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Interest in Brazillian jiu jitsu was strong from the beginning, and it continues to gain popularity in modern society. If you are searching for martial arts near me with an idea of taking a few classes, it may help to know a bit about jiu jitsu. There are many levels, and they can take years of hard work to attain. This is an easy guide to see what the levels are, what each one encompasses on a general level, and a ranking of the top five all-time sports figures who have mastered them for a bit of inspiration. From White Belt to Black Belt: The BJJ Belt Order  Perhaps owing to the exotic nature of the country of Brazil, the BJJ belt colors are far from boring. They begin with a white belt that signifies a person has yet to learn more than a few basic moves, and they go all the way through four different red belts which surpass even the famous black belt of jiu jitsu and other martial arts. Once you learn to master the first moves of a novice with a white belt, the blue belt is the next step. It is followed by the purple belt, and then the brown belt comes after that. Mastering many different techniques will take years of adult martial arts classes, but mastery of this level will lead you straight to the famed black belt lauded in many modern martial arts. Unlike other arts of this type, the BJJ belt categories do not stop at the black belt level. There are four levels of red belts, and three of them are attainable with more work, study, teaching, and accomplishments. Unlike other arts, the last level of red belts is reserved for the five founding members of Brazillian jiu jitsu.  What Are the Different BJJ Belts Capable of Doing Students attending jiu jitsu schools begin with a white belt, and they will learn in their first adult martial arts classes that survival is a key element of this sport. Their goal is to master the guard position, how to move into and out of it to make strikes, and how to escape a larger or stronger opponent. The blue belt is next, and you will find it means mastering more complex moves. The typical student at this level will begin to learn how to fight off a larger and stronger opponent with their own aggressive moves. These can include throws combined with escape moves in the form of sweeps and twists. Exploration of what works for you is also an important component. Moving up to the level of the purple belt comes with a heightened level of learning for those who originally chose to search for martial arts near me. They are now between two belt levels where it is important to be able to use the techniques they have learned against opponents in the categories above and below them. A sense of confidence must be gained, and it should come from mentoring and working with those at the blue level. They will be expected to use their combination moves to help them challenge those at the brown belt level before attaining it. The step just before black belt is brown, and it can take years of mastery before a student is ready to move up once again. Control over students at a lower belt rank is important, and dominance in competition is the definition of this level. When you attain it in jiu jitsu schools, it can take as little as a year or two to master and move forward. The black belt level is for those students dedicated to both the continued study of the sport and teaching. At this level, professional teaching begins, and it is required that first aid and CPR courses are passed before teaching. There is also a referee course to pass, and affiliation with an IBJJF gym as an instructor is a must. The red belt levels are considered the highest attainment in this sport, and they are mastered over a series of years. They consist of teaching, further study of the art, expanding and creating new moves. Top Five BJJ Fighters Ranked It can take many years before attaining mastery of Brazilian jiu jitsu, and yet it is a journey well worth the effort. As a student just starting out, you may find it a bit overwhelming to contemplate ever becoming a fighter or a champion. These five men have mastered their sport, and they have attained their goals along with the respect and admiration of their peers. From fifth to third, the top ranked fighters are Alexandre Ribeiro, Marcelo Garcia and Saulo Ribeiro. All three of these celebrated fighters have attained the highest rankings possible within the belts, and they have won countless matches and championships. Many of them are respected for the innovation and drive they have brought to jiu jitsu over the years. The top two fighters of all time are often dependent upon the person citing them, and they seem to be almost equally matched in their abilities to win championships. Further, each of these men have their own followings due to their teachings, their ambitious goals, and their ability to further the spirit of competition while adhering to the rules and objectives of the BJJ. They are Roger Gracie of the original Gracie family, and his equal in first or second place within the all-time rankings is Marcus Almeida. He does not have quite the same family history, but his connection with the sport and the ability to inspire his followers due to his competitive success and teachings has earned him the top spot according to many.

