Kids Jiu Jitsu is becoming an increasingly popular option for an extracurricular activity that benefits your child across many areas of development. If you are a parent, then you know that kids have a lot of energy they need to burn off every day. They also need to learn skills early in life that will stick with them into adulthood.
That is one of many reasons why kids Jiu Jitsu can be very beneficial for your child. Martial arts teach important lessons that can last a lifetime, while also building confidence and discipline. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu for kids is widely considered one of the best martial arts for them to train in.
In this article, you will learn the following regarding the benefits of BJJ for kids:
- BJJ for kids bully prevention
- Jiu Jitsu for kids self defense
- Kids Jiu Jitsu belt system
- Common questions regarding kids Jiu Jitsu
Here we go!
Jiu Jitsu for Kids – Bully Prevention
Being a kid can be tough, especially in today’s world where everyone is connected on social media and in constant contact. Twenty years ago, bullying was a lot different than it is now. Once the kid left school and got home, they would have a break from their bully.
Now, with online bullying being commonplace it’s a 24 hour, 7 day a week problem that is a reality for some kids. This is where Jiu Jitsu for kids can be so useful.
Bullies tend to pick on kids who have low self confidence and low self esteem. This leads to alienation in their social circles. Socialization is extremely important in the early stages of a child’s life.
Enrolling your child in a kids Brazilian Jiu Jitsu program will not only give them the opportunity to grow their self confidence – it gives them the chance to socialize with their peers in a positive setting where bullying is extremely rare – and is dealt with swiftly by coaches and peers alike if it happens at all.
Being able to participate in a martial art, in a welcoming environment, does wonders for a kid’s mental health. School can be a very intimidating environment, so having a completely separate space to learn and grow is extremely beneficial in the early years of your child’s life. Additionally, the self-confidence boost is another way that you can leverage BJJ for mental health in addition to all its other benefits.
Kids Gi Jiu Jitsu – Safe Self Defense for your Child
There are two different forms of Jiu Jitsu, Gi and no Gi. Each form has its own tactics for defense and attack.
In kids Gi Jiu Jitsu, your child will have a traditional Gi on with a belt. The Gi is a garment used in Jiu Jitsu, usually made of thick cotton. The Jiu Jitsu Gi resembles a Karate Gi, however the stitching is much stronger because of the constant gripping and pulling that is synonymous with Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in practice.
In terms of Jiu Jitsu belts for kids, like adults, they will start as a white belt and earn their colors along the way as they train. Not all kids are going to want to compete or belt up, so ask your child if that is the route they would like to take.
Even if your child isn’t necessarily competitive, it’s still a good idea to enroll them in Jiu Jitsu. Kids Gi and no Gi programs offer much more than a competitive edge on the mat – they offer structure, guidance and discipline in a safe setting. A good kids Jiu Jitsu coach will be able to help kids of all goals, skill levels, and abilities improve their life through Jiu Jitsu.
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu – Kids After School Programs
The cost of after school child care is, in most cases, very expensive. Even if you have your child enrolled in an after school program, the question is, what are they learning and is it effective?
Enrolling your child in kids Jiu Jitsu classes will end up saving you money while they get to burn off energy and learn exciting new skills.
When attending a regular class in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, kids will be learning both physical and mental strength as well as methods of self defense. Jiu Jitsu is as much an internal journey as it is a way of learning how your body interacts with the outside world.
These are important things for any child to learn. Getting a concrete grasp on the difference between body and mind – as well as how to integrate them – will do nothing but help your child to live their best life.
As opposed to other martial arts, BJJ is a low impact discipline. This means your child will be in less danger of injury or even head trauma than martial arts such as Karate, Taekwondo or Kickboxing.
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu was marketed as a martial art for people of smaller stature to gain advantage over larger, stronger opponents – making it a better method of self defense for kids than striking.
It’s also a means of nullification in a violent situation with a bully in school. Instead of ending up in the principal’s office for striking back against a bully, subduing them without injury is a much better approach.
Kids will be kids, so giving them the right tools for effectively de-escalating a situation in school is important and they will learn this in a kids Jiu Jitsu program.
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu – Kids Belts, Gis and More
In most cases, when you enroll your child in a full membership for Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, kids belts and Gis will be included. So you won’t have to worry about shopping around and finding one for your child.
As your child builds their practice in Jiu Jitsu, they will ‘belt up’ if they so choose. This means they will compete amongst their peers and be rewarded with a different color belt to signify their ability.
The highest belt color is black. This will likely be achieved somewhere in the early twenties if your child takes BJJ seriously from the get-go, depending on the age they enroll.
For many people, it may take until much later in life to achieve the level of black belt. But don’t be discouraged, there are many belts in between that your child will receive as they become more proficient in the martial art.
Kids Brazilian Jiu Jitsu – What to Know
Jiu Jitsu is a wonderful martial art that teaches many life skills to kids. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu gyms are a place for personal growth, a place where students can test themselves against their peers while also receiving the support of the community.
Learning how to build relationships in a positive manner is a very important part of becoming a functional, happy adult. The younger these lessons are learned, the better chance of success in life for your child.
Sometimes all a kid needs is a different type of guidance to give them the confidence they need to excel in school and kids Jiu Jitsu classes may be the ticket.
There is a reason why martial arts are so ingrained in our society world-wide. Centuries of training have gone into each one and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is a blend of some of the greatest martial arts in history.
Japanese Jiu Jitsu and Judo were woven together into what is now known as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. This martial art was developed by the Gracie family in the early 1900s and perfected through the years by the lineage of sons.
The most famous Gracie is undoubtedly Royce who was an integral part of the creation of the Ultimate Fighting Championship – though all of the boys went on to see great success in tournaments and professional fights.
UFC 1 was the first time that anyone had seen a person of such small stature take on large opponents – professional fighters – from multiple martial arts backgrounds on PayPerView.
One thing that certainly stood out was the fact Royce Gracie rarely used strikes to win fights in the tournament. This shows the power of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in its application.
One doesn’t have to resort to traditional violence when they understand how to protect themselves with the fundamentals of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
When it comes to Jiu Jitsu, kids usually find the activity highly enjoyable and will look forward to being dropped off at class. They will learn new skills while making new friends and becoming more confident and focused.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is BJJ good for kids?
Kids Jiu Jitsu is widely considered to be one of the best martial arts that a child can practice. Since Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is generally considered to be a less violent martial art than styles such as Taekwondo or Kickboxing, it lends itself well as a method for kids to learn martial arts.
How does Jiu Jitsu improve problem solving skills in kids?
Jiu Jitsu for kids is an extremely beneficial martial art for many reasons. Learning how to use leverage, positioning and time to either evade and escape a larger attacker or even to turn the tables into a submission transcends the physical interaction. Kids Jiu Jitsu teaches kids to think outside of the box to solve problems instead of simply trying to smash through them or run away.
What age should kids start Jiu Jitsu?
If you are already a Jiu Jitsu practitioner then kids Jiu Jitsu can be incorporated into play at any age realistically. In general the accepted age to enroll them in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu kids classes is between five and six years old.