6 Important Benefits of Jiu Jitsu for Kids

Jiu jitsu is one of the fastest growing sports around the globe.For parents looking for a fun and safe way to encourage their children to participate in exercise and sport, jiu jitsu offers a variety of physical and mental benefits and instils essential life skills that can help them thrive. UMF is the only Townsville martial art school that provides the industry’s #1 Character Development System. 

In this article, we’ll look at six important benefits of jiu jitsu for kids and how martial arts can promote a healthy and safe environment for them to flourish in their formative years.

Table of Contents 

• Self confidence
• Physical benefits
• Discipline & Respect
• Social aspect
• Peaceful resolution
• Year-round consistency 

Self confidence

When it comes to the benefits of jiu jitsu for kids, self-confidence is at the top of the list. Whilst we never want to find ourselves in situations where we need to apply jiu jitsu, the practical aspect of jiu jitsu makes students confident in combat situations. 

Not only does jiu jitsu make kids more confident in combat situations, but it also makes them feel less inclined to get involved in them because they have nothing to prove. For many young jiu jitsu students, the reassurance of their training provides them with the confidence that they can de-escalate and overcome challenges which, in many cases, results in them feeling less inclined to prove it.

Physical benefits

As you might expect, jiu jitsu is a great pay to promote physical activity for children in a fun and engaging environment. Jiu jitsu training promoted cardiovascular and aerobic fitness, muscle strength, flexibility, and mobility across a range of motion. For kids that may struggle with conventional sports like Little Athletics or alike, jiu jitsu is a fun and engaging way to improve their fitness in a safe, fun, and controlled environment. 

Discipline & Respect

Martial arts are founded on the principles of discipline and respect – two essential skills that can be instilled in children from a young age. There are few other sports that place such a strong emphasis on patience, discipline, and respect for your instructors and fellow competitors like jiu jitsu. In class, children will learn the virtue of patience and respect towards both the art of jiu jitsu and their fellow practitioners. Outside of the class, kids become ambassadors for the martial art of jiu jitsu where they are empowered to uphold its unique and positive values to all of those around them.

Social aspect

For kids, jiu jitsu is a great way to make new friends and expand their circles to include new peers that they might not interact with in school or through other extra-curricular activities. Jiu jitsu for kids is a great way to interact, socialise, and bond on the shared interest of the sport of jiu jitsu. For most kids, they will make lifelong friends from their very first jiu jitsu class in a fun, team environment that promotes mutual respect and trust.

Peaceful resolution 

Contrary to the narrative that we sometimes see from the media, jiu jitsu and other forms of martial arts are about seeking a peaceful resolution – not inciting physical combat or violence. For kids who maty struggle with conflict resolution, jiu jitsu is a great way to teach the virtues of talking through problems in a respectful way to seek a peaceful outcome. For most kids, knowing that they have the combat skills to handle themselves in a physical altercation is enough for them to know that they do not need to prove it. For kids that have been the victim of bullying, or even those that have been the instigators, jiu jitsu instils the importance of peace that will help them to navigate their way through the school halls with confidence.

Year-round consistency 

Whether you’re battling the crippling summer heat and humidity in Townsville, or you’re overcoming the cold months in the northern hemisphere, one of the many benefits of practising jiu jitsu for kids is that it is predictable and can be enjoyed throughout the year. Unlike outdoor sports which are at the mercy of the weather, jiu jitsu is never cancelled and can be enjoyed in the comfort of an indoor setting throughout the year. For parents looking for a predictable and consistent after school or weekend activity, jiu jitsu is a great option.

Final Thoughts

For parents that are looking for an extracurricular activity for their children that provides a well-founded approach to physical and mental development, jiu jitsu is a great way to equip them with essential life skills in a fun and supportive environment.