Positive Role Models for Kids in Highland Village

In the era of TikTok influencers and YouTubers, finding flesh-and-blood role models for children is a challenge. Kids in Highland Village often look up to digital avatars who project a curated, unrealistic image of success.

Gracie Barra Highland Village offers a powerful antidote. It populates a child’s life with real-world superheroes—adults and teens who are physically dangerous but morally grounded. These mentors demonstrate that true strength is quiet, kind, and disciplined.

Here is a detailed look at the ecosystem of positive role models your child will encounter at the academy.

1. The “Arges Effect”: World-Class Leadership

The tone of any dojo is set by its leader. In Highland Village, that leader is Professor Gabriel Arges.

 The Credentials: As a 3-time Black Belt World Champion, he is undeniably one of the best grapplers on the planet. To a child, this makes him “cool” and credible.

 The Character: Despite his fame in the BJJ world, he is known for his humility and soft-spoken nature. He models the idea that you don’t have to be loud to be a leader.

 The Impact: When children see a “real-life superhero” sweeping the mats or tying a white belt’s shoes, they learn that no task is beneath them. It shatters the entitlement often seen in youth sports stars.

2. The “Cool Older Sibling” (The Coaches)

Adolescents (ages 10–14) naturally stop listening to their parents and start looking for outside validation. The assistant coaches at GB fill this void perfectly.

 The Vibe: They are young, athletic, and fit. They represent the version of adulthood a teen wants to achieve.

 The Leverage: Because the kids admire the coaches’ physical skills (“I want to learn that choke!”), they listen when the coach gives life advice.

 The Message: When a cool, athletic coach tells a teen, “Hey, respect your mom,” or “Keep your grades up,” it lands with a weight that a parent’s lecture cannot match. They reinforce your parenting values through a channel your child actually respects.

3. Peer Mentorship (The “Storm” Program)

Gracie Barra has a specific leadership track for youth called the Legacy or Storm Program.

 Who they are: These are Red/Black belt teens or Green belt juniors who assist in the “Little Champions” classes.

 The Dynamic: A 5-year-old looks up to a 13-year-old assistant coach with awe.

 The Benefit:

 For the Little Kid: They see a pathway. “If I keep training, I can be like him.”

 For the Teen: They learn responsibility. Having a 5-year-old look up to them forces the teen to mature rapidly and act with integrity.

4. Female Role Models (Strength & Grace)

For girls in Highland Village, seeing strong women is vital.

 The Representation: The academy features female coaches and high-level female students.

 The Lesson: Girls see women who are sweaty, aggressive, and powerful, yet still feminine. It breaks the mold of the “passive princess.”

 The Defense: They see smaller women controlling larger men during open mat sessions. This visual proof that “technique conquers size” does more for a girl’s confidence than any motivational poster ever could.

5. The “Professional” Warrior (Community Success)

The adult mats at Highland Village are filled with the parents of the community—doctors, pilots, engineers, and business owners from Flower Mound and Argyle.

 The Observation: Kids watch the adult classes before or after their own.

 The Takeaway: They see successful professionals—people they might know as “Dr. Smith” or “Mr. Jones”—wearing a White Belt, struggling, sweating, and failing.

 The Lesson: This models Lifelong Learning. It teaches kids that even when you are a successful adult, you should never stop learning new things or being humble enough to be a beginner again.

6. Digital vs. Analog Role Models

 Feature  YouTube/TikTok Influencer  Gracie Barra Role Model

 Interaction  One-way (Parasocial)  Two-way (Real conversation) 

 Reality  Edited, filtered highlights  Raw, sweaty, authentic struggle 

 Values  “Look at me” (Narcissism)  “Help your team” (Service) 

 Failure  Hidden or edited out  Visible daily (getting tapped out) 

🥋 Gracie Barra Jiu-Jitsu Highland Village: A Comprehensive Profile

Gracie Barra Highland Village is a top-tier martial arts academy located in Highland Village, Texas, serving the communities of Highland Village, Flower Mound, Lewisville, and Lantana. As an official franchise of Gracie Barra (GB)—one of the largest and most respected Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) organizations in the world—this academy adheres to high standards of instruction, safety, and curriculum.

Here is a detailed breakdown of everything you can expect from this specific academy.

1. Philosophy and Mission

The academy operates under the global Gracie Barra motto: “Jiu-Jitsu for Everyone.”

This means the school is not an intimidating “fight club” for professional cage fighters. Instead, it is an educational center designed to make BJJ accessible to toddlers, teenagers, working professionals, and seniors alike. The goal is personal development through martial arts, focusing on:

 Self-Defense: Real-world protection.

