Kids BJJ Questions, Answered

Ages 4–12, grouped by age and size: Little Grapplers (ages 4–6) and Kids Jiu-Jitsu (ages 7–12), with an extra evening session for ages 10–12. Teens ages 13–17 have their own dedicated program.

Weekday kids classes run at 5:00 PM Monday through Thursday, and ages 10–12 have a second session at 6:00 PM Monday through Thursday. Saturday has a 9:00 AM class for younger and smaller kids — and a brand-new Saturday 10:00 AM kids class starts November 7, 2026. Kids who want to compete can also join the Kids Competition Team on Fridays at 5:00 PM.

Book a weekday 5:00 PM or Saturday 9:00 AM trial and your child joins a real class — no payment, no contract. Check in at the door, meet the coaches, and we’ll place your child in the right group from day one and pair them with a buddy so they’re never standing alone. Book on the free trial page or call (202) 636-3453.

Yes — and you won’t be alone in asking. Technique is taught in small steps, games carry the learning for the youngest group, and no one is expected to perform on day one. Kids start at very different levels of coordination and confidence; the class is built for that.

Kids training is built for kids: age-appropriate techniques, constant coach supervision, and a room culture of respect. Children are grouped by age and size, they learn from the first class that tapping stops everything, and we never treat children like small adults. It is a contact activity, so the occasional bump is part of it — but structure and supervision are the whole design.

Comfortable athletic clothes (no pockets or zippers) and a water bottle. We keep a few loaner gis at the gym if your child would like to try the uniform. When you enroll, a uniform is included free.

Both kinds of kids train here. We won’t promise a personality change — no honest coach can. What we can promise is a structured, supervised room with clear rules, where every child is known by name and grouped with kids their own age and size. The free trial exists exactly so you can see the fit before deciding anything.

Kids earn stripes, and then the next belt, based on attendance, attitude, and skill — the coach’s decision, when the child is genuinely ready. Kids follow the youth belt path (white, gray, yellow, orange, and green families of belts), explained on our Belt Journey page.

Two to three times a week is a great rhythm once enrolled — consistency matters more than intensity. Start with the trial, then we’ll help you find the schedule that fits your family.

Yes, if they want to. The Kids Competition Team trains Fridays at 5:00 PM inside our kids program, and competitions are always optional — plenty of our students train for years and never compete, and that’s completely fine.

Yes. Classes run year-round and free trial classes run every week — book a trial and we’ll place your child in the right group from day one.

Programs vary by how often you train, and we don’t publish membership prices online. Come try a free class first, and we’ll walk you through the options that fit — honestly and in person — with no contracts or long-term commitment.

We have our own parking lot at the gym — free parking at 720 Erie Ave, Takoma Park. Park in the three spaces on the left or the spaces on the side, and please keep the center of the driveway clear. Kids enter through the yellow building; adults enter through the gray building’s back door.