Brazilian jiu jitsu is more than a sport – it’s a lifestyle. Brazilian jiu jitsu is incredibly fun, and applicable to everyone in all walks of life. We have Brazilian Jiu Jitsu classes for children aged 3-6 (Pingu Jitsu) and aged then from 7 -15. You can find out more here.
Our childrens BJJ classes are for all levels, all genders and any children taking our current BJJ classes will enthusiastically tell you what an addictively challenging yet fun sport it is.
It is the ideal martial arts for children as along with exercising the body and mind, you become part of a culture where the goal is to constantly strive to learn and improve yourself. Here’s some more reasons to consider BJJ for your children :
1. It gives them a challenge to work for and victories to be proud of.
Every jiu-jitsu class will present your child with a new set of obstacles and accomplishments. This martial art is a challenge to learn, but with rewarding results. Of course there’ll be frustrations, but also the thrill of finally landing a tough submission. Best of all, jiu-jitsu is highly adaptable, so even if your child has a disability, they can still get a lot out of the sport. Plus, your child can test their skills in competitions if they want to… or, they can choose to continue as a hobbyist, content with working hard in the gym.
2. It’s a Martial Art for Life
The beauty of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is that you can do it for the rest of your life and unlike other martial arts, you’re not getting punched, kicked or taking unnecessary blows to your head and body. It takes years — often over a decade — for BJJ students to receive their black belts.
The self-defense aspect of jiu-jitsu is great for kids, teens, and adults alike. But if you simply want your kid to grow up to be a healthier, happier adult, BJJ is great for that as well.
3. It develops a healthy (and fun) exercise habit.
Many kids only get exercise at school Jiu-jitsu offers a fun, interactive outlet for energy. And because BJJ can be continued as an adult, your child won’t have to worry about “outgrowing” the sport that they love — they can continue training and competing long beyond their high school years. Jiu-jitsu can teach your kids that exercise and movement isn’t just healthy, but also fun and maintainable.
4. It’s a highly social activity.
Even if your child has trouble making friends at school, they may find that they struggle less with social interactions in jiu-jitsu. BJJ is, by nature, a physical sport that requires a lot of close contact and trust between teammates. Kids who train jiu-jitsu interact with other children from a variety of backgrounds, so even if they’ve fit into a certain clique at school, they can truly be themselves on the mats while learning to work with other kids who are very different from themselves.
5. It’s a healthy outlet for aggression.
Jiu-jitsu has a number of mental health benefits, and one of them is how it serves as a way for practitioners to let out their natural aggression in a safe and controlled environment. Many children struggle to process difficult emotions, and this can manifest as pent-up aggression that gets let out at inopportune times and in unsafe ways. Jiu-jitsu gives kids a way to let out that energy in a healthier manner reducing the chances that they’ll take out their frustration on their classmates, siblings, or themselves.
6. It teaches kids how to lead and follow.
Your child doesn’t need to be the captain of a team to develop good leadership skills through sports. As jiu-jitsu practitioners progress, they learn to help new students who may need support, whether technical or emotional.
It also teaches great listening skills and discipline. Your kids will have good role models in their coaches, and they’ll quickly learn how frustrating it is to not understand a technique or fall behind because they aren’t paying attention.
We are positive your children will thoroughly enjoy the experience and hopefully want to continue building their BJJ skills with Lincoln Grappling Coalition.