Jiu-Jitsu is one of the most well-known sports in many countries like Brazil and other South American countries. It is not only a great competition, but it can also be a form of exercise, self-defense, and it is also suitable for people who just want to have fun. By undergoing Jiu-jitsu training, you will enhance your flexibility, strength, endurance, and cardio. More than body strength, Jiu-jitsu is an excellent way to exercise your mind. It exercises your mind to think fast to defeat your opponent. But before you go into the actual training, there are still things to consider, such as the professional who will train you, your physical and mental readiness, your schedule, and of course, the proper uniform.  GI Before discussing the proper sizing and fit guide for the uniform, it is essential to know what is a Gi and its significance to Jiu-Jitsu. Gi is a uniform used by people who are training for Jiu-jitsu. It is an adaptation of keikogi, the uniform used in Japanese martial arts. A Gi is composed of a cotton jacket, trousers that are reinforced with drawstring, and a belt. A Gi is an essential part of the sport; in fact, there are a set of rules stipulated by IBJJF(International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation) concerned with its proper usage in a competition. This includes the correct and appropriate materials, the uniform's condition, the proper combination of colors, and its adequate length and measurements. Gi Sizing Aside from having the proper training given by a professional in the sport, it is also vital that the person who is doing Jiu-Jitsu can move freely without any distractions, hence the importance of having a Gi that is perfect for the person's size. This will ensure that the person can perform well and have a chance to defeat his/her opponent. Many websites offer premium quality Gi. One example is charlesgracie.com. When shopping for the correct size to buy, you have to consider the height and the weight of the person. On the given website, they will provide you a BJJ Gi size chart. In this Gi size chart, you will see the appropriate Gi you should buy that is perfect for your size and height. According to the chart given by the Charles Gracie Jiu-jitsu Academy, if you have a height of 5'1″ – 5'4″ and weight of 105 to 145, you should get size A-1, if you're height is 5'4″ – 5'8″ and weighing 145 to 180 A-2 is the size for you, now if you're 180 to 210 heavy and your height is 5'9″ – 6'0″, the size that will suit you is A-3, the other content of the chart will be seen in their website. Fit Guide Having a Gi that fits perfectly with your body ensures that you will perform very well without any distraction, but it also gives the person the boost in confidence, and it signifies respect to the art. That's why it's a must that a person should wear a Gi that fits them perfectly.  Human beings grow as we grow old, which means we grow taller and the length of some parts of our body increases. When a person, most especially children, trains for Jiu-jitsu, it is customary to outgrow their Gi. When this happens, it is essential to know when it's time to buy a new uniform. The easiest way to know if the Gi is still a perfect fit for the person is by measuring the jacket's length in the arm part or the sleeves. If the sleeve is precisely on the wrist bone or 1.5 inches longer or shorter, it is considered a perfect fit for you. One tip to retain the Gi's size is by washing it with cold water to avoid shrinking. Takeaway We all have different ways of utilizing our precious time; some use it to read books, others use it to watch movies and TV series, but some people use it to learn Jiu-jitsu. Learning Jiu-jitsu can be both advantageous and beneficial. It can help both our mental and physical health. The effectiveness of Jiu-jitsu in teaching how to defend yourself when needed is also proven. Just as necessary the training is, the uniform used in this sport is also an important part. It is vital to have the proper uniform because it maintains the integrity of the sport. Having the correct size and fit is also essential to ensure that the person can perform well. All-in-all, every part of the sport should be given importance because it is a beautiful art form.

