How to Run a Kids BJJ Class — Curriculum, Safety and Parent Communication
Age-based class design, a model 50-minute curriculum, safety rules based on IBJJF age-based illegal techniques and parent communication — a practical guide to running a kids BJJ program.
For a BJJ gym, a kids program is a big opportunity. Word of mouth among parents, filling empty weekday afternoon slots and whole families signing up — it can deliver all of these, but it is tricky to run. This is a guide to running a kids program, based on gyms in Korea.
Why a kids program?
- Word of mouth — recommendations spread through parent communities
- Time slots — fills the empty weekday afternoon slots (no clash with adult classes)
- Family connection — parents who bring their kids sometimes sign up too
Age groups — an example class plan
| Group | Age (school level) | Class length |
|---|---|---|
| Preschool | 5–6 (kindergarten) | 40 min |
| Junior | 7–9 (grades 1–3) | 50 min |
| Kids | 10–12 (grades 4–6) | 60 min |
| Junior teen | 13–15 (grades 7–9) | 60–70 min |
Curriculum design — a model 50-minute class
- Bow-in and line-up (5 min) — attention, bow, posture. Use one consistent title for the coach ("Coach" or "Professor")
- Warm-up / games (10 min) — start with play like animal walks or tail tag (kids keep coming when exercise feels like play)
- One technique (15 min) — the one-technique-per-class rule. Adults can take 3–5; for kids, one is enough
- Drills turned into games (10 min) — turn the technique into a game (e.g., a guard-passing tournament)
- Light sparring (8 min) — 1–2 minute rounds with kids their own age. Emphasize safety
- Wrap-up (2 min) — praise one child, group applause, bow out
Safety — four things you never compromise on
- Follow the age-based illegal techniques list — IBJJF bans heel hooks, knee bars, toe holds, wrist locks, the omoplata, bicep and calf slicers, slams and more for ages 12 and under. Use the competition rules chart as your class standard
- Sparring at 50% intensity max — state the intensity limit clearly, even between kids of the same age
- Maximum eight students per coach — beyond that, an assistant coach is a must
- Padding along the mat edges — so kids don't get hurt if they are pushed off
Source: IBJJF Rule Book (illegal techniques by age and belt)
Dealing with parents — the key is information
The real customers of a kids program are the parents. Kids keep coming when parents are happy:
- A monthly progress report — a short message: "This month: X classes attended, Y new techniques learned, stripe promotion or not"
- Promotion videos — film a one-minute clip when a child gets a stripe and send it to the parents. They will show it off in the family group chat
- Parent observation day — invite parents to a class once a quarter. Let them see their child in action
- Be considerate during school exam periods — no penalty for absences. "Studying matters too" is a powerful message
- Report safety incidents immediately — even a small bruise gets a photo and an explanation the same day. This is the measure of trust
Setting kids class fees
Survey kids class fees at nearby gyms first, then decide how they compare with your adult fee and whether to offer a sibling discount. Sell kids-sized gis (smaller and lighter than adult gis).
Recruiting kids — where are the parents?
- Google Business Profile + local parent groups — where parents look for local classes and activities
- Instagram Reels — kids' promotion ceremonies and fun game videos
- Flyers and banners near schools — fill the gaps digital cannot reach
- Parent word of mouth — campaigns like "bring a friend, get 50% off one month"
- Local community and blog collaborations — a parent influencer takes a trial class and writes a review
Five mistakes to avoid
- Running adult classes as-is for kids — they can't focus, and they all quit
- Leaving parent communication to coaches — the person who talks directly with parents should be the gym's decision-maker (usually the head coach or owner)
- Promoting too fast — stripe inflation erodes trust
- Promoting too slowly — if a child gets no stripe for six months, parents decide "it isn't working"
- Hiding safety incidents — the gyms that survive are the ones that report even small incidents right away
In a kids program, "reassuring parents" matters as much as "teaching technique". Share attendance and promotion news with parents regularly. Try using each member's attendance calendar and promotion records in ROLLER gym management for parent conversations and updates (guardian link — create a guardian link from the member edit screen and attach it to the parent's account; the parent gets a notification in the app every time their child checks in and can see the child's attendance calendar).