Starting Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu can be exciting for a child—but that first day at a BJJ academy can also feel overwhelming. New faces, unfamiliar movements, a new instructor, and learning how to grapple with another child can be a lot to experience at once.
That is why we created Ready to Roll: A Pre-Academy Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Program for Kids.
Ready to Roll is an online program designed to help parents introduce their children to the basic concepts and movements of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at home, before they ever step onto the mats at a BJJ academy.
What Is Pre-Academy Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu?
Think about how parents prepare children before kindergarten, swimming lessons, music lessons, or their first organized sport. A little preparation can make the first experience much easier.
Ready to Roll applies that same idea to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Instead of expecting a young child to walk into a Jiu-Jitsu academy knowing absolutely nothing, parents can introduce BJJ through simple games and activities in the comfort of their own home.
The goal is not to replace a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu academy.
The goal is to prepare your child for one.
Parents Become Their Child's First BJJ Coach
Ready to Roll is designed differently from a traditional online kids BJJ course.
The parent watches the lessons, learns each activity, and then guides the child through fun grappling games.
Children begin developing familiarity with important Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu concepts such as positional control, movement, balance, escaping, passing, and navigating common grappling positions.
You don't need to be a martial artist or have previous BJJ experience.
All you need is a safe, soft area such as carpet, grass, or puzzle mats—and a willingness to play and learn together.
Build Confidence Before the First BJJ Class
For many young children, the hardest part of beginning martial arts isn't learning a technique. It's entering an unfamiliar environment and figuring out what everyone is doing.
Ready to Roll gives children an opportunity to experience basic BJJ movements beforehand.
When they eventually attend their first Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu class, the positions and movements are no longer completely foreign.
That familiarity can help make the transition into a real BJJ academy more comfortable, exciting, and rewarding.
A Fun Introduction to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for Kids
Ready to Roll was created by Professor Thadeu Vieira, a 5th Degree Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt with a Bachelor's Degree in Physical Education and approximately 30 years of experience teaching martial arts.
The program combines BJJ experience with an understanding of how young children learn: through movement, repetition, games, encouragement, and positive experiences with their parents.
There is one especially important rule throughout the program:
Never criticize. Only praise.
At this age, the goal isn't technical perfection. The goal is creating positive experiences, developing movement, building familiarity with Jiu-Jitsu, and making your child excited about learning more.
Is Your Child Ready to Roll?
If you've been searching for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for kids, beginner BJJ for children, kids martial arts training at home, or ways to prepare your child for their first Jiu-Jitsu class, Ready to Roll was created specifically for that transition.
Start at home.
Learn together.
Build confidence.
And when the day comes to walk into a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu academy for the first time, your child won't be starting completely from zero.
They'll be Ready to Roll.
