Recapping this month
Pink October: Together We Fight
Our Pink October campaign has wrapped up, and we’re so proud to share that together we raised over $2,500 for Evolve Pink, a local nonprofit supporting those affected by breast cancer. Throughout the month, students across our schools wore their pink belts proudly on the mats, showing strength, unity, and compassion. Thank you to everyone who donated, trained, and helped make a difference. Your support truly mattered, and we can’t wait to see what we’ll accomplish together next year!
Leadercon
Our team got a boost in momentum at LeaderCon in Arizona! It was an important event for our staff to keep growing as leaders, learn new techniques, share experiences with others in the same role, and bring back fresh ideas to strengthen our schools. Every conversation and workshop helps us improve not just on the mats, but in how we lead, teach, and build our community together.
New Blog PosT
BJJ: My Unexpected Midlife Crisis (and how I’m totally okay with it)
By Jenesee Grey Know someone who’s interested in BJJ or on the fence? Maybe my experience will help. Okay, so maybe rolling around with sweaty
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Kid’s Corner
Our LC1 and LC2 students got into the spirit this week by wearing their costumes to class for Halloween. It was a blast seeing everyone train in character! We also hosted a special Parents Night Out, giving the kids a chance to burn off some energy on the mats while parents enjoyed a well-deserved break.
Let’s Get Social
Celebrating Coach Claire’s excellence in competition and in the Academy. Follow us @graciebarraprinceton, @graciebarranewtown, @gbnorthprinceton
Month With Mike
At Gracie Barra, one of our curriculums is The Science of Happiness.
This week’s focus—Week 5—is on gratitude.
We all know what gratitude means and how valuable it is to practice it, but actually doing so can be hard. It’s not something that comes naturally all the time. Still, there are ways to make it easier.
Over time, I’ve learned that gratitude is all about practice—about training our brains and understanding how consistent effort changes us through neuroplasticity. The more you practice finding things to be grateful for, the more naturally it happens.
Whatever helps you—photos of your kids or friends, music, being outside, anything that centers you—use that. For me, it’s things like astronomy. I’ve always loved outer space, maybe because I grew up with science fiction like Star Wars, but mostly because it reminds me how small we are and how vast the universe is. It gives me perspective. When I look at the sun or the stars, it’s a simple reminder of how much wonder exists around us.
The key is to practice gratitude regularly, in whatever way works for you. It’s an investment you have to trust—and science backs that trust.
Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about the idea of unconditional happiness—being able to stay happy and grounded no matter what’s happening, good or bad. Of course, we all have responsibilities: family, work, survival. But beyond that, there’s value in training our minds to find contentment in any moment.
That comes from mindfulness—being aware, being present, and surrounding yourself with people who help you remember how lucky you are just to be alive. When we focus on that, we stop getting caught up in things we can’t control, and gratitude starts showing up naturally every day.
That’s a good place to be.
So that’s what we’re focusing on this week—gratitude.
I hope you all have a wonderful day and an amazing week ahead.
Love you all.