First Strike Self Defence - Kids School Holiday Program | Southport

First Strike combines practical self-defence, confidence building and anti-bullying skills with a seriously fun, active day.

Activities across the program include:

• Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and grappling
• Boxing and striking
• Mixed martial arts skills and drills
• Practical self-defence
• Anti-bullying and confidence activities
• Outdoor games, fitness and challenges
• Breath work and mindfulness
• Team and group activities
• Online safety workshop
• Guest coaching and specialist workshops

The focus is on helping kids become more confident, capable and calm under pressure - not teaching them to go looking for a fight.

The program runs from 9:00am-3:00pm, with drop-off available from 8:30am.

We'll begin the morning outdoors at Peninsula Playground in the Broadwater Parklands with games, movement, fitness and team activities.

From there, the group will walk approximately 1 km together to Gracie Barra Surfers Paradise, where the remainder of the day will include martial arts and self-defence sessions, confidence and anti-bullying activities, breath work, group activities, guest coaching and workshops.

We'll have a morning tea break and lunch break during the day.

The exact program will vary from day to day, and families will receive a detailed itinerary, parking information and map pins closer to the event.

Drop-off will be at Peninsula Playground in the Broadwater Parklands from 8:30am.

We'll provide exact map pins, parking information and arrival instructions before the program.

A clearly identifiable First Strike coach will be waiting at the nominated meeting point to greet families.

You're also very welcome to walk your child in, help them settle and stay for as long as they need.

Please apply sunscreen before drop-off, and make sure your child arrives wearing a hat and clothing suitable for outdoor activity.

Leave it with us - we'll handle it.

Bags, lunches and spare clothing will be transported from the park back to the gym by our team, so children won't need to carry their belongings during the walk.

Please make sure everything is clearly labelled with your child's name.

Pick-up is from Gracie Barra Surfers Paradise.

The program finishes at 3:00pm, with collection available up until 3:30pm.

There is plenty of free parking and space for collection at the gym.

Children can also be picked up earlier if needed - just contact us so we can coordinate with you.

If something unexpected happens and you're running late, please contact us as soon as possible.

Please contact us.

We want the program to be accessible to as many children as reasonably possible and are happy to discuss individual medical, mobility, sensory, behavioural or transition needs.

Where an adjustment is needed, we'll work with you on what can reasonably be arranged based on your child's needs and the activities scheduled that day.

Email: firststrikesd@gmail.com

Yes.

Parents and guardians are welcome to stay while their child settles in, stay for part of the program, or hang around for the day if they'd prefer.

We know a brand-new environment can feel like a big deal, particularly for younger or anxious children who don't know the coaches or other kids yet.

The program is for children aged 5+.

We know there is a big developmental difference between a five-year-old and an older child, so children will be partnered and grouped appropriately depending on the activity, taking into account factors such as age, size, confidence and experience.

If you're unsure whether the program will suit your child, contact us before booking.

Not at all.

Complete beginners are very welcome, as are children who already train.

Activities can be adjusted according to age, size, confidence and experience so a child trying martial arts for the first time isn't expected to keep up with someone who's been training for years.

Absolutely.

First Strike is designed for all kids aged 5+.

Confidence, personal safety and practical self-defence are valuable skills regardless of gender.

That's completely fine.

One of the major aims of First Strike is building confidence and social resilience, so we certainly don't expect children to arrive already confident.

There will be plenty of group games, partner activities and team challenges designed to help the kids get to know one another and feel part of the group.

Our coaches will actively help children join in, meet others and find their feet.

Parents are also welcome to stay for as long as their child needs to settle.

We want First Strike to be as inclusive as reasonably possible.

Our participant form gives parents the opportunity to tell us about sensory, communication, behavioural, developmental or other support needs, as well as strategies that work well for their child.

Our coaching team includes significant experience working with neurodivergent children and teenagers.

If your child has more significant support needs or you're unsure whether the environment will suit them, please contact us so we can talk through what they need and how we can best support them.

No one is being thrown into uncontrolled fights.

The program teaches genuine martial arts and self-defence skills, so there will be physical contact, including controlled grappling, partner drills and striking practice using pads and appropriate equipment.

Everything is coached, structured and adjusted for age and experience.

The goal is technique, confidence, self-control and safe application - not encouraging aggression.

That's okay.

We want children to challenge themselves and try new things, but they won't be forced through an activity they're genuinely uncomfortable with.

A coach can help them modify the activity, watch first, take a break or rejoin when they're ready.

Kids can also learn a surprising amount by watching other children practise a technique before trying it themselves.

We'll also have some lower-key alternative activities available, which may include things like arts and crafts or quieter activities, so children can stay engaged while taking a break from physical training.

Start the day in comfortable sports clothing and runners suitable for running, games and outdoor activity.

We recommend:

• A hat
• A shirt or top that covers the shoulders
• Comfortable activewear
• Runners suitable for outdoor activity

For martial arts training, reasonably close-fitting activewear works best.

Please avoid:

• Jeans
• Clothing with hard or exposed zips
• Metal buckles or sharp fittings
• Heavy or rough pockets
• Very loose clothing that may catch during grappling
• Jewellery

Spare clothing is required

Please pack:

• Spare long athletic pants or leggings
• A spare shirt/top

The kids will be outdoors on the grass before training on the mats, so we want the option to get them changed if their clothing becomes particularly dirty, wet or grassy.

Long pants are also HIGHLY recommended for grappling because mat burn is very common when training in shorts.

Slides or thongs are optional but useful around the gym, as shoes are not worn on the training mats.

Long hair should be tied back.

