“Every day, 160,000 children miss school out of fear or intimidation of a bully.”
-National Education Association
The Gracie Bullyproof® Program
In the Gracie Bullyproof program, our goal is to instill unshakable confidence in your child so they can overcome bullies without violence. Due to the non-violent nature of the techniques taught in the Gracie Bullyproof program, it has been proven as one of the few effective counter-measures to bullying for children between the ages of 5 and 13.
To read a brief story about how the Gracie Bullyproof program saved a 12-year-old boy after only one week of training, click here.
Your child will learn to use verbal assertiveness to deter bullies and several non-violent self-defense techniques to stay safe if physically assaulted. It is important to note that we don’t teach how to punch or kick, since this often does more harm than good. Instead, we use leverage-based control holds to neutralize threats without violence. Numerous school districts have embraced the defensive nature of the Gracie Bullyproof techniques as a reasonable, non-violent response to bullying and some even host Gracie Bullyproof classes on campus! The bottom line is: we will prepare your child to defend themselves against bullies without turning them into one.
Why every child needs Jiu-Jitsu.
If you’re interested in building strong confidence within your child while reinforcing positive values and good character, the Gracie Bullyproof program is for you!
Why Choose Gracie Bullyproof
Critical Confidence
Studies suggest that bullying may be the leading cause of low self-esteem in children, and according to some surveys, less than 15% of kids that are bullied actually report it. A child’s inability to stand up to a bully is rooted in profound fear for their personal safety. Ironically, the victims know that they must confront the bully and would like nothing more than to stand up to them. However, they simply can’t follow through for fear of the physical harm that backs the bully’s every action. Therein lies the challenge – how do you establish confidence in a bullying victim so that they can face the tormentor, look them in the eye, and back them down? The answer is simple – teach the victims to defend themselves against physical attack, and the rest will follow.
Fight Fire With Water
Most martial arts programs rely on striking the attacker with violent punches, kicks, knees, and elbows. The Gracie Bullyproof program takes a different approach. All the techniques taught are purely defensive and utilize no strikes.
Furthermore, we teach children how to defuse confrontations with words and never to initiate physical aggression. If attacked, we offer techniques to non-violently neutralize the threat and gain control until help arrives. In the Gracie Bullyproof program, we teach the children how to fight fire with water so that you never have to worry about your child becoming a bully under our guidance.
The Rules Of Engagement
Teaching a child jiu-jitsu without teaching them when to use it, is akin to giving someone a gun without teaching them how to safely handle it. Gracie Bullyproof is the only kids jiu-jitsu program that actually teaches children precisely when they can, and cannot, use the techniques they are learning. The five “Rules of Engagement” are regularly rehearsed in class so that children will never abuse their power and, equally important, they will not hesitate to take a stand when abused by bullies.
Avoid the fight at all costs.
If physically attacked, defend yourself.
If verbally attacked, follow the Three T-steps (talk, tell, tackle).
Never punch or kick the bully, establish control and negotiate.
When applying submissions use minimal force and negotiate.
Verbal Jiu-Jitsu Training
One of the most pervasive and damaging forms of bullying is verbal harassment. Gracie Bullyproof is the only kids’ jiu-jitsu program that makes Verbal Assertiveness Training, or as we like to call it “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 threats associated with verbal harassment and relational bullying. Gracie Bullyproof students learn how to differentiate between “bullying” and “joking,” and not only are kids 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.
Perfect Training Programs For Every Age
Nearly all jiu-jitsu schools have all of their youth students bunched into one class, and a few schools have classes separated by age group. The Gracie Bullyproof program is one of the only youth jiu-jitsu programs that separates its kids by age AND experience level, so that every child gets the perfect balance of fun and challenge in their weekly classes. All kids begin in super-playful entry level programs for their age group, and as soon as a child reaches a certain level of maturity, they are promoted to the next training program.
“Push Teaching” vs. “Pull Teaching”
The teaching methodology used in the Gracie Bullyproof program is unlike anything else in the jiu-jitsu community. Not only are all the entry-level techniques presented in the form of “jiu-jitsu” games so that kids are highly enthused about learning them, but we use “push teaching” rather than “pull teaching.” When a child makes a mistake, we don’t focus on the error; instead we emphasize the correctly executed aspects of the move. Through this carefully layered positive reinforcement, we help the kids reach their full potential without jeopardizing their love for the art.
Little Champs (5-7 Years Old)
The Little Champs program is for kids 5-7 years old (we offer private lessons for children ages 3-4). Using our time-tested “Gracie Games,” we teach the Little Champs basic self-defense techniques while implanting the foundational principles of leverage and control. The secret to the success of this program is that we make the lessons so fun that the kids can’t get enough!
Jr. Grapplers (8-13 Years Old)
In the Jr. Grapplers program, we focus on 33 non-violent self-defense techniques that teach children to “neutralize and negotiate” with the bullies. Verbal assertiveness strategies are a major portion of this curriculum. A child needs absolutely no experience to start!
Black Belt Club (Invitation Only)
We invite children who excel in the Jr. Grapplers program to join the Black Belt Club. This is our most advanced youth jiu-jitsu program and joining the Black Belt Club is the highest honor for any youth Gracie Jiu-Jitsu practitioner. Kids in this program possess all the traits necessary for success on the path to black belt: discipline, respect, courage, leadership, loyalty, and compassion.
Gracie Character Development Program
We have found that our instructors develop powerful bonds with every student at the Academy, but especially with our youth practitioners. We leverage this connection to help you develop your child’s character for success in all aspects of life. The Gracie Character Development Program consists of six chapters: Responsibility, Health, Respect, Citizenship, Manners, and Caring. We spend two months on each chapter. In every class, we discuss the featured character trait, emphasizing the simple things your child can do to make it a part of their life. The secret to success lies in our use of a unique point-based reward system that we tie to attendance at Gracie Game Night, a special two-hour party where they get to play tons of games with all the instructors and kids. Along with Gracie Game Night, the students also earn a patch for their uniform that recognizes their accomplishment in that character development. Only kids who score enough points during the two-month period qualify to attend Gracie Game Day and earn their patch. These are powerful incentives for kids and a useful tool for parents to develop positive behavior at home and school. Gracie Game Night is so much fun that parents will often put on a uniform just so they can join the party!
Responsibility
JAN | FEB
Health
MAR | APR
Respect
MAY | JUN
Citizenship
JUL | AUG
Manners
SEP | OCT
Caring
NOV | DEC
Get Started
ABSOLUTELY FREE!
With Our Free 5-Class Trial
To ensure that the Gracie Bullyproof program is perfect for your child, we invite you to take advantage of our 5-Class FREE trial. This is offered to all of our new students. We want each student to attend as many classes as possible for 5 consecutive classes, absolutely free!
You will learn the 36 core techniques of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu in a fun, safe, and cooperative environment.