 Wellness: Physical fitness and mental health.

 Community: Building a positive social environment.

2. Program Structure

Gracie Barra Highland Village utilizes a standardized, week-by-week curriculum. This means a student knows exactly what they are learning, and if they visit another GB school, the instruction remains consistent.

1. Future Champions (Kids Program)

This is a cornerstone of the Highland Village location, given the family-oriented demographics of the area.

 Little Champions I (Ages 3–6): Focuses on “mat awareness,” coordination, following instructions, and basic body movements. It is heavily game-based to keep toddlers engaged.

 Little Champions II (Ages 7–9): Introduces technical Jiu-Jitsu. Students learn escapes, controls, and the Gracie Barra Anti-Bullying system (verbal de-escalation and non-violent control).

 Juniors & Teens (Ages 10–14): A more mature curriculum that prepares students for the adult program. It focuses on fitness, discipline, and complex problem-solving.

1. GB Adult Program

The adult curriculum is split into tiers to ensure safety and proper progression.

 GB1: Fundamentals (White Belts): The entry-level program. It focuses on self-defense, safety, and the core principles of BJJ (base, posture, leverage). There is usually no full-contact sparring (rolling) in the first few weeks to prioritize safety.

 GB2: Advanced (Blue Belt & Up): Once the basics are mastered, students move to GB2. This class involves more complex techniques, combinations, and live sparring (“rolling”).

 GB3: Black Belt Program: Designed for advanced practitioners to refine their style, flow, and transitions.

1. Private Training

For students who want to accelerate their learning or work on specific weaknesses, the professors at Highland Village offer one-on-one private lessons.

3. The Class Experience

A typical 60-minute class at GB Highland Village follows a rigid structure:

1. Line Up: Students line up by rank (belt color) and bow in to show respect.
2. Warm-up: 10–15 minutes of calisthenics and BJJ-specific drills (shrimping, breakfalls).
3. Technique: The Professor demonstrates a technique (e.g., an escape from the mount) and explains the leverage points.
4. Partner Drills: Students pair up to practice the move.
5. Specific Training | Rolling:

 Beginners: Positional training (starting from a specific spot and resetting).

 Advanced: Free sparring.

6. Bow Out: Class ends with a formal dismissal and handshake line.

4. Facility and Standards

Gracie Barra Highland Village maintains the “Premium School” standards required by the franchise.

 Hygiene: The mats are sanitized professionally every day. Personal hygiene (clean Gi, trimmed nails) is strictly enforced.

 Uniforms: Students are required to wear the official Gracie Barra Uniform (Gi). This fosters a sense of equality and team unity—on the mats, a CEO and a student are equals.

 Atmosphere: The facility is designed to be bright, clean, and welcoming to families. It typically includes a lobby for parents to watch their children train.

5. Instructors and Lineage

The instructors (Professors and Coaches) at GB Highland Village are certified through the Gracie Barra ICP (Instructor Certification Program).

 This ensures they are not just good fighters, but trained teachers who know how to handle safety, first aid, and pedagogy.

 The Texas region of Gracie Barra is historically very strong, influenced heavily by high-level Brazilian professors who settled in the Dallas/Houston areas. The instruction at Highland Village reflects this high-level lineage.

6. Benefits for Highland Village Residents

 Community Connection: It serves as a “third place” (outside of home and work/school) for residents of Highland Village and Flower Mound to socialize.

 Bully Prevention: For local school-aged children, the program provides confidence and tools to handle social and physical aggression.

 Stress Relief: For working adults, the intense focus required in BJJ acts as a form of “moving meditation,” clearing the mind of work stress.

7. Getting Started

The enrollment process at Gracie Barra Highland Village is standardized:

1. Free Introductory Class: New students are almost always offered a free trial class to experience the culture.
2. Introduction: You will likely meet with a Program Director who will give you a tour, explain the schedule, and discuss membership goals.
3. The “Red Shield”: Upon signing up, you receive your uniform and are welcomed into the team.

Gracie Barra Jiu-Jitsu Highland Village is a structured, safe, and family-centric martial arts academy. It combines the rigorous physical training of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu with a supportive community atmosphere, making it a popular choice for families in the Denton County area.

Gracie Barra Jiu-Jitsu Highland Village

Informations

ADDRESS

200 Marketplace Ln, Suite 205, Highland Village, TX, United States, Texas

PHONE

+1 (972) 439-7411

Positive Role Models for Kids in Highland Village