There is a reason why a variety of martial arts are commonly practiced today, even those that first originated hundreds or even thousands of years ago. It's because each martial art offers its unique advantages, particularly when it comes to self-defense. So, what about women's self-defense? We get asked this question a lot and think it's crucial for women to be informed about the best martial arts to practice, particularly smaller women concerned about self-defense and unsure of where to start.  Some of the best martial arts include Krav Maga, Tae-Kwon Do, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and below, you'll find out why they are practical options for smaller women's self-defense. Krav Maga Krav Maga was initially used as the official self-defense system by the Israeli military on and off the battlefield. Today, many women benefit both physically and mentally from the drills designed to address one's strengths and disadvantages. In this way, the real-world application of Krav Maga helps teach women how to gain the upper-hand despite their size. With its application in law enforcement and growing popularity in competitive fighting, Krav Maga may seem intimidating to some, especially beginners. Yet, there is no denying that it has a lot to offer any woman who is willing to learn how to deal with both armed and unarmed attacks. The drills are heavily repeated so that Krav Maga students can act quickly when under duress. One thing worth noting, however, is it is very physically demanding to learn what is usually a more specialized set of self-defense moves used to defend only against selective attacks. Often training will involve the use of fake weapons, and real-life scenarios can be very different from what you might train for. This martial art also teaches women how to use various parts of their bodies, including their knees and elbows, as weapons when they need to, which gives them some tools to defend themselves in violent situations. That said, apart from striking techniques, Krav Maga does not incorporate a wide variety of martial arts that could end up being more effective given the various violent scenarios that could happen.  Krav Maga prioritizes conflict-avoidance and awareness of one's surroundings, which is incredibly important for women to practice given they are at a higher risk for violent crimes like sexual assault. For this reason, Krav Maga is known as a simple and effective art for self-defense, making it a popular choice for women. Still, this martial art may require more time and dedication than you may be able to give if you are looking to walk away with more immediate skills. Tae-Kwon Do Tae-Kwon Do stands out among the rest as one of the best martial arts for women because there is an emphasis on kicking. If you think about the fact that women are generally stronger in their lower bodies than their upper bodies, you can understand how important it is for women to have a self-defense practice that focuses more on these lower-body moves, where other martial arts do not. Not to mention that most men have more upper body strength than women, which they are likely to use against a woman in an attack. Tae-Kwon Do originated in Korea and has been loosely translated as "the way of the hands and feet" or "the way of kicking and punching." The emphasis on kicking is beneficial for women of all sizes because they will learn where and how to strike an assailant's weaker areas, including their chin, solar plexus (which can impact their breathing), and groin. Tae-Kwon Do is not just about kicking and striking, however. Students will learn to defend themselves against attacks with blocking techniques as well. In Tae-Kwon Do, there are not just one or two crippling kicks that women learn to combat strong male attackers, but a series of them. However, the main thing you do not gain from Tae-Kwon Do is the focus on hands and grappling techniques, which are still important despite a woman's lower body advantage. This means that a fight against an attacker who is in close proximity, which would be the case with sexual assault, could be a tough one to win.  Overall, it is a great martial art to practice if you are a smaller woman or just starting with self-defense, but you may want to consider learning other martial art forms alongside Tae-Kwon Do. There are others that can help you feel more equipped to defend yourself through more upper body training as well. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu The primary focus of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is self-defense, and it is easy to see why because it teaches a variety of strategies from chokeholds, armlocks, takedowns, throws, and attacks. Students practice ground, street-fighting stances, which enable them to come close to mimicking real-life situations without hurting one another. This martial art became more popular thanks to competitors using it in UFC matches. Still, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu recognizes that the same grappling techniques are also necessary for women to learn to control violent attacks no matter their size nor the size and strength of their opponent. With its focus on leverage, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu teaches women to attack from higher positions, but this martial art's main emphasis is on ground fighting. It is a great option for women and smaller students who want to learn how to defend themselves in the likely chance that they end up on the ground or pinned underneath their male assailant in a sexual assault. Apart from the mat-based grappling, women also learn how to defend themselves if weapons are involved. Another critical aspect of this martial art is teaching students how to deal with attacks without actually attacking, whether it's simple escape techniques or attacks to control the attacker. When necessary, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu will also teach women how to disable attackers properly, take them down and conquer them, even if they are smaller and even if they are in close quarters. The sad reality is that the world can be a dangerous place for women, but it is a woman's responsibility to learn how to fend off an attacker in the event of a violent assault. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu addresses self-defense from all angles, teaching a woman the awareness, patience, techniques, and self-control necessary to protect herself, regardless of her size.

