10 Reasons Every Child Should Learn Jiu Jitsu by Black Belt World Champion Augusto Tanquinho Mendes
Parents often ask should my child participate in martial arts or a Brazilian jiu jitsu class? This is completely normal, and I often find myself discussing these 10 reasons why jiu-jitsu is a great way for children to develop when asked this question.
As parents we are always teaching our kids not to hit others and to play nice, but the unfortunate reality is 25% of children are victims of bullying throughout their life. Being powerless and defenseless to bullying is unfair and jiu-jitsu training can be the ideal pathway to overcoming these challenges in life. Read on for my top 10 reasons every child should learn Jiu Jitsu and how the life-skills learned will contribute to their healthy growth and development including discipline, resilience, endurance, coordination and body awareness, self-esteem and many others.
1. Self-Defense
Students of jiu jitsu don't just learn how to defend themselves from a bully, they learn respect for the martial art and how to use these skills appropriately and responsibly. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a unique form of martial arts as it uses techniques most commonly required in real-world situations. Most confrontations in the real-world will end up on the ground leaving potential victims vulnerable to their attacker. Jiu Jitsu turns this perceived disadvantage into a strength with special techniques including but not limited to, grappling, submission tactics, takedown strategies as well as traditional wrestling techniques.
2. Self-Confidence
The practice of Jiu Jitsu and repetition of movements and situations allows kids to develop mental clarity in stressful situations. This leads to development of self-confidence for those who stick with the practice as they master movements and think through attacks in a safe and controlled environment. Jiu Jitsu is both mentally and physically challenging and rewarding for children.
3. Humility
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu teaches children humility. One of the greatest benefits of training martial arts and a critical component of jiu jitsu is learning how to be humble in both defeat as well as victory. This important life skill will set your child up for success later in life.
4. Respect
At Soul Fighters HQ, our Mighty Mites and Juniors training Jiu Jitsu are exposed to individuals from all walks of life. Our Jiu Jitsu classes are open to everyone, and our students meet and work with others from varying backgrounds allowing them to respect everyone and foster an environment of inclusion.
5. Friendship
Soul Fighters HQ is one big family and friendship naturally progresses as you roll and train with new people. While it may seem strange for two children who are attempting to outmaneuver each other to become friends, the mutual struggle and practice leads to a sense of community and friendship. Jiu Jitsu teaches students self-confidence allowing them to more easily meet new people, be more outgoing and make friends throughout life.
6. Commitment
Often sports do not allow for daily practice when giving 100% effort, Jiu Jitsu differs in that there is minimal risk of significant injury while training under professional guidance. Jiu Jitsu will teach your child commitment as they enjoy progressing through the Soul Fighters HQ curriculum.
7. Healthy Habits
Kids deal with many of the same challenges we do as adults, from relationship struggles, feeling overwhelmed and changes in their environment. As adults we are aware of these stresses and the role they play in our daily lives and mental health but are you aware of these same stresses on your child's life? Children are also susceptible to depression and anxiety and Jiu Jitsu can help reduce these stresses while simultaneously promoting healthy habits and a healthy lifestyle.
8. Focus
While training at Soul Fighters HQ your child will develop focus as during Jiu Jitsu, it is critical to pay attention to your surroundings and body position at all times. This focus allows children to analyze situations while sparring allowing them to make smart decisions. This life-skill is carried with them throughout their lives and into their schoolwork, other sports and friendships.
9. Goal Setting
Jiu Jitsu promotes healthy goal setting for children as they focus on the steppingstones and journey through the belt system. Starting out as a white belt, children learn the fundamentals then progress through each phase of training as they apply their commitment and focus. Children feel a great sense of accomplishment as they achieve their objectives, and the clear jiu-jitsu pathway makes tracking progress easy and rewarding.
10. Dealing with Failure
The final reason why every child should learn jiu jitsu is dealing with failure. Everyone experiences some form of failure, and it is important to understand and rationalize these feelings. Through Jiu Jitsu, children learn to use the disappointment of failure to motivate themselves and learn from past experiences. Failure is a part of progression and should not be seen as a negative but as an opportunity to learn and grow as an individual. At Soul Fighters HQ, children develop a healthy relationship with failure and understand that it is essential to their growth not only in jiu jitsu but throughout life.
If you are ready for your children to start training and experience the rewards of jiu jitsu, please sign-up for our free trial here. We look forward to welcoming you to the Soul Fighters HQ family.
