monday: Leaving a Legacy Lesson Focus:

• Legacy is built daily through consistent action.
• Teach students that impact isn’t about time, but about intent and consistency. Activity:
• Journal: What legacy do you want to leave in this gym?
• Share legacy reflections with a small group.

Wednesday: Final Review & Commitment Lesson Focus:

• Reflect on the entire 6-month leadership journey.
• Reinforce long-term responsibility and accountability.
• Prepare students to model and mentor others. Activity:
• Leadership roundtable: top 3 lessons learned.
• Commitment card: How will you lead from here?