Jiu-Jitsu for Kids
Why brazilian jiu-jistu for kids?
Sure, you want your kids to grow up to be strong, confident, and independent – why is jiu jitsu the perfect martial art for just that?
You also want them to learn a martial art to be able to defend themselves both physically and mentally.
To sum up, jiu jitsu for kids:
- teaches them confidence
- includes socialization
- teaches discipline
- increases focus
- promotes respect
- involves goal setting
- teaches them how to deal with failure
- promotes exercise
- improves coordination
- teaches self defense
If I would have started jiu jitsu at a younger age, man, I would have had a much better sense of self confidence, self awareness, and would have certainly spent less time trying to beat Resident Evil 4 for the third time.
Brazilian Jiu jitsu (bjj) is a hugely popular grappling based martial art that focuses on takedowns, joint locks, and chokeholds that is extremely effective and safe to practiceat any age.
In this post we’ll breakdown the specific mental and physical benefits in enrolling your kid in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu was developed in the early 20th century by Japanese immigrant Mitsuyo Maeda.
Maeda was a Judo champion who taught the art to Carlos Gracie who is one of the founding fathers of BJJ. Gracie and his family went on to open the first BJJ academy in Brazil and then spread its effectiveness to world through MMA events like the UFC.
Additionally, BJJ is known for its effective ground-fighting techniques. BJJ aims to control and submit your opponent using leverage and proper technique in a safe and calculated way.
Is jiu-jitsu Safe for Your Kids?
First is jiu jitsu safe for you kids?
Jiu-jitsu is a safe, effective form of self-defense that can benefit kids of all ages.
When properly taught, jiu-jitsu can help kids develop skills as early as 3-4 years old, including:
- Coordination
- Balance
- Strength
- Focus
- Concentration
Enrolling your child in jiu-jitsu classes are safe and the training is appropriate for any kid that is able to listen and take instruction.
Jiu jitsu classes for kids will be run by an instructor and usually with the help of an assistant instructors depending on the class size who create a safe environment where a child is able to learn the basic skills of jiu jitsu.
For a full breakdown on what to expect in your first jiu jitsu check out our post here
Jiu-Jitsu Benefits
There are many reasons why every kid should take part in the training experience of jiu jitsu. Jiu Jitsu is a great way to get exercise, learn self-defense, and have fun.
- EXERCISE. Jiu Jitsu is a great way to get exercise. Kids will burn a lot of energy while they are training. They will also learn how to control their body and use their energy in a productive way.
- SELF-DEFENSE. Jiu Jitsu is also a great way to learn self-defense. Kids will learn how to defend themselves against bigger, stronger opponents. They will also learn how to stay calm and use their technique when they are in a difficult situation.
- HAVE FUN. Lastly, Jiu Jitsu is just plain fun! Kids will love the challenge of learning new techniques and sparring with their friends. They will also appreciate the opportunity to compete in tournaments and test their skills against other kids their age.
BJJ is a very versatile martial art and a great way for kids to stay active and healthy, both physically and mentally.
Mental Benefits:
Confidence
In Jiu Jitsu, confidence is key. It’s important to know that you can defend yourself and your family if the situation ever arises.
Jiu Jitsu gives you the ability to do just that. It teaches you how to be calm under pressure and how to think before you act. This makes Jiu-Jitsu an invaluable skill for kids to learn.
Socialization
As parents, we want our kids to grow up to be well-rounded adults. One of the best ways to help them develop these qualities is to enroll them in a jiu-jitsu program where they will gain useful social skills at an early age.
Jiu-jitsu is a great way for kids to socialize. They’ll meet other kids their age and learn how to work together as a team. This is an important skill that will serve them well throughout their lives.
Discipline
Sure, BJJ is a great way for your kids to stay active and get in shape. But that’s not all. BJJ is also an excellent way for kids to develop discipline.
Through BJJ, kids learn how to control their bodies and their emotions. They learn how to set goals and work hard to achieve them.
Also, they learn how to stay calm in the face of adversity and persevere when things get tough. In short, they learn how to be disciplined – something that will benefit them throughout their lives.
Increases Focus
It’s no secret that children today have shorter attention spans than ever before. There are so many distractions in the world today.
So it’s important for them to learn how to focus their attention and stay present in the moment. Jiu-Jitsu is an excellent way to help them do this.
Also, Jiu Jitsu training requires concentration and focus in order to be successful. When kids are on the mat, they can’t be thinking about anything else but what they’re doing at that moment.
This type of focus is not only beneficial for jiu-jitsu training. Bu, it can also translate into other areas of life.
Promotes Respect
BJJ teaches kids to be respectful to their opponents. It also trains those who are training with them. It promotes respect for the rules of the sport and for the referee. This is an important lesson for kids to learn. Why? Because it can help them in other aspects of their lives.
