REVEL RISE UP CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
Building strong kids through Jiu Jitsu and real life character skills.
New To The Rise Up Program? Click Here! 
This Months Character Trait:
What Do We Mean By “Self Control”?:
Self Control means being in charge of your body, your words, and your reactions.
At Revel, we define Self Control as the ability to pause, think, and make a better choice instead of letting big energy, big emotions, or impulses take over.
Self Control shows that a student is learning how to stay safe, respectful, and ready to learn, even when they feel excited, frustrated, disappointed, or distracted.
In-class Self Control looks like:
Keep your hands, feet, and body to yourself.
Use safe energy on the mat.
Listen when the coach is speaking.
Freeze your body quickly when a coach gives a direction.
Wait your turn without pushing, grabbing, or interrupting.
Use calm hands and calm words when frustrated.
Train safely and stay in control with your partner.
Control your volume and use the right voice for the situation.
Accept correction without a meltdown or big reaction.
Use your body for training, not for distracting, roughhousing, or bothering others.
At Home Actions for Self Control
Choose 2 to 3 each week. Keep it simple.
Example At Home Actions:
- Keep hands, feet, and body to yourself all day
- Use walking feet indoors, not running or jumping around
- Sit with a calm body during meals, homework, and conversations
- Stop roughhousing when told the first time
- Control your volume and use the right voice for the setting
- Keep safe energy in the house (no climbing on furniture, wrestling, or crashing into things)
- Wait your turn without pushing, grabbing, or crowding others
- Use calm hands when frustrated (no hitting, slamming, throwing, or kicking)
- Show body control while waiting in line or standing still
- Freeze your body quickly when a parent gives a direction
- Stay in your seat until excused when appropriate
- Use gentle hands with siblings, pets, and belongings
- Accept “no” without yelling, stomping, or storming off
- Stop screen time when asked without a meltdown
- Take a breath before reacting when upset
- Use words to solve a problem instead of using your body
- Stay calm during transitions (turning off TV, leaving the house, getting ready for bed)
- Follow directions the first time without arguing or dramatic reactions
- Apologize and improve if you lose control of your body or words
- Share one moment today where you showed strong self control
Mini Script:
This month our word is Self Control. Self Control means being in charge of your body, your words, and your reactions. Let’s practice showing Self Control in one small way today.
Quick Conversation Starters
Use these on the drive home or at dinner:
Where did you show Self Control in class today?
How did you keep your body under control during class?
Was there a moment when you felt excited, frustrated, or distracted and still made a good choice?
How did you use safe energy with your teammates today?
What is one way you can show better Self Control at home this week?
Why does Self Control help keep class safe and fun for everyone?
Weekly Focus for “Self Control”:
Week 1: What Self Control means: Being in charge of your body, words, and reactions.
Week 2: Self Control in training: Safe energy, calm body, listening, waiting your turn, and training safely with partners.
Week 3: Self Control at home and school:
Using calm words, following directions, stopping when asked, handling “no,” and controlling big reactions.Week 4: Reflection and recognition: What improved, who showed better body control, who made better choices, and who stood out.
Optional parent prompt (end of each week):
Ask your child: “What is one way you showed self control this week?”
About The Revel Rise Up Program
Revel Rise Up is our character development program built into kids class. Each month we focus on one character trait and teach it through simple language, coaching cues, and small challenges that kids can practice both on and off the mats.
This is not a lecture. It’s a system.
Your child learns the trait in class, practices it through drills and teamwork, and then has simple ways to apply it at home and school.
Jiu Jitsu builds confidence, but character is what makes confidence useful.
Kids grow faster when parents and coaches are using the same language.
The goal is progress, not perfection. We reinforce the trait all month long.
Step 1: Monthly Trait
Each month we highlight one character trait (like Discipline).
Step 2: In-Class Coaching
Coaches reinforce the trait using short reminders and specific behaviors during class.
Step 3: Rise Up Passport Stamps
Kids earn passport stamps when they complete the month’s actions and show the trait.
Step 4: Recognition
We recognize kids in multiple ways:
Passport stamps (for completing the month’s actions)
Rise Up Spotlights (2 to 4 per week, shared in IG stories)
Monthly Champions (2 kids per month, board + bracelet + IG post)
- Level Up Stripes (Every time a student earns 3 Rise Up stamps on their passport card they will "Level Up". We have a total of 8 levels, and certain levels have awards attached to them.
Parents do not need to “teach martial arts.”
Your role is simply to reinforce the same character language at home, which is optional as well. We are not trying to put more on a parents plate if they do not desire.
Your child receives a stamp in their Rise Up Passport when they complete the monthly actions and demonstrate the trait in class.
