Comfort and coordination
- Falling safely and rolling without fear
- Balance, crawling and general body awareness
- Following instruction and waiting their turn
- Bowing in and out, and mat manners
- Making friends with training partners
Kids' Jiu-Jitsu (Ages 4–7)
The Program
A first introduction to jiu-jitsu: movement, confidence and having fun on the mat.
Our youngest group meets every weekday afternoon for a focused 45 minutes. At this age the priority is coordination, listening, taking turns and becoming genuinely comfortable moving on a mat. The technical side follows naturally once those habits are in place.
Children learn the technical components of the most effective self-defense system, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and learn to apply that knowledge in a positive, welcoming and safe environment. Nothing in this class involves striking, and nothing involves children getting hurt.
Boran started its kids program in 2003, three years after the academy opened, and built it specifically around core values: confidence, focus, commitment, discipline, respect, and a lifetime habit of fitness. Parents consistently tell us those values show up at home and at school long before they show up in a tournament.
This class is built for
- First-time students with no experience at all
- Children with a lot of energy who need a constructive outlet
- Shy or timid children who need to build confidence
- Children who have not enjoyed team sports
- Families wanting a structured weekday routine
Not sure it's you? Come and train a week for free and find out.
Your First Visit
What a Class Actually Looks Like
Nobody likes walking into a room without knowing what happens. Here is the whole session, start to finish.
- 01First 10 min
Line up and warm up
Children line up, bow in, and move through animal-style movements and rolls. It looks like play, and it is quietly building the exact motor patterns jiu-jitsu needs.
- 02Next 15 min
Technique, broken down small
One simple position or escape, demonstrated slowly and repeated in short bursts. Instruction is kept to a couple of steps at a time, because attention spans are short at this age and that is entirely normal.
- 03Next 15 min
Games with a purpose
Structured games that are genuinely fun and that drill the skill just taught: keeping a position, escaping, staying balanced. This is where most of the real learning happens.
- 04Last 5 min
Line up and finish
Children line up again, bow out, and the class ends the same way every session. That repeated ritual is a large part of the discipline they take home with them.
The Curriculum
What You'll Learn, and in What Order
First real jiu-jitsu
- Recognising the basic positions and staying safe in them
- Simple escapes from being held down
- Holding a position against a same-age partner
- Working cooperatively, then with light resistance
- Learning that tapping is normal and always respected
Toward the 8–15 class
- Linking two or three steps together unprompted
- Handling a full class with sustained focus
- Light supervised rounds with a partner
- Confidence to try without fear of getting it wrong
- A smooth move into the older group at age eight
Progression
Belts and progress at this age
Boran is IBJJF certified, and children in this age group progress through the IBJJF youth belt system, which begins white, grey-and-white, grey, grey-and-black. Stripes are awarded between belts so children see steady progress rather than waiting a year for a single moment.
At this age the belts matter far less than the habits. What we watch for is a child who listens the first time, keeps trying after getting something wrong, and treats their partner well. Promotions follow that, not the other way round.
- White
- Grey/White
- Grey
- Grey/Black
Questions
Questions People Ask Before They Start
Is Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu safe for a four-year-old?
Yes. Jiu-jitsu involves no striking at all, no punching or kicking, which makes it one of the safest martial arts for young children. At this age the class is built around movement, games and cooperative drilling, and children are always paired with others of similar age and size.
Will my child learn to fight, or to avoid fighting?
To avoid it. Because jiu-jitsu is about control rather than causing damage, children learn they can manage a situation without hurting anyone. In practice, the quiet confidence of knowing they can handle themselves is what defuses most confrontations before they begin.
What if my child is shy or nervous?
That describes a good proportion of the children who walk in. Nobody is put on the spot in their first class, they can sit and watch until they are ready, and parents are welcome to stay beside the mat the whole time.
Can I stay and watch the class?
Absolutely, and we encourage it, especially for the first few weeks. There is seating beside the mat.
Do I need to buy a gi straight away?
No. Come in comfortable clothes for the first classes. Once your child has settled in, Professor Boran will point you toward a gi in the right size.
Is Boran an approved charter school vendor?
Yes. Boran Jiu-Jitsu is an approved vendor for many Orange County charter schools, which makes us a popular physical education option for home-school and charter families.
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