Jiu Jitsu is a martial art that teaches you how to use your body to control another person. Unlike many traditional martial arts that focus on punches and kicks (such as karate, tae kwon do, etc.), Jiu Jitsu focuses on grappling or wrestling.

The literal translation of Jiu Jitsu is the “gentle” or “yielding" art. Rather than meeting force with force, the promise of Jiu Jitsu is that you can use technical skill to defend yourself against someone who is stronger than you.

It’s called Brazilian Jiu Jitsu because the modern art as we practice it today was developed by a family from Brazil, known as the Gracie Family. The Gracies are the most famous martial arts family in the world, and are credited with revolutionizing our understanding of what works in a fight.

Your child will learn fundamental Jiu Jitsu skills such as how to control a person on the ground, how to escape when you’re being pinned, and how to make someone let go if they are holding onto you. They will become familiar with how to get to the safest, most dominant positions you can be in a fight.

In addition to real martial arts skills, your child will also learn important social and life skills — listening, following instructions, controlling how “hard” you’re going, and practicing resilience after experiencing loss or failure.

We run a classroom that sets and respects healthy boundaries for kids and the student-teacher relationship.

We accept children for private lessons starting at age 2.5 years old. We provide safe, playful, and age-appropriate learning experiences for children of all ages, including teenagers.

Children must be accompanied by their parent or legal guarding for their first private lesson. Depending on the child’s age and maturity level, students may be dropped off and picked up for future lessons.

We specialize in working with kids who are feeling shy, nervous, anxious, are introverted, or otherwise hesitant about learning a new skill in a group setting.

We recommend communicating with us about your child in advance, so we can design a welcoming and supportive first session with their specific needs in mind.

If you would like to share more information about your child before their first lesson, you may contact us by text at 626-491-5850 or email at info@renzograciepasadena.com

Our lessons are designed to fit the attention span of kids. We keep the explanations brief and the engagement level high. If your child’s focus wanders at times, that’s okay. We’re here to provide redirection and reminders as needed to support your child.

For their first lesson, your child will be able to borrow a uniform (called a “gi”), which consists of a jacket, pants, and a belt.

You will want to make sure that they are wearing comfortable clothing to have on underneath the uniform.

We recommend a t-shirt on top (short or long sleeve is ok, but not sleeveless), and shorts on bottom (no long pants, dresses, or skirts).

For safety, it is important that clothing does not have any zippers, pockets, or buttons. Clothing should be clean and odor-free.

All jewelry must be removed and long hair must be tied back securely. Please also make sure that your child’s hands, feet, and face are clean, and that finger- and toenails are trimmed before class.

This is a case-by-case decision that will depend upon the readiness of your child. Some children may feel ready to try out a group class after a few private lessons, while others may need a more gradual transition. We do also have students who learn Jiu Jitsu exclusively through private lessons.

The instructor will be in communication with you directly regarding what’s best for your child.