Levels (Each level a student will earn a stripe on their belt for the level earned that will replace the previous level stripe):
Level 1: 3 stamps
Level 2: 6 stamps
Level 3: 9 stamps
Level 4: 12 stamps
Level 5: 15 stamps
Level 6: 18 stamps
Level 7: 21 stamps
Level 8: 24 stamps
Milestone Rewards:
6 stamps: Revel Rise Up T-Shirt
12 stamps: Revel Rise Up Rash Guard
18 stamps: Revel Rise Up Gi
24 stamps: Plaque Award recognition
Kids can start at any point in the year. This is a long-term journey and every month counts.
Each student receives a Revel Rise Up Passport Card that tracks their character progress through the program. When your child completes the monthly actions and demonstrates the trait in class, they earn a stamp on their Passport.
The Passport is a simple way to:
Help kids feel proud of their progress
Keep the program consistent month to month
Create long-term momentum with character habits
Children will have to bring their passport cards in the last week of the month so coaches can stamp their cards and track their progress!
We want kids to feel seen for effort, attitude, and growth.
Rise Up Spotlights (1 to 3 per week)
Spotlights are quick shout-outs for kids who show the monthly trait. These are typically shared on our IG stories.
Monthly Champions (2 per month)
Each month we select 2 kids who consistently demonstrate the trait across the month.
Monthly Champions receive:
Instax photo for the family
Spotlight on our Champion Board
Rise Up Champion bracelet
IG post recognition
Criteria:
Shows the trait repeatedly, not once
Good attitude when things are hard
Helps the team and follows direction
Strong effort and self-control in class
- Parents approve their character behavior
- Child attends class regularly.
We may take group or individual photos for program recognition (Spotlights and Champions). If you prefer your child not be featured on social media, please let us know and we will always respect that.
Q: Does my child have to do everything to earn a stamp?
A: No. We look for honest effort. The goal is practicing the trait, not being perfect.
Q: What if we miss classes this month?
A: No problem. Your child can still practice the at home actions and pick up where they left off. We will also offer "Make Up" opportunities for the to earn stamps.
Q: Can my child still be recognized if they are shy?
A: Yes. Recognition is based on behavior and effort, not being loud or outgoing.
Q: Do parents need to do something every day?
A: No. Even 2 to 3 small actions per month makes a big difference. Also you are NOT required to do anything at home, or do the home report, however it does help support the program more and gives valuable feedback.
If a student misses a passport stamp (missed classes, joined mid month, or forgot their passport), they can still earn it the right way.'
To earn a make up stamp, the student must:
Complete 2 or more at home actions from that month’s action list (Home actions are optional, but help!)
Demonstrate the character trait during the classes they attend that week
Explain the character trait in a simple way (what it means and one example)
Forgot Passport: If your child earned the stamp but forgot their passport, we will stamp it the next class when they bring it.
Make Up Window: Make up stamps are available until 30 days after the end of that month. After that, the student will need to wait until the trait comes back around in the next program cycle.
Backlog Limit: Students may make up one past stamp per week so they can stay focused on the current month’s trait.
Yes, they are paper cards. They can bend, get lost, or take a beating. That’s normal.
The Passport is not the point.
The value is what it represents: effort, consistency, character growth, and responsibility.
Replacement Policy
If a Passport is lost or damaged:
First replacement is free
Additional replacements are $5 each as an accountability fee
This small fee is not about profit. It reinforces responsibility and helps students build the habit of taking care of their Passport the same way they take care of other things.
We will transfer progress when possible based on our records and coach confirmation. If we cannot verify older stamps, your child will continue forward from the last confirmed point.
Best Practice
Keep the Passport in a safe place. The last week of each month the students will be required to bring their passport card in to get stamped.
Participation in the Revel Rise Up Character Development Program is not required. Families may opt out at any time.
That said, we highly encourage participation because it helps your child practice positive character traits consistently, in a simple way, month after month. The program gives kids structure, language, and repetition around behaviors that support their success on the mats and in daily life.
What the program is and is not
This program is not designed to shape or replace a child’s morals.
A child’s morals, values, and beliefs come from their family and culture, and we respect that completely.
What Revel Rise Up is meant to do is support families by reinforcing behaviors that help kids thrive, such as:
listening and focus
self-control and emotional regulation
respect and responsibility
effort, resilience, and follow-through
Think of it as a positive framework that supports the work you are already doing at home, using consistent coaching language in an environment where kids naturally practice challenge, teamwork, and discipline.
If you would like to opt out, just let us know and we will make sure your child is not included in Passport tracking, stamp awards, or character recognition.
Students should attend at least 4 classes per month.
Attendance matters because it gives coaches regular opportunities to see a child practice the monthly trait in class. At the same time, attendance is only one part. Effort, attitude, and genuine growth matter just as much.
This is not a participation program, but it is also not meant to be impossible. We want the standard to be meaningful, fair, and realistic. The goal is to recognize students who are showing up, trying, and working to live out the trait.