5 Reasons Why You Should Enroll Your Kids In BJJ
If you are asking yourself whether or not Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a good martial art for your son or daughter, then ask no more.
The answer to that question is a resounding, “yes.”
Your child will gain many physical and mental health benefits when training in BJJ, which is often called “the gentle art” by those who practice the discipline.
Here are just five of the many reasons why you should enroll your kid in a BJJ class.
#1 BJJ Shows Kids How To Handle Bullies
Unfortunately, bullies are not going anywhere, so your son should have self-defense skills.
Because BJJ focuses on self-defense tactics on the ground, it is an excellent and non-threatening way to deal with bullies.
There are a variety of locks and holds your son can use to neutralize a bully without ever throwing a single punch or kick.
BJJ focuses on leverage instead of strength and power, so it will be a great way to boost your little boy’s self-esteem, knowing he can handle bullies even if they are bigger than him.
Once your son knows he has the skills to defend himself, then he will become more confident, and bullies will not want to mess with him.
Malaysian martial artist Agilan “Alligator” Thani learned how to handle the bullies in his Sentul neighborhood after studying “the gentle art.”
#2 BJJ Teaches Kids To Learn From Failures
Unlike other forms of martial arts training, in BJJ, your daughter will practice her skills against a resisting opponent.
When your little girl first begins her training, she will experience failure. But that is alright – even the most senior BJJ practitioners and black belts have struggled and faced failures early in their respective journeys.
However, through the encouragement and guidance from her instructors, your daughter can learn from her mistakes and focus on improving her skills.
ONE Championship bantamweight contender Radeem Rahman frequently preaches determination to the young ones under his care at Neue Fit in Singapore.
“In Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, especially in their first live situational training, most kids are unable to accept losing,” he explains. “But slowly, they learn to not give up, and each successive practice is another chance for them to improve.”
Once your daughter begins to embrace failures as opportunities for growth, she will develop the right mindset and attitude she needs to achieve success later in life.
- 6 Great Reasons To Pick Up Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
- The 5 Best Martial Arts For Your Kids
- The 7 Best Martial Arts For Self Defense
#3 BJJ Helps Kids Socialize
BJJ is a good recreational activity that helps your son socialize with kids who he might not otherwise get to meet.
The diversity in a BJJ class is an ideal environment for your son to learn about other ethnicities, cultures, and religions.
Also, when your son trains with other kids, he will develop trust and build stronger bonds with his teammates.
Former ONE Strawweight World Champion Alex “Little Rock” Silva – a Copa De Mundo BJJ World Champion instructor at Evolve in Singapore – enjoys the camaraderie of a BJJ class.
“Everyone starts from somewhere,” he says. “Even if you are a beginner, we all help each other. You can make friends and learn a new skill at the same time.”
#4 BJJ Improves Kids’ Coordination And Motor Skills
BJJ typically involves the use of many sequences to execute techniques.
When training in “the gentle art,” your daughter will learn to develop fine motor skills, spatial awareness, and coordination.
The forced repetitions of these techniques during training will help your daughter commit those movements to muscle memory.
As a result, she will develop greater control over her body and learn to be more precise in her actions.
Kids who understand how their limbs move in relation to the techniques end up developing better coordination and improved flexibility.
#5 BJJ Helps Kids Build Healthy Lifestyle Habits
BJJ emphasizes the importance of physical activity and can instill positive habits in your son from an early age.
In BJJ, your little boy will be engaged in a physically and intellectually stimulating martial art.
This will help to prevent him from lapsing into the sedentary lifestyles associated with watching television.
Also, your son will grow to appreciate the benefits of coordination, flexibility, agility, and endurance as necessary elements to succeed in BJJ.
Read more: 10 Types Of Martial Arts You Will See In The ONE Circle
