Learn how to move
Young students may explore balance, posture, level changes, basic mat movement, and coached ways to move carefully around training partners.
- Balance and body awareness
- Basic mat movement
- Clear start-and-stop cues
Kids BJJ / ages 5–12
Want to try a
Kids class?
Kids can try Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at Chicago MMA before committing. Send parent and student details, and we will help you choose the right first class.
Clear coaching. Positive movement.
A strong start on the mat.
For parents
First-class
questions.
What should my child wear?
A clean training shirt and shorts are enough for a first visit. Please leave jewelry at home and avoid clothing with zippers. Students train barefoot on the mats.
Does my child need BJJ gear for the trial?
Community equipment is available to borrow during the trial. Ask the coach if you are unsure which equipment applies to your child’s class. Ongoing students need their own appropriate equipment.
What are the age groups and class times?
The current Lincoln Park weekly schedule lists Kids & Youth Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for ages 5–9 and 9–13 on Monday and Wednesday from 4:30 PM–5:15 PM. The current South Loop schedule lists Kids & Youth Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu on Monday and Wednesday from 4:15 PM–5:00 PM; it does not specify an age breakdown. Please request a trial so Chicago MMA can confirm the right current placement.
How is the first class kept safe?
Kids BJJ is age-appropriate and coach-guided, with attention to movement, technique, partner awareness, and training-room habits. Share your child’s age when you request a trial so Chicago MMA can help with current availability and placement.
What should we do when we arrive?
Arrive 5–10 minutes early, introduce your child to the coach, and let them know it is a first visit. You can change in the locker rooms, watch from off the mats, and wait for the prior class to finish before stepping on.
A clear first visit
Parent-led.
Coach-guided.
- Send your requestShare the student's name, age, and preferred location.
- Hear from Chicago MMAA coach will help with current class availability and placement.
- Train free firstBegin with a free Kids BJJ trial before selecting a membership.
A closer look at Kids BJJ
A clear start
on the mat.
Chicago MMA’s Kids BJJ program is for ages 5–12. The program introduces Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu through clear demonstrations, age-appropriate movement, supervised partner drills, and structured training habits.
Every class gives you a clear place to begin, with coaching feedback and attentive repetitions that help you build one skill at a time.
Understand simple positions
Lessons can introduce age-appropriate controls, escapes, and transitions through short, clear technical problems rather than a large system all at once.
- Foundational positions
- Simple escapes and transitions
- Step-by-step demonstrations
Practice with a partner
Supervised partner work gives students a way to rehearse technique, take turns, listen to cues, and recognize when to pause and reset.
- Partner spacing
- Controlled drilling
- Listening and communication
Build training habits
The room can reinforce the habits that make technical learning possible: attention, respect, sportsmanship, and responsibility toward the group.
- Respect for partners
- Following class routines
- Reviewing the day’s lesson
The tradition
Know where
the art comes from.
Kids BJJ introduces young students to a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practice shaped by the broader history of jujitsu, ground fighting, and Brazilian martial-arts development. Youth progressions use age-appropriate instruction and structured milestones rather than adult competition expectations.
Understanding an art’s history gives useful context for the technical work you will see on the mats.
The program
How training
takes shape.
Kids BJJ gives young students an age-appropriate introduction to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu through supervised movement, technique practice, and structured partner activity. Chicago MMA’s current public program is for ages 5–12; placement and availability are confirmed directly with the gym.
A typical youth session uses clear demonstrations, coached drills, and structured activities that can be adapted to the group and individual placement.
- 01
Arrive & move
Coaches introduce the day’s theme through age-appropriate movement and attention cues.
- 02
Learn together
Students rehearse a simple technical idea through supervised drills or games.
- 03
Review & reset
The group closes with a concise review and coach guidance for the next step.
Classes follow a focused format built around the day’s technical theme. Review the weekly schedule for current times, then ask the team about the class you plan to attend.
Your foundation
Skills that
add up.
Students may explore age-appropriate movement, foundational positions, partner awareness, and the classroom habits that support a respectful training environment.
Coaches introduce skills in clear steps and help students identify a productive next focus for their own training.
Movement & balance
Practice body awareness, safe movement patterns, balance, and foundational grappling positions.
Positions & problem-solving
Work through simple controls, escapes, and transitions in clear, supervised drills.
Training habits
Rehearse listening, respect, sportsmanship, and how to work responsibly with a partner.
Chicago MMA team
People in
the roster.
Meet the coaches connected to this training path. Use the weekly schedule or contact Chicago MMA for the latest class information.
- Patrick GatbuntonProfessor · Director of the Kids Program
- Jeff OtakaBrazilian Jiu-Jitsu · Kids BJJ
- Kevin MankoBrazilian Jiu-Jitsu · Kids BJJ
- Sunni DiluzioKids BJJ
- Matt RosenbergKids BJJ · Adult Program
The long game
Keep building
your practice.
Through supervised movement, partner drills, and technique practice, children can explore coordination, listening, cooperation, and patient problem-solving. A review of martial-arts research describes potential links to attention and executive-function skills, while noting important limits in the evidence.
Consistency, attention, and good training partners give you more opportunities to understand the art over time.
A parent and student companion
Explore the
Kids BJJ module.
Built from Misho Ceko’s Soul Roll guide, this age-appropriate learning companion introduces movement, positions, partner awareness, play, and the values that help young students grow on and off the mats.
Start the Kids BJJ moduleAfter the free trial
Kids BJJ
pricing.
Choose the monthly schedule that fits your family. All three options are recurring memberships; recurring memberships require 30 days’ written notice to cancel.
4 classes / month
$100 / monthFour recurring Kids BJJ sessions each month.
Review & purchase →8 classes / month
$150 / monthEight recurring Kids BJJ sessions each month.
Review & purchase →Unlimited
$200 / monthUnlimited recurring Kids BJJ sessions each month.
Review & purchase →When you are ready
Explore
memberships.
After the free trial, review current membership options in one place. For questions about class placement or a first visit, contact Chicago MMA directly.