Martial arts are great for kids. They provide self-defense training, improve fitness and coordination, boost confidence and provide a safe environment for socializing and learning self-discipline. There are many styles of martial arts available to learn, including well-known styles like Karate and Tae Kwon Do – but you don’t have to stick with those just because they’re familiar.
The Gracie Jiu-Jitsu we teach at New Mexico Jiu-Jitsu Academy provides a solid foundation of self-defense skills to children of all ages – and many parents prefer our style of martial arts over the more popular striking-based arts like Tae Kwon Do.
Tae Kwon Do vs BJJ
Tae Kwon Do is very well known. It is the national sport of Korea, one of the sports in the Summer Olympics, and Tae Kwon Do lessons are popularly taught on college campuses. Like Karate, the style is focused mostly on striking, especially kicking, and techniques are generally taught through choreographed movements or “forms.”
As a self-defense technique, Tae Kwon Do moves pose some problems, especially for kids. Successful technique requires physical strength, flexibility and reach – faster, stronger opponents will almost always win. In contract, Gracie Jiu-Jitsu is designed specifically to level the playing field when one is attacked by a larger opponent.
The Gracie Jiu-Jitsu we teach focuses on grappling and ground fighting techniques like holds and joint locks – in other words, techniques that children can use to subdue a bully until help arrives instead of escalating a confrontation.
Our Children’s Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Lessons
We teach children starting as young as 4 years old. Our younger students learn Jiu-Jitsu “games” that teach the basic fundamentals and provide a foundation for later technique. Our older students learn practical anti-bullying skills, with a major focus on character building and verbal self-defense to stop fights from ever happening.
If you’d like to learn more about what we offer, or if you’d like to try a free 10-day trial to see our program first hand, contact us today!