Whenever someone asked me which martial arts to undertake to best learn self-defense, my answer every time is the same: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. There are various reasons for this, and indeed there are also other arts that can get the same job done. Typically, while someone asks which martial arts they or their children should start practising, it comes from a place of concern about their safety or the safety of their loved ones. They want the most effective choices that work in a comparatively short amount of time.Is Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Good for Self Defense? Source: https://pixabay.com/photos/brazilian-jiu-jitsu-bjj-combat-2957075/ Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Origins and Roots To answer the question correctly, let's first look at how BJJ started and how it became popular in the first place. As maybe you are aware, BJJ originally started with judo. Mitsuyo Maeda, one of the best students in judo, was responsible for spreading his knowledge of judo worldwide. During his trip, Maeda landed in Brazil, where he met the Gracie family. The Basic Aspects of "new" Judo Gracie later spread and disseminated the teachings to students throughout Brazil. Various aspects of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu There are three types of training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: self-defense training, sports tournament training, and street defense training. Self defense training This type of training includes managing attacks while standing and protecting yourself from physical attacks on the ground, knives, pistols, clubs and other weapons. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Self defense is taught how to face the most realistic attacks that occur to students and control the situation before the attacks take place. However, in an attack, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu allows students to use simple escapes and attacks to control and terminate the attacker on hold. The grip is based on the lever's force, so students can apply the pressure they want. Counterattacking is not always the best option, as self-defense does not allow you to hit someone softly. BJJ offers many options for dealing with attacks without attacking them. However, the system teaches you to attack from a higher position. Street defense training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu was developed to reflect the actual battle in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, so this aspect of training teaches you how to protect yourself in street battles for the lack of better words. In Brazil, the word "vale tudo" means "everything is going well, which is a concept that makes up classroom training. Students attending vale tudo classes have good striking abilities. Brazilian jiu-jitsu has changed the way martial arts are trained with this form of training. It is clear that safe class lessons are impossible, but control, submit, hit, or End the fight with verbal orders. People punch and kick each other, so in this class, you get very close to fighting by focusing on your street fighting stance's details without hurting each other. In this way, students learn what to learn. The student will learn what is practical and real instead of real and purely fictional. Tournament sports training with or without kimono During this part of the training, students learn various strategies and techniques of sports jiu-jitsu. Students train in uniforms (Kimono or Gi) and learn takedowns, attacks, throws, escapes, ground stances, and lot more strategies. This is a fun way to learn Brazilian Jiu Jitsu for learners who are not interested in fighting. All techniques can also be used in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tournaments with weight classes and safety rules for children, men, and women. Another focus aspect is training without uniforms. Students are taught Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu without resorting to uniforms for control. This training method is same like wrestling, but rather than trying to block people like wrestling; however, instead of bit the person as in wrestling, practice is geared toward finishing the enemy with submission holds. Benefits of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu For all Practitioners Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu offers a system of simple self defense techniques that work whether you are healthy and big or of a small frame. The principles of leverage on which Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is founded allow practitioners to pursue art through all their lifetime. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is good in helping to regulate cardiovascular fitness. Likewise, BJJ has been compared to a human form of chess due to the endless fun strategies of counter-technique and strategies via armlocks, chokeholds, and escapes, during tournaments or in the class. Training helps in learning different ways of thinking for the student. Students are taught the importance of self-control, relaxation, patience, and balance to be used in Jiu-Jitsu and life. Jiu-Jitsu is perfect for self defense and protection. Another important reason why Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu works well in self-defense is that it focuses specifically on the defensive aspect. BJJ is a striker that can be considered a real martial art of self-defense, as it focuses specifically on defense. Jiu-Jitsu is dedicated to knocking down opponents to the ground to rest and conquer them. This is very effective because it not only protects you from unnecessary blows but also allows you to control your opponent without damaging them. Conclusion It is no exaggeration to say that there is no perfect or "correct" martial art in every situation. Even its biggest supporters will admit that Jiu-jitsu doesn't have all the answers. But despite the perceived limits, we think it offers unparalleled value to other arts when it comes to learning to protect ourselves, whether it's sports or self-defense. Suppose you are searching for karate near me, in that case, Granite Bay Jiu-Jitsu offers various practices tailored to your individual needs, including Jiu-Jitsu, kung fu, martial arts, Tai Chi, yoga and meditation. There are also free trials and introductory courses. Call us right now to book or sign up today!

