When we decided that we want our 2 youngest girls (11 and 8) in some kind of martial arts. I did my research and reached out to a bunch of places. I got the same vibe from them all.. They were all about how fast they could get my girls into a black belt and how they would the envy of their friends, about how they were the best and how they talked down about any other martial arts place that wasn’t them. hmmm. And I just thought.. WHAT???? That isn’t my angle.. AT ALL - I could care less what their belt color is or what their friends think — I wanted this to be about the journey, not the destination so I kept looking and finally we found a home at Renzo Gracie Denville.
I reached out to Renzo Gracie Denville and found Vinnie--immediately felt right at home. He talked with me and my girls and answered all our questions and then they took a trail class and LOVED it. I was sold. While anyone who knows me knows I talk A LOT one of things I did when we first joined was to just observe. And this is what I saw.
I saw people greeted by name when they walked in, kids, adults. All of them greeted with a big hello, a high five and a “how are you”. I saw people talking to each other. Parents, kids, adults.. talking, laughing and interacting with each other .. “how was your day”, “how did that thing go?” I saw people laughing and smiling and hanging out while their kids took classes, talking about their day.
The place doesn’t feel like martial arts factory, It doesn't feel like a chore. It doesn't feel like anonymous people just going thru the motions of walking thru the door day after day just checking one more thing off their to do list. It feels like a family.
We have been there several months now and couldn’t be happier with the amazing instructors. They continually go above and beyond to help and encourage the girls. The girls love it… they love the friends they have made, they love going to class and the love practicing what they have learned on each other at home —HA. My only regret is that we didn’t find this place sooner.