Ready to train? Join our gym and begin your martial arts journey with us!
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is a highly effective and comprehensive system of standing and ground defense techniques. Utilizing rules of leverage, BJJ prepares all individuals to respond simply and effectively to the demands of real life close combat. The techniques of BJJ were designed to negate the inherent advantages of strength and size, and were again refined and innovated by the late Grand Master Helio Gracieāwho himself weighed no more than 145 pounds. He focused only on techniques that emphasized leverage and position of the body to defend and control harmful situations, making BJJ the ideal skillset for anyone seeking optimal self-defense training.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is a powerfully transformative activity for kids of all ages and abilities. While some martial arts teach kids how to fight, Sauer Jiu-Jitsu will teach your child how to stay safe and to protect themselves. They will learn techniques that will help them with overall fitness, mental strength, and standing up to a bully.
The Pedro Sauer Academy curriculum is finely tuned by our experienced coaches to introduce children and teens to critical self defense techniques, body awareness, and a highly social, lifelong athletic pursuit. Instead of focusing on training toward competition, we center self-improvement, responsibility, and leadership. As our youth students grow, they uncover the liberating physical skills of one of the worldās most effective martial arts, as well as build self-confidence, develop benevolence, and practice mindfulness through the realization of both true outer and inner strength. Our core message to youth is: we donāt train jiu-jitsu to win a fight, we train toĀ endĀ one.
When parents think of martial arts for kids, they often think of Karate or Taekwondo first. Those programs can be great for discipline, focus, confidence, coordination, and fitness. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu builds many of those same qualities, but with a more practical, hands-on approach.
Instead of focusing mainly on punches, kicks, or memorized forms, Jiu-Jitsu teaches kids how to use balance, leverage, body control, and calm thinking. Children learn what to do if they are grabbed, pushed, knocked down, or held in place. They practice how to escape safely, get back to their feet, create space, and protect themselves without needing to strike.
That is one of the biggest benefits of youth Jiu-Jitsu: it teaches real self-defense in a safe and controlled way. Kids learn how to stay calm under pressure, solve problems, respect their training partners, and build confidence through practice.
Research on youth martial arts supports many of these benefits. One large review found that martial arts training can help improve childrenās strength, flexibility, agility, coordination, balance, speed, and cardiovascular fitness. (1) Another youth study review found that martial arts may help reduce aggression, anger, and other externalizing behaviors. (2)
While most research looks at martial arts as a whole rather than Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu alone, Jiu-Jitsu stands out because kids get safe, partner-based practice with the kinds of physical situations they are more likely to experience: grabbing, pushing, falling, wrestling, and learning how to get away safely.
References:
ā¢ Functional, full-body movement drills.
ā¢ Critical self defense techniques.
ā¢ Standing take downs.
ā¢ Ground submission techniques.
ā¢ Position specific drilling.
ā¢ Controlled sparring matches.
ā¢ Games and fun!
Our Youth Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) students are also welcome to join our Muay Thai classes for kids in Herndon, VAĀ ā a striking-based martial art that pairs exceptionally well with BJJ.
If you have a young child ready to begin their martial arts journey, our BJJ class for 4 to 6 year old students is perfect for families located in and around the Herndon, VA area.
View our full martial arts training scheduleĀ to see all available youth class times.