Beginner Jiu Jitsu for children 3-5 years old in Frederick
Mat Munchkins is the perfect program to help pre-schoolers, 3-5 years old, learn basic Jiu Jitsu skills through interactive games and play-time. AND parents are invited onto the mat to help them feel comfortable while learning new skills.
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Learning to Defend Verbally
Many young children freeze when confronted or don’t know what to say when someone is being unkind. We practice simple, clear verbal responses that help children assert themselves respectfully and confidently. Through guided role-play and structured partner exercises, they learn to use strong voices, make eye contact, and communicate boundaries such as “Stop,” “That’s not okay,” or “I don’t like that.”
These verbal self-defense skills are practiced regularly so they become natural. Over time, children begin to carry this assertiveness into school, playgrounds, and social situations.
Becoming Comfortable with Closeness
Physical closeness can feel uncomfortable or overwhelming for some children, especially in active play situations. Mat Munchkins provides a safe and controlled way for children to become familiar with appropriate physical contact. All activities are supervised and structured, teaching respect for personal space while gradually building comfort with movement and proximity.By practicing in a positive environment, children learn the difference between friendly physical interaction and inappropriate behavior. They become more aware of their own bodies, better at setting boundaries, and more confident navigating close-contact situations.
Building Resilience and Emotional Strength
Beyond physical skills, Mat Munchkins teaches resilience. Children learn how to stay calm when things don’t go their way, how to try again after setbacks, and how to support their teammates. They gain emotional control, patience, and focus which help them far beyond the mat.Our instructors create a welcoming space where every child feels seen and supported. Progress is celebrated, effort is encouraged, and each child develops at their own pace.
Confidence That Extends Beyond the Mat
The ultimate goal of Mat Munchkins is to prepare your child to move into the Little Champs program. When children know how to stand up for themselves, speak with confidence, and feel comfortable in their own space, they carry themselves differently. That confidence impacts how they learn, how they make friends, and how they handle challenges.Mat Munchkins is the first step that equips your child with the tools they need to feel safer, stronger, and more secure, both on the mat and in everyday life.
Get The Gracie University® Advantage
In addition to live classes, every student receives a subscription to Gracie University Online, which gives you unlimited online access to the Gracie Bullyproof streaming instructional video archive.Use this resource to review past lessons, learn new techniques, and prepare for future belt tests 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, from any computer or mobile device!
Take advantage of this powerful tool and take your technique to the next level!
The Gracie Difference
Building a Strong Foundation for a Lifelong Journey
1. Critical Confidence
Increased Awareness: We teach your child to know the difference between “joking” and “bullying” so they know when and how to act in each situation.
Unshakeable Confidence: A confident child is a Bullyproof child. Bullies seek “easy targets” – those who will not stand up to their abuse. We arm your child with the tools they need to overcome physical, verbal, and psychological harassment.
Total Responsibility: We prepare your child to deal with bullies without turning them into one. We emphasize discipline, responsibility, and respect throughout our kids martial arts program. We teach the 5 “Rules of Engagement” to make sure they never abuse their power.
2. Verbal Jiu Jitsu Training
One of the most pervasive and damaging forms of bullying is verbal harassment. Gracie Bullyproof is the kids’ jiu-jitsu program that makes “Verbal Jiu-Jitsu” part of its regular curriculum.
We’ve devised a series of role-playing exercises to teach kids how to identify and manage the common scenarios associated with verbal harassment and bullying.
Gracie Bullyproof students are taught how to speak assertively when necessary, but they also learn how to use direct eye contact and confident posture to deter bullies from targeting them.
3. "Push Teaching" vs. "Pull Teaching"
All the self-defense techniques are presented in the form of “jiu-jitsu” games so that kids are highly excited about learning them.
When a child makes a mistake, we don’t focus on the error. Instead, we emphasize what a child did correctly. Through positive reinforcement, we help the kids reach their full potential without jeopardizing their love for the art.
Frequently Asked Questions
Most frequent questions and answers about our Children's Martial Arts Program.
Will my child become a bully?
Through our work, we have seen that confident kids make kinder kids. We teach children
how to not only stand up to bullies for themselves, but how to stand up for others. Our
Rules of Engagement teach children to avoid the fight if at all possible by first using
their words, and then telling an adult.
When they do need to resort to physical self-defense, we do not teach children punches
or kicks in the Gracie Bullyproof program, but rather, empowered by Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu,
to neutralize, defend, control, and negotiate if possible.
What do I need to bring to my first kids BJJ lesson?
Upon arriving for your child's first jiu-jitsu class, we will provide a uniform, called a gi,
for them to wear. We recommend wearing comfortable undergarments or leggings, and a t-shirt or
rashguard that they can wear under their gi.
Someone will be there to help you tie your child's belt for the first time!
My child has ADHD. Will martial arts help?
My Child Has ADHD. Is jiu-jitsu for them?
Yes! One of the great things about martial arts classes is that it's an individual sport done in
a group environment. We find all our students improve in their focus, self control, discipline
and social skills. But the best part is…. They don't even realize that is what our highly trained
kids martial arts instructors are actually doing. They just think they are having fun!
The best way to find out for yourself is to take advantage of our limited time offer. You'll find
our team so helpful and dedicated to helping your child become the best version of themselves. If
you are concerned about group classes for your child, we also offer private classes until they
feel ready to take on the group class setting!
Kids karate classes vs. kids BJJ classes. Which is best?
Many parents ask, what's the difference between Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Karate classes? While we
believe all martial-arts have value, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has not only been proven to be the
most effective martial art for a smaller person to defend themselves in a real fight for nearly
a century, it also can be the most gentile.
We don't want our kids or students turning into bullies themselves, and we also believe
self-defense should be scalable, depending on the situation. Whereas kids Karate lessons or
Taekwondo classes rely solely on landing punches and kicks, jiu-jitsu for kids focuses on
neutralizing a threat with verbal boundaries, distance management, body control, and
eventual negotiation.
Are parents allowed to watch?
We encourage parents to watch their children in their kids martial arts lessons. We love parents getting involved! Even better… you can join in our martial arts classes for adults, and have yet another thing in common with your little one. We love seeing the bond of families who train together!
My child is not athletic. Will they feel left out?
We believe jiu-jitsu is for children of all skill levels and abilities. Your child belongs here.
Through our kids martial arts classes, we have seen our students improve co-ordination, balance,
motor skills, focus and discipline. Plus, they make lots of great friends!
Our instructors are highly skilled in teaching martial arts to kids. It's their PASSION!