Family is the reason Easton feels like the community it does. We find our families on the mats, in the moments between rounds, on the bench catching our breath.
The longer you train, the harder it becomes to not get to know the people around you and form the strong bonds that make up 50 percent of the magic in martial arts. As cool as these connections can feel, when you already come as a family, the bonds you strengthen can feel even more powerful!
Last month, we brought you the stories of two families from our Easton academies, and we want to keep rolling with more! The more time you spend together on the mats, the harder you’ll slay.
Let’s see how families from our Longmont and Boulder communities excel through a shared passion for martial arts!
The Coventry Family
Pete, Kim, Ben and Tommy Coventry are a Longmont family who all train at Easton together. Pete first started training in Jiu Jitsu at Easton Boulder in 2007 but had to quit when he and Kim moved to Longmont and started a family. Working and commuting to the academy to train made it hard to spend much time with the kids during hours when they were awake.
When Easton Longmont opened, he immediately jumped back in! Ben, 11, and Tommy, 8, joined him in 2022 and immediately loved it. Shortly after, the whole family started doing the Family Class together, and Kim fell in love with Jiu Jitsu as well.
Today, Pete has a four-stripe Blue belt, Kim has a four-stripe White belt, and Ben and Tommy both have eight-stripe Grey belts.
The family tries to do things together as much as they can, but running three businesses can make it tough to find those quality moments. Still, they try to take advantage of every opportunity to collaborate on their activities and often focus on learning together to maximize family time.
“We found that other sports left us feeling less connected,” says Kim, “as we shuttled our kids to different practices and games. Jiu Jitsu has given us a valuable activity to connect around. With Easton, we have a common community and activity and are all learning together. The boys are in the same class, and Pete and I try to take as many classes together as our schedules allow.”
Having a common activity means they can dig into it as a family. They each have their own unique strengths, Kim tells us, that allow them to each bring something unique to the table in both their training and to their conversations around Jiu Jitsu.
“By training as a family,” says Pete, “we can all practice together and talk through the same techniques. We’re all learning in our own way and able to learn from each person’s experience. It brings us closer together.”
The physical closeness of Jiu Jitsu also results in a natural sense of camaraderie and connection, which Kim tells us has boltered the relationships in the Coventry family.
Like Tommy says, “We get quality time together while safely trying to strangle each other!”
Jiu Jitsu has also given the family an outlet to get through difficult moments together.
“If there is a family disagreement,” says Ben, “we can take it down to the mat! In reality, it helps us move through challenging moments.”
For the family who spends nearly all their time together with both Pete and Kim self-employed and the kids homeschooled, the mat truly does serve as the great equalizer. Everyone gets to leave their daily grind at the door and focus only on the activity at hand for the next couple of hours – Jiu Jitsu.
“When we are training together,” says Kim, “the frustrations of the day and the frustrations of navigating our individual personalities fall away. Although we are physically in the same space much of the time, we are often working on different things. Jiu Jitsu gives us a chance to collaborate and connect.”
“It also allows us to release pent up energy and strong emotions,” says Ben. “Our family is together nearly 24-7, and sometimes tensions rise as a result. Jiu Jitsu gives us a way to connect at the same time that we’re releasing those tensions. When we come home, we are all tired, relaxed and at peace.”
[Option To Help When Your Child Doesn’t Want To Train]
The Boal Family
D’Ann and Andrew Boal, along with their two children, Calvin, 16, and Arabella, 13, have trained together at Easton Boulder since 2021. Andrew and Calvin started in the summer, with D’Ann and Arabella joining at the end of that year.
They’d done lots of skiing and hikes together as a family, but nothing like martial arts classes – which take place several times a week, all year-round.
Today, Andrew holds a Green Shirt in Muay Thai and a Blue Belt in Jiu Jitsu and D’Ann has a Green Shirt in Muay Thai and a one-stripe White Belt in Jiu Jitsu. Calvin has a Blue Shirt in Muay Thai and Arabella has a Green Shirt.
Calvin’s favorite part of training together as a family is always having a partner in class and always having someone who can help him with what they’re working on.
“It’s fun to talk about Easton with someone at home too,” Calvin says.
“I love that we all started something new and difficult together,” says Andrew. “Something where we could watch each other grow and push each other to be better versions of ourselves.”
[Finding Community Through Shared Experience And Struggle]
Bella shares her brother’s feelings – when you go as a family you have a guaranteed partner!
“When we go home, we all have something to talk about,” she says, “and we all understand what we just did.”
For D’Ann, the effects spider out in a few different ways!
“When I walk through Easton’s doors with my family,” says D’Ann, “I shed the role of Mom and trade it for Training Partner.”
She tells us that being an equal (“or let’s face it, we’re not equal – my kids could beat me up”) has brought a whole new dynamic to their family.
“At Easton, the roles change,” she says, “and my kids have things to teach me. It’s added so much depth to our relationship, allowing them to step into a role, for a few hours a week, as friend and training partner.”
[How Competing in Martial Arts Benefits Your Kids]
Additionally, D’Ann and her husband Andrew call their time sparring or training together “dates.” Even though Andrew has moved on to the Jiu Jitsu side, the two still show up for class at the same time and when Andrew recently received his Blue Belt, D’Ann was on the Muay Thai mats cheering him on.
“If we didn’t train together,” D’Ann says, “I don’t think I’d have any awareness of how meaningful that promotion was. We’re able to fully celebrate each other’s accomplishments – truly knowing their impact.”
Training together has had an impact on the Boals outside the academy as well! For D’Ann, having a space to all share together during a time where kids typically pull away from their parents has been a game changer.
“It’s been amazing to raise teenagers while having access to this space of mutual love,” D’Ann says. “Being a teenager is a time of independence, where you step away from your parents. Training together has allowed us to keep a strong connection going that feels authentic.”
Martial arts has given them more confidence in their own lives as well. They’re always sparring with each other around the house and shadow-boxing.
“There are sparring sessions in the kitchen regularly,” says Calvin. “I find myself walking around the house throwing punches absentmindedly. It’s been a great improvement to my physical and mental health – I feel more confident walking around town.”
“I love knowing that when I walk around in the world,” says Arabella “I know how to defend myself.”
[What To Do When Your Little Tiger Has A Bad Tournament]
“I think our entire family is more resilient, as individuals and as a whole.” Andrew tells us. “There’s no way to grow in Muay Thai or Jiu Jitsu without experiencing discomfort on a regular basis.
But you learn how to handle it and it helps you grow. We’ve all taken this perspective into our personal lives and used it to get through the rough spots. Each class at Easton is like a small microcosm of real life.
You have many moments when your mind is telling you to quit, but learn to listen to the other voice that says, ‘Keep going’ and you’ll end up very glad for it.”
