Five Kid’s BJJ Games

Kids and Brazilian jiu-jitsu go together like peanut butter and jelly, like macaroni and cheese, like spaghetti and meatballs… okay, so I might be hungry right now.

Regardless, there’s no denying there’s a certain magic that happens when kids start training jiu-jitsu. They have such enthusiasm, fearlessness, and an ability to grasp things so quickly, that they are able to execute techniques and complex movements that most adults could never hope to. But no matter how “into” jiu-jitsu a child might be, it’s important to keep the classes fun. Too much of just technique can risk burning them out.

Peppering in some BJJ games – that are entertaining, competitive and incorporate skills that translate to jiu-jitsu – is a great way to keep any young mat monster engaged.

Here are five Kid’s BJJ games that I love, and how to play them:

BJJ Belt Races

• How to Play: This game requires half as many belts as there are kiddos. If you don’t have belts, you can also substitute any kind of medium-sized object that is easy for them to grab onto, but it’s best with belts. Line the belts up half-way down the mat, with half the students on one side and half on the other, paired up so that children of approximately equal size and/or level are across from each other. When you say “Go”, the kids have to race across the mat to grab the belt and bring it back to their side. Often little tug-of-wars happen, in which the kids can use their jiu-jitsu to steal the belt back. To make it more exciting, you can start the kids off in different positions; on their bellies, lying on their backs, facing away from the belt… anything you can think of!
• Skills Developed: fast reflexes, grip strength, strategy

Grab the Tail

• How to Play: This game also requires belts (or some sort of strip of cloth), and is best played in the gi, but can also be played with no-gi if all the kids have their belts handy. Each child tucks an extra belt into their own belt, so that it hangs down like a tail. Pair up the kids and have short rounds (no more than a minute or two) in which the kids have to try to pull their partner’s “tail” out from his/her belt. To make it more competitive, you can have a penalty for the loser of each ground.
• Skills Developed: strategy, problem solving, grip strength

Sock Grappling

• How to Play: This game is similar to Grab the Tail, but is a bit more dynamic. It requires a bunch of spare socks, the bigger the better (for increased entertainment value…). Each child will get one sock to put on whichever foot they choose. Just as with Grab the Tail, you’ll pair the kids up and have short rounds, in which they will try to pull each other’s socks completely off their feet. The difference with Sock Grappling is how it typically plays out. It goes quickly to the ground, and the kids tend to employ far more jiu-jitsu in trying to win the game.
• Skills Developed: strategy, problem-solving, creativity, fast reflexes

 No-Hands Sumo

• How to Play: This game will require a bunch of extra belts, enough to create several “rings” on the mat. You can also use athletic tape to mark off each area, as long as it’s not the super sticky tape that’ll leave adhesive on the mat. Line up a group of kids of similar size and/or rank at each ring. Two children will face off inside the ring, with their hands tucked into the back of their own belts (if they’re wearing their gis) or clasped behind their back. The goal is to get the other kid to step outside the ring without doing so him/herself. The winner stays in to face the next child, with the losing child going to the back of the line.
• Skills Developed: balance, base, strategy

Knights and Horses

• How to Play: Pair up all the children, either by similar size, or with a smaller kid paired up with a larger kid. One kid goes on all fours to be the “horse” and the other kid sits on his/her back to be the “knight”. Once you say go, the goal is for the knight-horse pair to try to topple another knight-horse pair (once the knight’s hips hit the mat, they lose). This allows for some really interesting and creative grappling strategies on behalf of both the knight and the horse. You can split the class in half and have one team face off against the other, or throw them all together to have a king-of-the hill style play!
• Skills Developed: balance, strategy, problem-solving, cooperation

We hope you enjoy these five BJJ kids games options, and remember: have fun!