Parents Corner

Hi Parents!

At Deep Blue Brazilian Jiu Jitsu we believe Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is for everyone, especially children. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is the best martial art for kids. It promotes physical fitness, team work, and self confidence. Our dedicated coaches are committed to providing a safe, fun, and engaging atmosphere for your kids as we guide them through a lifelong love of martial arts.

We understand as a parent you want to know what you are getting your kids into. This page is meant to help provide you with all of the information you need to feel comfortable getting your children started on the mats. If we missed anything, please let us know and we will add it!

Kids Coaches

We have four kids coaches, Brian Queen, Naomi Black, Jordan Queen, and Dan and Beth Sneller. All of our coaches go through the US Safe Sport and CDC Heads Up to youth training programs. Heads up to Youth is designed to teach coaches about the symptoms of concussions and what the appropriate steps are to take when there has been any sort of head collision. US Safe Sport focuses on creating healthy coach to athlete relationships, in a professional environment. Check out all of our instructor bio's here. Both organizations provide great parent resources, and we recommend you take some time to review them. There is another list of resources available at Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Grand Rapids.

Is BJJ Safe for my kids?

Absolutely! There is always some risk associated with playing sports and engaging in martial arts. That being said, in Jiu Jitsu we learn to train in a controlled manner that allows students to “tap” anytime they are uncomfortable. One of the great things about BJJ is that you can train at a more realistic pace than other contact sports. For example, in striking martial arts like Karate, it would be inappropriate for kids to strike each other with any force. In BJJ, children can grapple with relative safety. In sports like Judo and Wrestling, there is a higher risk of concussion because of head collisions and take-downs from the feet. Although we do train some stand up, most of our work is done on the ground.

Anti-Bullying

Bullying negatively impacts many kids’ lives. Learning to defend yourself is only one step on the path to ending bullying. Kids also need to learn to identify, stand up to, and report bullying when they see it, and have the confidence to do so.

Why BJJ vs other sports?

Most sports are seasonal – your children get to play for 3-4 months and then the rest of the year they take off. BJJ never ends. All year your kids can continue to develop their skills and build confidence in the art. BJJ can also be carried far into adulthood. This is a lifelong journey that never ends.

I’m not sure my kid will commit.

We have kids, we understand! No worries, come check out a week of classes for free and see how they like it. Kids usually know after their first time on the mats if they will love it or not. There are no contracts or long term commitments. If they fall out of love with BJJ, that’s ok! Your GymDesk profile allows you to control your child's membership. You can start, stop, or place the account on hold anytime.

What are the age ranges?

We have three kids classes based on age group. Our classes are separated for kids aged 4-5, 6-8, and 9-13. This way we can pair students up with their peers, and structure classes with lesson plans appropriate for the age group. Around 13-14, students will transition to the adult program.

Does my kid need a uniform?

Yup! They can come to try out a week of classes for free without the uniform. If they choose to sign up, we have gi's at the gym to purchase through our online store. In the case that we do not have a size available, gi's can be purchased at Amazon.

My kids play other sports - can this be seasonal?

Absolutely! We think it's great to get kids involved in different sports. It helps them find their passion and develop more athletic skills. Jiu Jitsu is a very dynamic martial art and challenges kids to move in ways they won't in more traditional sports, so we think we fit right in! When it's time to take a break, just let us know and we will place the membership on hold until it's time to get back on the mats. Are your kids already established in sports, but have months off between seasons? Fill it with Jiu Jitsu!

Do kids compete?

There is a fairly large competition circuit in Jiu Jitsu, with lots of opportunities to compete. If your child is interested in competing, there will be 4-8 opportunities in West Michigan throughout the year. With some travel time to Chicago or Detroit, there could be well over a dozen opportunities per year. That said, competing is not necessary to enjoy the sport, and most kids and adult students do not compete.

What are the belt ranks?

For adults, there are 5 belts - white, blue, purple, brown, and then black. For kids, there are additional belts between white and blue. Kids ranks go white, gray, yellow, orange, and then green. Someone can not be promoted to blue belt until 16 years old. Between color belts, students will receive stripes to note their progress.

I'm new to this, how can I support my kid's training?

Good news. We have an online classroom where most of our kid's curriculum exists in video format. You can watch techniques with your children and learn as they learn! We highly recommend the Positive Coaching Alliance and its two-goal framework for coaches and parents. You can check out their online training programs here:

This sounds awesome, where do we sign up!?

Great! You can sign up here. Please enter your child's name and birthdate, but your contact information. Reach out with any questions we have not answered here, and we look forward to meeting you and your children!

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