Tyler, TX — Child obesity rates are on the rise. So, we spoke to some parents here in East Texas who are making sure their kids not only learn how to live a healthy lifestyle, but also pick up some self-defense skills.

Most sports help kids grow up fit and healthy, but unfortunately these days there's more they need to worry about. The owner at Relson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy Tyler/ Lone Star MMA Gym, Drew Arthur, says, "You can learn different sports, but those sports won't save their life." He says they teach reality based self defense.

When referring to her son, one East Texas parent, Kristen Nguyen, said, "It just makes him feel more confident in himself and that he himself knows that if anything was to ever happen to him he knows that he can defend himself." Nguyen says her kids are only learning respect for authority and for each other in these classes. However, these classes also help kids discover how to live a healthy lifestyle that doesn't include dangerous diet fads. Arthur said, "Kids real young, ten and twelve on a diet and starving themselves and crazy things, my girls eat and they're all fit."

Martial arts is something they can do for the rest of their lives, but this week, their main focus is on next Saturday, January 19th. Arthur said, "We're training for the East Texas Gracie Regional Tournament." One of Arthur's daughters, Kaya Arthur, said, "I've varied in different medals." She says she enjoys taking classes just in case she's ever bullied at school.

The East Texas Gracie Regional tournament is next Saturday the 19th at Lone Star Events Center and weigh-in starts at 8 a.m.. For more information you can call (903)-592-0816.