Brazilian jiu jitsu classes for kids are about so much more than just learning self defense. We say it all the time, but it’s completely true. It’s a really special sport with a lot to offer kids (and adults too!), but right now we’re just going to focus on one little-known benefit of BJJ classes- leadership!
Kids Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Classes Foster Discipline
Perhaps the most important skill needed to be a leader is discipline. Think of some of the greatest athletes of all time- their best advice is always “never give up”, “stay with it,” “don’t quit.” That perseverance that they’re talking about doesn’t come naturally to us as humans, otherwise known as “master procrastinators.” Often in life, we want to give something up after a while, especially when it’s hard, and find something new.
But the best leaders that have changed the world and their communities have the discipline to do things they don’t want to do in order to get results no one else can. That discipline is what makes them the greatest of all time.
So how do we teach our students discipline? Simple. Every time your child comes to their BJJ classes with AKF Lexington Martial Arts, they’re not just learning self defense moves.
They’re also playing games and doing different activities to build their character and life skills without them even realizing it, courtesy of our awesome instructors. Even better, we use positive reinforcement to help those good habits stick and stay effective.
For discipline, for example, we’ll positively reward them for staying still and quiet and listening to their instructor. As you’ve probably seen in your own children, kids nowadays have shorter than usual attention spans and get bored quickly … So we also use disguised repetition to keep students interested and engaged. We’ll play games where they have to repeat different moves a bunch of times, and over time this format helps them develop their discipline muscle and persevere through those short attention spans.
One of the coolest things about BJJ is that the life skills we’re teaching them actually make a difference. There comes a time when we don’t have to discipline our students, and they naturally discipline themselves.
They absorb that self-discipline and strive for excellence, pushing through tough or frustrating times, going the extra mile to reach their full potential, using positive self talk… It’s seriously amazing to see, and it’s how lasting leadership is fostered in our classes.
Better Grades for a Better Future
It’s not too hard to connect the dots between better discipline and better grades, right? Think of it this way- if your child’s grades aren’t the best, it could be because they’re just unable to focus.
They’re not motivated to sit down and do their work, they’re fidgety, they’d much rather be on their devices… That discipline they learn in Brazilian jiu jitsu class is going to keep them focused on their schoolwork until it’s done, even when they would reeeeally rather be doing something else.
Once discipline is down pat, another tool we use in Brazilian jiu jitsu to help with better grades is focus. Just like with discipline, we’ll play different games that positively reward students when their attention is in the right place – on the instructor and on the task at hand.
Because we have rules in BJJ, and those rules are reinforced by the environment (uniform, instructors, etc.), your child is more likely to listen up and respect those rules here in our studio. One of these rules is that they listen thoughtfully to their instructor or a peer when he or she is talking, just as a simple form of respect. No phones or electronic devices are allowed on the mat – it’s only your child, their instructor, and their friends, all having fun as they learn these awesome skills.
Once your child has developed that focus and released some of that desire for instant gratification, they’ll mentally link focus with positive emotions (I learned how to kick the paddle by focusing really hard! That was awesome!) and then apply it to all aspects of their life, including their grades. That positive association will help them direct their attention in the proper direction- their homework. And then focusing on their homework means better homework scores, higher absorption of the material, and voila- better grades!
How Better Grades Makes Your Child a Leader
It’s also easy to see the connection between better grades and leadership. Even if your child improves their grades just a bit, it’s because of THEIR actions and initiatives. That’s a sign of a natural leader- self ownership.
When your child is making progress thanks to their own efforts, their teachers will start to notice. They’ll receive more positive attention and praise, which will just motivate them even more to become their own leader and build on those success skills. The rest just comes naturally!
Whether they’re captain of a sports team, president of their student council or volunteering in their community, your child’s discipline skills (and all the other skills they learn in BJJ, like respect, perseverance, and focus) will help them become the absolute best they can be. The confidence they feel from being awesome is just the cherry on top!
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Classes Help Kids with Their Mindset
So now that we understand how kids become leaders through discipline and focus, let’s talk about mindset. Mindset is essentially just the way that you talk to yourself, so it’s also known as self-talk. When you’re a child, everyone around you is influencing the way that you talk to yourself.
If you constantly hear that you’re dumb, you’re going to believe that you’re dumb and then grow up telling yourself that you’re dumb. If you constantly hear that you can truly do anything you put your mind to, which is what we teach in our BJJ classes, you’re going to go on to do amazing things.
Our instructors are really amazing when it comes to mindset, and they make sure that each child knows exactly what they’re capable of- which is anything they put their mind to!
Such a critical piece of leadership in any capacity is a perseverant mindset, and that’s what we teach in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Think back to the last ninja movie you saw, and you’ll recognize that BJJ is NOT easy. Ask any student, new or old- moving your body in a new way and getting the moves down pat can be pretty tricky.
When a student isn’t getting something, it’s the difference in their mindset that will determine their outcome. The student who tells themselves that they’re dumb and can’t do it, won’t get it. The student who tells themselves to keep going and never give up, will. And that’s what we teach in our Brazilian jiu jitsu classes. We make sure our students know that they’re capable of success on and off the mat, and this fosters true leadership in every one of them.
Help Your Child Be Their Best- Join Us!
Discipline, focus, perseverance, mindset- these are just a handful of life lessons that kids learn in Brazilian jiu jitsu classes to help them become true leaders. If you want your child to be the best version of themselves they can possibly be for years to come, join our Lexington & Neighbors Brazilian jiu jitsu classes for kids risk-free and see for yourself what our AKF Lexington Martial Arts Child Greatness program can do! Your child will LOVE it!
