BJJ is an incredibly complex sport and as such, it can be difficult for any teacher to keep children engaged and help them develop the necessary skills for success as they get older. One of the most tried and tested methods of teaching children the sport is through the use of educational games, and it’s something that multiple-time IBJJF World Championship medalist Marcos Tinoco firmly believes in. He recently uploaded a video to his official YouTube channel where he goes through a total of sixteen different educational games that any instructor can use to teach children BJJ.
Recent studies have shown that Jiu-Jitsu has a measurably positive impact on the children who take part, improving their development in executive functions, specifically inhibition control. Not just that, but any instructor or practitioner will tell you that it also helps develop their confidence and self-belief to a level that will help them succeed later in life. The benefits of BJJ are plentiful and the drawbacks are relatively minimal but it can be difficult to get any child involved in a physical activity, especially in the modern age when there are so many more distractions available.
That’s why it’s important for all instructors to structure their kid’s classes efficiently. The idea is to give them the most effective training possible while also maintaining a fun atmosphere that will keep them coming back next week. Kids aren’t like adults and they simply won’t “embrace the grind” in the same way that adults will, so these kinds of educational games are absolutely crucial to the success of any children’s program.
