Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, or BJJ, is a common fighting style in the UFC – but it’s also an extremely effective form of self-defense and a great way to teach kids self-discipline and fitness skills. At New Mexico Jiu-Jitsu Academy, we provide kids BJJ classes and anti-bullying skills alongside our adult self-defense and martial arts programs.
Why BJJ is Great for Kids
Developed in the 1920s, Gracie Jiu-Jitsu (also called Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu or BJJ) was adapted from Judo to make techniques more effective for people who were smaller or weaker than their opponents. The goal of BJJ is to neutralize a larger and stronger attacker by taking the fight to the ground and forcing them into submission through a number of different holds and joint locks. This makes BJJ especially good for kids because they are able to use these skills to defend themselves against older bullies.
Another benefit of kids BJJ is that it is a martial art with a focus on grappling, not striking. This means that your child won’t learn kicking and punching techniques that could be used to escalate a fight, but instead defensive techniques to neutralize an attacker. This focus also means a reduced risk of injury compared to practicing other martial arts.
Practical Skills for Life
One of the greatest benefits of our kids BJJ classes is the anti-bullying component. Our class is about more than self-defense; it’s about character development and responding assertively and appropriately to bullying. We teach kids how to defend against physical attacks but also how to respond to verbal bullying with a goal of de-escalating a situation before it even becomes physical. You can read more about our program on this page.
If you’re interested in enrolling your child in our BJJ classes, contact us today. You can even try a completely free, no-obligation 10-day trial to see if New Mexico Jiu-Jitsu Academy is right for your family.
