"How Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu can improve your child's self confidence"
Brazilian jiu-jitsu is one of the most effective martial arts in the world for kids and teenagers.
It teaches kids how to defend themselves, but it also does much more. Brazilian jiu-jitsu or BJJ as it is known can have a profound effect on kids’ lives from childhood bullying to an overall healthy lifestyle and giving kids confidence in their abilities.
BJJ works because it is practiced against resisting opponents. A lot like real-life situations, kids are forced time and time again to give up their superior position and/or size advantage over other kids to learn how to control them effectively so that they may achieve a dominant position which will allow them to submit their opponent before he/she submits them.
Kids have an abundance of energy, and they tend to only really be able to harness it when they’re goofing off with their friends. Jiu-jitsu tends to harness this energy by forcing kids to focus on something other than their amusement, and on top of that, it trains them on how to control their bodies more effectively.
This means that at the end of class, when kids start to get a bit wild and unfocused, we can guide them into focusing on making good moves and then earning their next belt promotion.
BJJ is also an amazing workout as kids work their hardest during every single session because they know they are learning something new each time they come to class, practicing valuable life skills, like self-discipline, respect, and perseverance. Kids become more confident in themselves knowing that no matter what size or strength advantage someone else may have over them that with hard work and determination they can overcome it to achieve their goal.
These kids come to realize that things like being left out of games, kids teasing them at school for having glasses or a stutter are all challenges which with hard work and dedication kids can overcome, becoming more resilient in the process.
Kids also learn in BJJ how to deal with difficult situations which may happen outside of class time such as dealing with bullies. Everyone is expected to act like “Professionals” while training BJJ and kids who don’t abide by the rules will be forced to sit out until they can understand why they were asked not to do what they did again so that it doesn’t continue happening. Unlike traditional martial arts, kids are taught that fighting is not the answer and kids also know this because they always have highly-qualified instructors watching their backs.
Brazilian jiu-jitsu kids’ classes offer kids a safe training environment that offers kids the opportunity to try something new, get some physical exercise, and learn valuable self-defense skills. Kids need an outlet for their energy and martial arts will help kids channel it in a positive way that also keeps them fit in the process.