Fastest Growing Martial Art
As the sport has grown we’ve seen a huge increase in the number of youth practitioners, with this year’s (2022) Pan American Kids Championships in Florida being the biggest since the event was founded in 2010. Kids programs at academies around the world continue to grow and with all the benefits jiu-jitsu has for kids, it’s likely these programs won’t be slowing down any time soon.
Learn Self Defense
The first reason kids should learn jiu-jitsu is because it is the most efficient form of self-defence. Why is it important to learn to defend yourself? Although many physical altercations can be avoided, some simply cannot. Bullying makes it difficult to want to go to school or take part in extracurricular activities. Self-defence skills can not only keep kids safe in a physical altercation, but they can also give kids the confidence to avoid these situations. While it would be great if kids never had to defend themselves, having the skills to do so will benefit them immensely.
Build Healthy Habits
Healthy exercise and eating habits are essential for long and prosperous life. The earlier these habits are ingrained in someone, the more likely they are to stick with them for life. Because the art is so technical, learning it often feels just as much of a mental exercise as a physical one, often causing practitioners to forget that they’re even getting a physical workout.
Build Social Skills
Although jiu-jitsu is unlike traditional team sports, it requires communication and cooperation between partners. Exposing kids to other kids close to their age early on is essential for overall health and well-being.
When training jiu-jitsu, kids are repeatedly put in situations where they must work together doing warm-up exercises, drills, and sparring rounds. Building better communication and social skills will benefit kids in every aspect of their lives.
Less Screen Time
Having planned time away from our devices is often the best way to ensure we remain active and spend less time focused on entertainment. Jiu-Jitsu classes generally range from one to two hours and force kids to exercise, work on their communication skills and stay off their devices.
