5 Signs Your Kid Is Ready for Jiu-Jitsu If you’ve caught yourself typing “kids jiu-jitsu classes near me” into Google more than once this month, you’re probably already sensing the answer. But before you commit to a trial class, it helps to know exactly what you’re looking for. Here are five clear signs your child…

For many people, playing sports ends much earlier than they would like. They may play football, baseball, basketball, or another sport through high school. A smaller number continue in college, but after that, there are not many opportunities to keep training or competing in an organized setting.   Jiu-jitsu is different. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is one…

The first month of jiu-jitsu is not about becoming “good.” That may sound strange, but it is important for parents to understand. When a child starts jiu-jitsu, the biggest wins usually have nothing to do with submissions, belts, or winning rounds. The first month is about getting comfortable in a new environment, learning how the…

A lot of parents think their child needs to be tough before starting jiu-jitsu. They’ll say things like, “He’s too shy,” “She’s too sensitive,” “My child doesn’t like confrontation,” or “I don’t know if they’re ready for something like martial arts.” I understand why parents think that way. From the outside, jiu-jitsu can look intimidating….

Jiu-Jitsu fills the gap other seasonal sports can’t Most youth sports are seasonal by design. Soccer ends, then basketball starts. Baseball comes around, then it’s over. Kids step away for months at a time, and that’s normal in the traditional sports world. Jiu-jitsu isn’t like that. Jiu-jitsu doesn’t “stop” because a season ended. There’s no…

Why Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Should Not Be Treated Like a Seasonal Sport   One thing I’ve noticed over the years coaching kids is that a lot of families approach Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu the same way they approach traditional youth sports: soccer season, then basketball, then baseball, then something else. That’s normal. Most of us grew up around…

Your child is going to ask to quit jiu-jitsu. Not because jiu-jitsu is “bad,” or because they suddenly hate it. Usually it’s for the same reasons kids want to quit anything that’s actually good for them: it gets hard, it gets uncomfortable, or it stops feeling new and easy. Here are the most common reasons…

Jiu-Jitsu is for everyone (yes, even you)   A lot of people are curious about jiu-jitsu… right up until they decide it’s not for them. They’ll say things like: “I’m not athletic.” “I’m too old.” “I don’t like getting hit.” “I’m not flexible.” “I’m not a fighter.” Or the classic: “I need to get in…

Myth Busted: You Don’t Need to “Get in Shape” Before Starting Jiu-Jitsu   If you’re an adult with no experience and you’ve been thinking about trying jiu-jitsu, there’s a good chance you’ve told yourself some version of this: “Let me get in shape first… then I’ll start.” It sounds responsible. It sounds logical. But it’s…