The recent Metamoris competition has shed a lot of light on Ryron Gracie’s monacre, “Keep it Playful.”
Gracie has come under a hailstorm of criticism since the event where he played defense for nearly an entire match against a very aggressive Andre Galvao. While many adults seem to be against the idea of using BJJ solely for defense, I think there is a lot we can learn from Ryron Gracie’s approach as it applies to children.
Child development experts advocate what is called a “child-centered philosophy” to help kids get the most out of youth sports, such as Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ). Here are 4 things you can do to keep BJJ fun for your kids:
1. Look for an academy that puts the goals of kids first – enjoyment, friends, fitness, involvement
2. Remember that kids of different ages will have different needs. Make sure the academy addresses this and is appropriate for your child.
3. Find an instructor that emphasizes enjoyment and involvement over tournament results
4. Ask your child what they want to get out of BJJ. Drop whatever goals you have for them, and adopt their goals.