Goal Setting
Setting goals is an important part of any activity. But it is especially important in Jiu-Jitsu.
Jiu Jitsu is a complex and challenging sport that requires a great deal of focus and dedication. By setting goals, kids can stay motivated and focused on their training.
Some examples of good Jiu-Jitsu goals for kids include:
- I will attend at least 3 classes per week.
- I’ll participate in at least one tournament per year.
- I will learn at least 5 new techniques per month.
- I will earn my next stripe/belt level within 6 months.
You child will go through the kids jiu jitsu belt ranks up until they are 16 years old (at which point they will be moved to the adult belt ranks) – this will be a built goal for many kids who join jiu jitsu.
See the belt ranks for kids below:
Check out our full updated post on kids jiu jitsu belts here
Learning How to Deal with Failure
As a parent, it’s only natural to want your child to succeed in everything they do. But as anyone who has ever tried anything new knows, failure is a part of life and will certain be apart of you child’s martial arts journey.
That’s why it’s so important to teach kids how to deal with failure. Jiu-jitsu is the perfect activity for this. Why? Because in jiu-jitsu, everyone fails. A lot.
It doesn’t matter if you’re a 5-year-old white belt or a 50-year-old black belt. However, you will get tapped out in training. And that’s okay! What matters is how you deal with it.
Jiu-jitsu teaches kids that failing is not the end of the world. It’s just a part of the journey.
And every time they fail, they learn something new that will help them succeed next time.
Physical Benefits:
Fitness Benefits
It is no secret that Jiu-Jitsu is an excellent form of physical exercise. Training BJJ not only gets kids active but also teaches them to be physically fit.
There are many benefits to getting fit. But here are a few of the most important ones.
- Maintain a Healthy Body Weight: Exercise helps burn calories and can help you maintain or lose weight.
- Boost Energy Levels: Regular exercise can increase your energy levels and help you feel more alert during the day.
- Strengthen Bones and Muscles: Exercise helps build strong bones and muscles, which can reduce the risk of osteoporosis and falls.
Coordination – Improve Motor Skills and Body Awareness
It is no secret that Jiu-Jitsu is an excellent way to improve coordination. BJJ training requires the use of both gross and fine motor skills in order to be successful.
The need to constantly move your body and limbs in a specific way in order to submit your opponent is important. It forces your brain and body to work together in harmony.
This type of coordination not only improves your Jiu-Jitsu. But it also seeps into other aspects of your life as well.
Aside from developing better coordination, Jiu Jitsu also helps improve motor skills and body awareness.
As you learn how to control your body and execute techniques, you also learn how to better control your muscles.
This improved muscle control can lead to better performance in other physical activities outside of Jiu Jitsu.
In addition, the constant awareness of your body position and movements required in BJJ will help you develop a greater sense of spatial awareness.
This increased awareness of your surroundings and body can come in handy in everyday situations. Whether you’re trying to avoid obstacles while walking or driving, or simply want to be more aware of your posture.
Self-Defense – Prevents Against Bullying
It’s no secret that bullying is a big problem in schools. Just about every kid has either been bullied or knows someone who has. Jiu-Jitsu for kids is an excellent way to help prevent bullying. Here’s why:
- Jiu-Jitsu builds confidence. When kids know they can defend themselves, they’re less likely to be targeted by bullies in the first place.
- Jiu-Jitsu teaches self-control and discipline. Bullies often rely on physical intimidation to get what they want. By learning jiu-jitsu, kids can learn to control their own emotions and impulses, making them less likely to lash out in response to bullying.
- Jiu-Jitsu promotes respect for others. In jiu-jitsu, we learn to respect our opponents and treat them with dignity, even if they’re trying to hurt us. This same principle can be applied to real-life interactions with bullies – if we treat them with respect, they’re more likely to back down and leave us alone.
At What Age Should Your Kid Start Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu?
The answer may vary depending on who you ask but we believe that the earlier the better!
Brazilian jiu-jitsu is an excellent Martial Art for kids. It teaches them discipline, respect, and most importantly, how to defend themselves.
There are many benefits of BJJ for kids, ranging from improved fitness and coordination to gaining confidence and self-esteem.
So, when is the best time to start your child’s journey in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu? We believe that the sooner they start, the better!
Kids BJJ – Conclusion
As a parent, you want what’s best for your child. You want them to be happy and healthy, to do well in school, and make lots of friends. And you definitely want them to be safe.
So it’s no surprise that you might be wondering if Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is a good idea for your kids. After all, BJJ is a martial art that involves grappling and ground fighting. And it can certainly look intimidating at first glance.
But the truth is that BJJ can be an excellent activity for kids of all ages. Even as young as 3 or 4 years old. If possible, enroll your kids in a BJJ class as soon as possible.
Everything that your kids will learn is appropriate for their age, so you don’t have to worry about a thing.
