Today, we’ll explore how to get your child interested in Jiu-Jitsu.
If you’re passionate about Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, you probably want your children to be interested in Jiu-Jitsu, too.
I don’t have children, but I’m a psychologist and have worked with many children.
And I know that I’m gonna be the kind of father who wants to train Jiu-Jitsu with his children…:D
But you have to be very careful when trying to get your child interested in something that you like doing.
Here’s how to approach it:
Make It Fun
Don’t take it too seriously. Make it fun for them to go to practice. Let them be playful. If they don’t want to do drilling and just want to play around, let them do it. Don’t force them to do anything.
Nobody likes to be forced. Of course, you want them to learn the techniques, but let them explore what they enjoy doing.
You have to get a feel for the mood of your child and adjust how you approach it.
Also, don’t force them to go to practice if they don’t wanna. That’s a quick way to make them hate it.
Don’t Make Them Compete Too Early
Competition is great and all. I’m a fan of children competing in BJJ or in sports in general. But don’t do it too early or too often. If you feel they are ready, ask them if they want to compete. Don’t tell them too.
You have to run on their clock, not on yours. Competitions are challenging and can be demotivating if there’s too much pressure on your child. Your child should compete when they feel like it, not when you feel like it.
Lead By Example
Kids are not as much influenced by what you say, they are influenced by what you do. So, if you’re not going to practice, don’t expect your kid to do it.
If you want your kid to go to BJJ practice, then lead by example.
Hit the mats with them at the gym or in your living room. Make it a game. Show them cool techniques, you know! Be as interested in BJJ as you want them to be.
Don’t Criticize Them
Don’t criticize them too much for not getting the technique. Don’t correct them too much if they are doing something wrong. This won’t make it fun for them.
Of course, you want your kid to learn and grow in the sport, but don’t take it too seriously.
Let your child make mistakes and repeat the techniques he/she knows. It’s not the end of the world.
Choose A Good Gym
That one is crucial. The Gym you train at needs to be a good one. It’s best if both you and your child train at the same BJJ Gym.
If the Gym your child trains at is not fun, your child won’t like to go. The environment is everything. So make an effort at the beginning to try different BJJ Gyms to find the best fitting one.
Be Okay With Them Not Liking BJJ
Don’t force them to love Jiu-Jitsu. You need to be okay with them not wanting to do BJJ. If you approach it with that mindset, you won’t put too much pressure on yourself and the child, and it’ll become more fun.
No matter how much you do right, your child is still its own person with its own personality. You cannot force anything on them. It’ll backfire. It’s okay if they don’t like it.
How To Get Your Child Interested In Jiu-Jitsu – Final Words
So the point here is: I love that you want to get your child interested in Jiu-Jitsu, but you need to be careful.
You forcing them might have the opposite effect, and they may end up hating it forever. So lead by example, make it fun, and don’t force them.
I know that it’s our dream to train Jiu Jitsu with our children, but it’s probably not that serious. Take the pressure off, and I’m sure your kids will like it. And if not, that’s okay.