The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu belt system is much stricter than most other martial arts. It can take up to 10 years to establish a black belt. There are only a few belts, so we spend a lot of time on each belt. Moreover, your progress is not linear. Stay on the plateau for weeks or months before you can get the skill jump reward. Sometimes, it does feel like you are getting worse rather than getting better. But the plateau is your friend, an indicator of progress in itself. They are those who have the power to advance when breaking through with higher-level skills on the plateau. A few years ago, Roy Harris, on the black belt, wrote a great article detailing each belt's expectations. I estimated this number and gave a breakdown of my expectations of students in each band. In any case, don't forget to enjoy the process. Don't focus too much on entering the next zone or winning games. The BJJ belt is a way to show off your Jiu-Jitsu stage. If you enter a number, the consensus is that it takes about ten years to make a BJJ black belt with Jiu-Jitsu. However, the types of black belts are different because it makes no sense to compare high-level competitors in their twenties with recreational women in their fifties. However, both of these are high-quality black belt practitioners. If you are interested in faster processing, you need to understand BJJ's approach and flowcharts Why Does It Take Around 10 Years To Get A Black Belt In BJJ Elite competitors usually get there much faster, but the average time it takes someone to reach the black belt level is about ten years. Let's look at some of the factors that determine how fast you get a black belt. An important factor is the frequency of training. In short, the more equal you are, the faster and better you are, and the sooner you reach the black belt level. Most regular professionals train 2-3 times a week for a total of 3-4 hours a week. Elite athletes can train up to 2-3 times a day. Combined with the frequency of training, there is a training method that is usually suitable for lecturers. There is a massive difference between 1-hour training and free sparring and 1-hour training. In this case, you will practice specific techniques according to the particular situation, keep the spar in that isolated position, and then perform free sparring. The progress of the second case may be more significant than the first case. One of the most important things is the quality of education available. A good coach can help you identify missing details, make a game plan, and focus on improving the training course's skills. It depends on the expert. Some people learn faster, while others need to move 100 times to complete. One thing you need to understand is that progress does not always happen. It is impossible to master all these technologies fully. Through years of training, BJJ Black belt has a deep understanding of the basic knowledge required to operate them correctly, as if it were the second feature. It is different for everyone to go to BJJ black belt to progress to the next rank. Some students are more stable than others, while others choose to rest from time to time. Sometimes some students are on the plateau, but sometimes it may take months to get out. How to Get Good at Jiu-Jitsu By attending courses regularly and paying attention to details, you can learn more about the technology. This way, you can apply them faster and more efficiently, and over time it will become your second choice. This means you can think about it yourself and react more quickly. BJJ is a sport with high demands on the body, which requires body adjustment to get the best performance. Therefore, it is not surprising that most beginners feel tired after training. The Gracie family is a well-known martial artist in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and is recognized for creating the self-defense martial arts system of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. When you start your BJJ journey, your mastery may not be optimal. Therefore, managing your partner has always been your challenge. Established a strong grip and can now control it more quickly because of my strong grip. BJJ black belt requires you to be flexible, so you should be well protected and avoid injury. You may not be the most flexible person at first, and you may not be able to operate your arms smoothly or perform proper hip dislocation. Your work may not allow you to complete tasks on time fast enough, but if you can avoid it, don't miss the warm-up activity. Many reasons cause this incident. The first reason is that training before class can help you feel better, and in turn, it will only make fighting easier. Secondly, the warm-ups and exercises you perform at the beginning of class are usually related to the techniques you learned that day. If your school did not start the on-site training from the place where you attended the last class, please don't be afraid to ask your partner to start from that location when you are doing on-site training. Spending more time in these positions will help you recognize and implement the techniques trained in the classroom and provide you with more opportunities to apply the skills you just learned at the right time. Which Black Belt Takes the Longest Time to Achieve The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt is highly regarded as one of the most inaccessible belts, and for a good reason. Compared to many other martial arts that can be promoted relatively quickly, Brazil's nine pole belt system is more difficult to overcome. It may take 2-5 years to get a blue belt (add another belt to the white belt) before others can be based on their dedication to BJJ. Granite Bay Jiu-Jitsu offers fun, fit and authentic Roseville karate lessons– For those searching for a dynamic way to exercise, how to keep energetic focused and children calm or an introduction to self-defense.

