I get asked this question a lot from my friends who have kids;

When should I start my kid in martial arts training? Is Jiu-Jitsu the right thing to get my kids into, or should I start with Tae Kwon Do, Karate, or even Judo?

Of course, like all things in life, it will really depend on the circumstances, but in general, I would say that around 6 is probably the right age. Once they are in grade 1, they are used to the structure that surrounds school, and likely have the discipline to follow that structure.

A couple factors to think about;

1. Do they have the discipline to sit through a one-hour Kids Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu lesson and listen to instruction/ feedback for that length of time? If not, it’s going to be a struggle, and you may want to wait an extra year to enroll them.
2. Is there a school near my house or their school? This is very important, because if it’s inconvenient for you to get them there, you as the parent likely won’t be able to get them to class on a consistent basis.
3. Do they have any friends or other kids that they know in the BJJ class? Starting out, this may be important motivation to get them there. Over time they will develop new relationships and friends at the club, and this likely won’t be as important to them.
4. Does the Kids BJJ class have enough instructors to handle all of the kids in the class? Are the instructors patient, and good with kids? Teaching a bunch of kids is no easy task, and demands a tremendous amount of patience.
5. Fun! I can’t stress this one enough! Is my kid having fun with BJJ? If they aren’t, then the likelihood is that they won’t stick with it long term. Make sure that they are enjoying themselves first and foremost, and BJJ will soon become a lifestyle for them, rather than something that their parents force them to do.

Hopefully these points give you some good food for thought when thinking about enrolling your kids into their first BJJ class! Whether you start them out at 5, 6, or even 10, remember that the key is to make it something they enjoy so that they keep doing it well past their teens and into their adult lives!

Chris Stepchuk

March 31, 2018