Do you have a hyperactive little one who seems to always be exploding with energy? Or are you facing the opposite problem with a teen or pre-teen that isn’t active enough? Perhaps you have the perfect child who’s already athletic and simply looking for the newest team to join while their other sports are off-season. The truth is, Jiu jitsu is an excellent sport for any child to begin! Whether it’s the off-the-walls energetic 5 year old, the grumpy teen who doesn’t find sports cool enough yet, or the child asking you to enroll them in another sport, jiu jitsu is a fun discipline suitable for all children!
Health experts as well as psychologists won’t hesitate to tell you how crucial exercise and critical thinking are for a young kid’s life. While improving their health and strengthening their immune system, martial arts offers a plethora of other benefits for any developing child, skills that can undoubtedly help them improve other areas of their life, such as school, their self-esteem and confidence; focus, self-control, coordination and discipline are just some of the many skills kids involved in martial arts program develop. Kids are taught how to better coordinate their mind and bodies as they work through difficult physical scenarios and techniques with their training partners. In fact, the level of mental skill and concentration required in jiu jitsu is analogous to the same mental strength required for a friendly chess game, their body parts are their moving pieces.
Jiu Jitsu differs from your typical team sport since there is such a bigger emphasis placed on individual growth as opposed to team growth and competitions. One of the beauties of bjj is the hobbyist aspect of it–there is no weighing pressure of having to ever compete or let the team down. The kid’s biggest competitors are their own selves as the sports allow them to take a break from a “must win” mentality to more of a “level up mentality.” Leveling up in belts in jiu jitsu is a proud and memorable moment for all children because they know just how much dedication, sweat, and hard work goes into each and every belt promotion.
Here at Renzo Gracie East LA, you will find our kid’s classes filled with smiling but determined faces. Coach Malachy, Coach Pedro, and one of our very own student-teachers, Miss Donna, will make sure to make your little one feel heard and seen as they battle their way through their classes. Parent’s are encouraged to stay for the class to watch their little one jump out of their shell as soon as they hit our mats. If you have a child excited at the thought of rolling around and wrestling other little ones, do not hesitate to give us a call or stop by. We offer free trials to all students because we know it just takes one class for them to fall in love with the sport. I mean, what kid doesn’t like wrestling other kids (in a controlled and safe environment of course!)?