Is Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Safe For Children?

It is always a good idea to get children involved in some sort of physical activity, preferably with other children, at a young age. A child could have the option of becoming part of a soccer, basketball, softball team, and so on, but is it possible for children to practice Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Is Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu safe for children?

Yes, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is safe for children. The groups are typically small, which allows the instructor to keep a close eye on each child and their safety. Additionally, each technique that is taught is practiced on a padded mat to protect the children from injuries like head trauma.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a very safe and productive way to get children involved with others while also helping them to form some fundamental building blocks that will be useful for the rest of their lives.

Is Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Safe For Children?

When you are trying to find the best form of physical activity for your child to partake in, traditional sports teams are probably the first thing that comes to mind. 

While there is nothing particularly wrong with these types of sports, you may feel that they are a little too aggressive, violent, or dangerous for your child. 

So, is it safe for children to practice Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu? The answer is yes. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is safe for children and even safer than traditional sports.

This may seem odd considering your children are learning self-defense skills by practicing them on each other, but Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is practiced in very small groups. The small groups make it easier for the instructors to watch each child carefully ensuring their safety. 

The goal of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is to teach children how to effectively defend themselves without getting worked up and aggressive, and there are many other life skills that come along with it. In traditional sports, children get tackled or could obtain head trauma from hard balls.

These classes also take place on padded mats so that when the children are practicing their new moves, they will not bump their head on the ground or hard flooring. So, if you are hoping for your child to learn a helpful skill while staying safe and building loads of character, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is exactly what you have been looking for!

Should Children Participate in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu And Why?

Mostly all parents hope to keep their children from fighting with other children, so should children even participate in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu? 

First of all, children should only participate in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu if they actually want to. Any child forced into it will not enjoy it or take away the valuable lessons that come with it. 

With that being said, BJJ is an excellent choice of martial art for children to learn! Let’s discuss some of the good lessons it can teach your children.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Teaches Children Self-Defense

One reason why children should participate in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is that it teaches them how to defend themselves. Bullies are everywhere and they always have been. In the event that your child gets stuck in a bullying situation, he or she will be able to protect themselves calmly and confidently. 

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu teaches your child that you only use physical violence if it is the only option left, so you will not have to worry about your child being angry and starting fights for no reason. 

Since bullies typically try to go for easy targets, your child will no longer be considered one after standing up to them. This gives children great confidence, giving them a sense of being able to take care of themselves. 

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Is Great Exercise

Just like any other sport, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is an excellent physical activity, which makes it healthy for your children. 

There is constant movement from trying to get the opponent under control and trying to avoid being under the control of the opponent. Children will constantly squat, move up and down from the ground, and use their physical strength to try and subdue the opponent.

This all makes for an excellent and exciting cardiovascular workout. Children will often lose weight, have more energy, and obtain core strength after participating in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Helps Children With Their Fine Motor Skills.

Another reason why Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a great activity for children to participate in is that it helps them with their fine motor skills. 

Children are often quite clumsy and trip over their feet a few times a day. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu helps children with their balance, which is the result of gaining strength in the core. 

The techniques used in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu also involve small details, like the position their hands, fingers, or feet are in, which develops fine motor skills. So, thanks to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, your child will become completely aware of his or her body which will help them to be more coordinated and also more confident.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Helps Children With Socializing

Another great reason why children should participate in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is that it helps them to be more confident in socializing and making friends with children of all backgrounds and upbringings. 

Being a part of a team is already one of the best ways to get your children to socialize, but with Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, children become more comfortable and less anxious with the unknown. This causes children to be more likely to talk with other children that they do not know. 

Also, unlike traditional sports, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu allows any child to participate, even if the child does not have very much athletic ability. This is great for children who feel they do not belong on other sports teams and helps them gain confidence in themselves.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Teaches Children Discipline And Self-Control

The last reason why children should participate in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is that it helps them understand discipline and self-control.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a fun and exciting way for a child to be active, but it is also complex and requires a child to remember and execute every small detail of a technique perfectly.

It also helps children with self-control. In order for a child to be able to execute a technique perfectly, the child will have to listen calmly, patiently, and attentively to all of the instructions that the trainers are providing.  This can be difficult for children, so mastering this is a valuable skill that can be applied to the rest of the child’s life. 

Your child may also realize that a healthy diet can help him/her to move around better and not become tired so quickly. 

Not only is self-control a lesson that will be helpful in every other aspect of your child’s life, but self-defense, socialization skills, great motor skills, and healthy lifestyle habits will also help your child become the best person they can be.

Conclusion

In conclusion, there are many options to choose from when you are trying to decide which type of physical activity you want your child to participate in. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a great and safe choice, and here’s why:

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has an extremely low risk for head injuries and is taken place in small groups where students can be easily monitored. Children who participate in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu also learn many skills that are beneficial for other aspects of their lives.


Sources

HB Ultimate Training Center

Jiu-Jitsu Ultimate Legacy

Elite-MMA

Alliance MMA Gym

Gracie Barra

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