When should kids start Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ)?

One of the biggest challenges for parents of young children is getting kids engaged in activities that promote their physical, social and mental well-being. In today’s world, physical and social activities are often left aside when instead kids have the option to choose to spend their time on their favourite TV show or videogames.

Martial Arts are a great way to engage children in a social activity that is extremely rewarding and brings all the physical and mental benefits of Sports, such as self-discipline, dealing with wins and losses, confidence and overall fitness. But…

When should kids start Brazilian Jiu Jitsu classes?

According to various specialized sport articles, kids aged 3-5 years old respond well to coordinated ‘play-based’ activities. This gets them physically and socially active, while becoming familiar with their bodies and their capabilities. Some BJJ schools have pee-wee/mini session for the ‘littlest’ ones.

Over the age of 6, on average, kids respond well to commands, which allows for a more martial arts-focused training as offered at Mavericks Martial Arts in Guildford, Surrey, UK. From this age, coaches are also able to start working on the kids ability to deal with the pressures of losing and winning, self-discipline and confidence.

When should kids start competing?

Our years of experience has shown that two key factors tell us when a child is ready to compete: 1. their ability to control their emotions; and 2. whether the child actually wants to compete. From age 7, it is feasible to observe these two factors in a child. We recommend that before signing your child up for a competition, you attend one of these events with them to get them acquainted with what they are signing up to.

Note that most competitions split competitors into categories matching their age, size and gender.

If you think you are ready to start Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, book a free BJJ trial class today!