Humans are emotional; we can choose from angry, happy, sad, scared and frustrated. Our emotions are healthy responses to the stimuli that helped our ancestors survive the trials and tribulations of a harsher and ruthless environment. Emotions can still help us cope with unexpected danger, but they also make us wrong decisions. We must learn how to control and respond to our emotions; one of the great ways to control our emotion is learning Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. How Jiu-Jitsu help you manage your emotion Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu or Gracie Jiu-Jitsu although an art of self-defense, can also assist the practitioner in managing your emotions. It is a self-defense system that preaches patience and instinct. He teaches you to feel the enemy's movements and respond. In combat sports, violence is inevitable, but Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu helps you to controlled aggression. If you can stay cool and think clearly when the blood is flowing, there are several other areas in your life where you cannot do the same. Anger is a momentary madness, so control your passion, or it will control you.– Horace Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu techniques discourage an athlete from attacking an unprepared or uninformed person. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu athletes are strongly discouraged from using strategies aimed at injuring an opponent. Athletes are responsible for their opponent security. When using any of the submission techniques, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu athletes must apply pressure slowly. They should stop when they sense that further pressure could injure the athlete. This teaches the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu athlete the clarity of purpose, which is to get the opponent to comply and not to harm him. It also teaches them to give honor their opponent's strength. Martial Arts Helps You Develop Mindfulness and Reduce Anxiety Mental training is just as significant as physical fitness and strength. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu brings countless improvements to mind. The martial art has also helped many children and young adults with attention deficit disorder (ADD) by improving their concentration levels, reducing the interference that might otherwise cause disruption in adulthood. While self-control and discipline improve your ability to manage your responses to ordinary emotions, martial arts can also help you deal with those emotions and anxiety. For example, when you show your emotions and channel them into healthy activities, you begin to dissolve your anxiety. Activities such as martial arts techniques or harnessing negative energy in the form of a well-formed punch or kick on the training bags can melt those emotions before you lose control. In addition, by focusing on the mind and body, martial arts can improve your mindfulness ability to find inner peace and patience so that you become less angry. Here are some of the ways Jiu-Jitsu or Martial arts training can help you to develop mindfulness: Jiu-Jitsu helps you learn to deal with pressure Martial arts give children a safe and controlled environment to learn how to deal with pressure properly. When teaching martial arts, children often find themselves in situations where they have to use their skills to solve problems. Disciplines such as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, among others, often emphasize duress performance by improving problem-solving skills. By coping with the pressure on the mats, children learn to deal with the pressure outside the gym. The clear and calm mind they gain through meditation, combined with improved problem-solving skills, allows you to discover in yourselves how to reduce the stress they experience by working effectively and maximizing their talents. Be aware of your thoughts To stay in the present, you must be more aware of your thoughts. For Instance, are you calm and productive? How do you talk to yourself while exercising? Are you critical and judgmental? As you become more aware of your thoughts during training, you will be able to rethink all negative things so that your internal dialogue will facilitate only learning and improvement. Speed of thought The more you practice martial arts, the more you understand that you need to stay ahead of your opponent. Reasoning plays a big role in developing a defense and attack plan against your opponent. This is why most Jiu-Jitsu experts compare this martial art to a chess game. Many people call Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu "the game of human chess." Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu can be a special help for parents who find it difficult to control their child's temperament. Children can learn these qualities early in their lives and put them into practice. If anger, fear or emotional control is ruining your life, whether it just makes you unhappy, or you start lashing out at people in your life, we recommend that you try martial arts. At Granite Bay Jiu-Jitsu, we offer a wide variety of practices to suit your individual needs, including Kung Fu, Jiu-Jitsu, and Martial arts, Tai Chi, Yoga and Meditation. We even have a free tour and introductory course to get you started. Call today to schedule an appointment or sign up today!

Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) is a world-renowned, high-intensity martial art that, like karate, requires technique, dedication, and athleticism. So, you might be wondering, is jiu-jitsu for kids? And at what age can kids start jiu-jitsu? There are several factors to consider before starting your child in jiu-jitsu or any martial arts, including maturity, competitiveness, and their level of physical and emotional development.  Benefits of Jiu-Jitsu  You might be surprised to know that BJJ Master Charles Gracie, a 7th degree black belt, started jiu-jitsu at only five years old! Activities like jiu-jitsu teach children invaluable lessons at a young age, and help their bodies and minds develop healthily. Organized activities, whether they’re team sports or individual, have tons of physical, emotional, and social benefits for young kids. It’ll help them maintain a healthy weight, build muscle, make friends, learn sportsmanship and how to respect the rules of the game, instructors, and other players, develop motor skills, and of course they’ll have lots of fun along the way.   There are many benefits to enrolling your child early for martial arts classes. Jiu-jitsu aids in the development of their balance, discipline, motor skills, concentration, listening skills, social skills, hand-eye coordination, reflexes, and flexibility. Starting your child young builds self-confidence, helps them overcome shyness, and encourages socialization.  Some more benefits of jiu-jitsu for your child include the satisfaction of setting a goal and achieving it, learning teamwork and cooperativity, building self-worth and self-awareness, showing them basic self-defense, teaching them the importance of commitment and responsibility, and keeping them occupied with something positive and worthwhile.  Is My Child Mature Enough for Martial Arts? Each child develops differently, some may develop quickly while others may take a little longer. Either way, you know your child best. Sports of any kind, especially one as physical as jiu-jitsu, requires some level of physical and emotional maturity. Brazilian jiu-jitsu requires a lot of learning and memorization to start with, which might be difficult for younger kids to handle. Jiu-jitsu requires your child to be able to communicate with others, last about half an hour or longer without any breaks, participate in class, and make controlled, physical contact with others. If your child is too shy to leave your side, jiu-jitsu might be a difficult activity to begin with. Most classes last about 30-45 minutes for younger students, so they will need to last that long in a room without you. Keep in mind, this is a high contact sport. Starting out will be very basic and gentle, however there will still be quite a bit of physical contact like grappling between the students. Your child should be prepared to initiate and withstand contact from others. Although children under the age of 6 can still have fun and get good exercise with martial arts, they might not have the motor skills to carry out proper technique. Six is generally the magic number in sports because that’s the age that children have sufficient muscle control.  However, children as young as four years old exhibit balance and enough control to jump, skip, run, and even kick. At this age the emphasis is less on skill and more on introducing them to the art of jiu-jitsu, improving their general movement, hand-eye coordination, and socializing them with other kids their age. Between the ages of four and six, children learn an amazing amount; they are like a sponge absorbing the world around them.  Training competitively for jiu-jitsu doesn’t usually begin until the ages of 8-10. At that age, children generally have enough control over their emotions to cope with frustration and losing. As they develop physically, children are also developing socially and emotionally. Even if a child has developed physically, that does not necessarily mean they are mature enough to compete in jiu-jitsu. Competing takes a level of maturity to follow the rules of the game, listen to feedback from instructors, and accept defeat gracefully.   Learning to lose is an important skill for everyone to have, and it should be taught at a very young age. Losing is inevitable, especially in competitive martial arts. Jiu-jitsu serves as a great learning opportunity for children (and teaching opportunity for parents!) when it comes to losing. They will learn that losing is not the end of the world, and instead should use it as motivation to practice more. Embracing a mindset that practice makes you better--not perfect--will encourage them to stay committed to improving themselves, and won’t sour their perception of jiu-jitsu. What to expect from my child’s first class It’s always nerve-racking walking into your first day of jiu-jitsu class, but remember every master was once a beginner. For those of you who are apprehensive about starting your child, Granite Bay Jiu-Jitsu’s free 7-day trial is the best way to start. You and your child can get a good idea of what it’s like before committing.  You should expect a fun, easy-going, positive experience for your child’s first class. Instructors know how uncomfortable it can be for kids to start something new, especially surrounded by people they’ve never seen before. It’s important to remember that all the other students are in the same place, so there’s no fear of embarrassing themselves. Arrive a little early to allow your child to take a look around and feel a little more comfortable.  Your child should expect to do an easy warm up to get their blood flowing and release some nerves. The less they’re focused on being a newbie, the more fun they’ll have, and the more likely they’ll want to continue.  You and your child should go in with realistic expectations. They will not turn into a karate master overnight, it will take years and years of practice, dedication, and hard work before you start to see real progress. For a while, it might not seem like there’s anything happening, but it’s important to not get frustrated or impatient, and give up. Remember, it’s more about the journey than the destination.  Free 7 Day Trial If your child is itching to start a sport or activity of some sort, consider enrolling them in jiu-jitsu. You are never too young (or old!) to start jiu-jitsu. The best way to tell if your child is ready to start jiu-jitsu is by giving it a try. If you’re in the Roseville or Granite Bay Area and searching for karate for kids near me, come check us out with our free 7-day trial!