kids brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
BULLY PREVENTION WITH JIU-JITSU
BJJ training is excellent for bully prevention; it helps kids by instilling self-confidence, self-reliance, and self-assertiveness. At school children will be put in situations—perhaps more often than we imagine or realize—in which no adult is present to protect them. In those instances Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu can be a powerful aid in helping them to counter harassment.
Through our kids martial arts program, students develop the skills to:
- Take a bully down
- Escape if a bully has them pinned to the ground
- Apply chokes and joint-locks to end a bully’s attack
We offer both Gi and No-Gi kids classes but minimum age for training, though, is four years old.
When does my child transition to the adult BJJ class?
As children reach their early teens, many parents have a common question: “When can my child move into the adult class?” Eventually, kids outgrow their training partners, whether physically or mentally. At this point the instructor uses his best discretion to decide on the transition. Typically he considers the following:
- Is the child big enough? The minimum weight requirement to move up is 115 pounds (the size of some small adults). At that point, they’ll usually be larger than most of the other kids.
- Is the child old enough? If he or she is at least fourteen years old, they should be mature enough for the adult class.
If either condition is met, the instructor usually approves the transition.
JIU-JITSU FOR YOUTH FITNESS
Today there is a growing trend that threatens the long-term health of children: video gaming. The prevalence of Playstations and other devices has caused kids to become sedentary.
Twenty years ago they played outside, climbed trees, and participated in sports. Now, however, it seems they are content with gaming for hours on end. One of the results of this trend is the increase of child obesity.
BJJ offers a solution to this problem. During a Jiu-Jitsu class, the kids always complete a vigorous warm-up, sufficient drilling, and live grappling. When coupled with good eating habits, BJJ can be a great means for healthy living.
BUILD CONFIDENCE WITH JIU-JITSU
Children need to believe in the themselves. In his book The Six Pillars Of Self-Esteem, author Nathaniel Branden discusses one of the critical components of self-image: self-efficacy. To paraphrase and apply this idea to kids, the will to achieve comes from the belief that they can achieve.
As a child improves in Jiu-Jitsu, they usually make the connection that improvement comes from discipline and practice. They realize over time that if effort leads to improvement in martial arts, effort also can help them improve in other areas.
CLASS STRUCTURE FOR KIDS JIU-JITSU
For self-defense, we teach three basic skills: takedowns, positioning, and submissions. After instruction the children participate in live grappling (sparring). This is when they test their technique against resisting opponents. To maximize the training time, every class follows the same basic format.
Kids BJJ class structure
- Bow in—class begins
- Warm-up—15 minutes
- Instruction—30 minutes
- Grappling (sparring)—20-25 minutes
- Bow out—class ends
For more information, please see the schedule.
A REQUEST FROM JD:
Through our kids Jiu-Jitsu program, we strive to create unity among the instructors, children, and parents. To help us in that mission, parents, I would like to enlist your support on a few details.
During class:
- Please don’t coach from the sidelines
- Please don’t cheer or celebrate
- Please don’t yell across the mats
- Please let the qualified teachers and volunteers do their job
Parental coaching and yelling across the mat create two problems: they’re disruptive to everyone; and if someone with no Jiu-Jitsu experience is coaching, the instruction will invariably be incorrect, and may result in a child’s injury.
Regarding cheering and celebrating, please reserve those moments for the car ride home. One child will win and one will lose. But at the end of the day, we’re all on the same team. In general, no one likes to be on the receiving end of bragging, boasting, or gloating. Please help us create a friendly environment for kids by remaining neutral and showing sportsmanship.
Thanks for the support,
–J.D.
SUMMARY— WHY BJJ FOR KIDS?
Jiu-Jitsu provides many benefits. They include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Self-defense. At some point, almost all children will have to confront bullies. The problem is there may not always be a guardian, teacher, or parent present to help. In such a situation, BJJ can enable the child to protect themselves. This is a life-skill that will prove invaluable in the months and years ahead.
- Physical exercise. With the increase of video gaming, kids have become sedentary. Jiu-Jitsu helps curb this trend by providing exercise. This contributes to long-term cardiovascular health, and helps to establish the life-long habit of working out.
- Self-confidence. To win in life, children must develop self-belief. They need the internal discipline and toughness to deal with difficult situations. Martial arts in general—Jiu-Jitsu in particular—can help equip them with the self-assurance that if they get knocked down, they can stand up, dust off, and push forward.
We have kids classes Monday through Saturday (except on holidays). If you would like to let your child try a few for free, please click the button below, fill out the form, and we’ll contact you within one business day.
To try a few classes, click below!