No gi or martial arts uniform is required.

Please pack:

• Packed lunch in an insulated lunch bag
• Morning tea/snacks
• Water bottle
• Hat
• Spare long athletic pants/leggings
• Spare shirt/top
• Optional slides/thongs
• Boxing gloves if they already own a pair

There are water fountains available for bottle refills.

There is no fridge available for children's lunches, so please use an insulated lunch bag and ice brick if required.

Please label everything with your child's name.

No. We provide everything needed for the program, including pads, training equipment and boxing gloves.

If your child already has their own boxing gloves, we recommend bringing them. Personal gloves generally fit better, are more comfortable and, frankly, shared boxing gloves eventually smell exactly like you'd expect shared boxing gloves to smell.

But don't stress if they don't own any - we'll have gloves available.

No.

Please send your child with:

• Morning tea/snacks
• Packed lunch in an insulated lunch bag
• Water bottle

We will have a morning tea break and lunch break during the day.

There is no fridge available for lunches, so please pack food appropriately.

Outdoor activities may be modified, shortened or moved indoors depending on the weather and conditions on the day.

We'll notify families if there are any significant changes to drop-off arrangements.

All coaches and volunteers working directly with the children hold current Blue Cards.

Coach Eva

Head Kids Coach - Gracie Barra Surfers Paradise | BJJ Purple Belt

Coach Eva brings 8 years of martial arts training and more than 15 years' experience working with children.

Alongside Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, she has extensive additional training in self-defence and MMA and is passionate about using martial arts to empower children.

Her coaching combines technical skill, fitness, mindfulness and discipline while keeping the environment positive and enjoyable. Her focus is helping kids develop genuine confidence, resilience and capability both on and off the mats.

Coach Lizzy

Lizzy is a Certificate III & IV qualified fitness professional, qualified boxing coach and group fitness instructor with 4 years' boxing coaching experience and more than 10 years of strength and weight training.

Her coaching style is all about helping kids discover how fun it can be to feel strong, capable and confident. As a mum of two girls, Lizzy is passionate about building body confidence, positive self-talk and a healthy mindset around movement and strength. Expect plenty of encouragement, laughs between rounds and an enthusiastic reminder that kids should be proud of what their bodies can do.

Fun fact: Lizzy once voluntarily stepped into a charity boxing match against Australia's #1-ranked strongwoman and the world's #8-ranked strongwoman. To absolutely no one's surprise, she did not come out victorious, but she lived to tell the tale.

Coach Stas

Stas is a Certificate III & IV qualified fitness professional and kids Muay Thai coach with extensive experience using fitness, boxing and Muay Thai when working with children and teenagers. He's also a proud girl dad and coaches his 2 young daughters in both Muay Thai and BJJ (despite only being at the beginning of his BJJ journey himself).

For the past 3 years, much of his work in the disability sector has involved supporting young people through gym training, martial arts and activity-based mentoring, including significant experience supporting children and teenagers with ADHD, autism and other neurodivergent needs.

He holds a Bachelor of Secondary Education, is currently completing a Diploma of Counselling, and is involved in community youth mentoring and volunteer coaching.

He's also a former competitive esports player and an online-safety advocate - which is slightly less useful if someone is trying to double-leg you, but considerably more useful when talking to kids about life online.

Yes.

Alongside the three core coaches, additional experienced coaches will rotate through the program throughout the week, including Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu coaches from Gracie Barra Surfers Paradise across a range of belt levels.

Many are parents themselves.

Guest sessions throughout the week will include topics such as:

• Online safety
• Nutrition
• Body conditioning and movement
• Martial arts and self-defence
• Confidence and resilience

First Strike Self Defence is independently operated but run in affiliation with Gracie Barra Surfers Paradise.

The program is being hosted at the Gracie Barra Surfers Paradise training facility with the support of the gym, and several GBSP coaches are directly involved in delivering the program, including Head Kids Coach Eva.

Gracie Barra Surfers Paradise members also receive a discounted First Strike rate.

Standard Day Rate: $95 per day

Gracie Barra Member Rate: $75 per day

Full Week: Book all 5 days and receive 1 day FREE

Gracie Barra Member pricing stacks with the 1 day FREE deal.

That means current GBSP members booking the full week receive the $75 member rate for four days, with the fifth day free.

Absolutely!

Tickets are sold per day, so children can attend one day, several days or the full week.

Yes.

Current Gracie Barra Surfers Paradise members receive the discounted rate of $75 per day, compared with the standard $95 daily rate. Please contact us for the discount code.

The member rate also stacks with our full-week offer.

Yes.

Book all five days and receive one day FREE.

The offer applies to both standard and Gracie Barra member pricing, so GBSP members can receive their $75 daily member rate plus the free fifth day.

Yes.

The overall structure and core themes remain consistent, but activities, drills, games, guest coaches and workshops will vary throughout the week.

Children attending multiple days won't simply repeat the exact same program every day.

A more detailed itinerary will be provided closer to the program.

Absolutely.

If friends are attending together, feel free to let us know on the participant form or by contacting us.

We'll help them settle in together while also encouraging everyone to mix, work with different partners and make new friends throughout the day.

We'll contact you.

If a child becomes unwell or is unable to comfortably continue participating, we'll make sure they're looked after while we contact their parent, guardian or emergency contact and arrange collection if needed.

Please don't send children who are significantly unwell on the day.

Please contact us.

We're very happy to speak with parents before the program about individual circumstances, additional needs, nerves about attending, logistics or anything else you'd like to work through.

Email: firststrikesd@gmail.com

Facebook: facebook.com/firststrikesd