Children's Martial Arts
Jiu-Jitsu for Everyone, including Kids!
The first time you come to our school you will be welcomed by our staff. Please arrive 15 minutes before class so you and your children have enough time to prepare for practice.
The class will start on time and your child will be asked to walk to the training area where the instructor will be waiting for him or her. One of the assistant instructors or a senior student will be assigned as a helper to assist your child in performing the drills and activities. Parents are encouraged to stay and watch the entire practice.
“Our kids programs are designed to teach children self discipline and self defence with a curriculum tailored to the specific needs of children of all ages.”
Gracie Barra Derby & Ilkeston Kids Programmes
Our kids programmes are structured similarly to adult courses, with adaptations and modifications made to engage the different age ranges within the class, to maximise both learning and enjoyment. Our classes begin teaching children and teens the building blocks that are needed to understand the fundamental techniques of Jiu-Jitsu and MMA.
Our kids curriculums have been developed and structured in a way that teaches children and teens effective self defence whilst developing valuable life skills. By practicing martial arts, children and teens release their energy in a healthy and productive way, gaining real-world benefits which they wouldn’t develop from other sports; including increased focus and concentration, goal setting, confidence, resilience and leadership skills.
Through training Jiu-Jitsu and MMA at either of our Gracie Barra schools children can experience a fitness program like no other, improving their coordination, strength and core-stability and developing positive, healthy attitudes early in life.
Our Gracie Barra academies provide kids and teens with a sense of community, where they feel safe and can develop lifelong friendships.


Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Ages: GBK Tiny Champions (4-7years) & GBK Junior Champions (8-16years).
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a self-defense martial art and combat sport based on grappling, ground fighting and submission holds.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu teaches students methods to escape and counter an opponent, as well as how to control an opponent through gaining dominant positions and submission techniques.
Locations: Derby & Ilkeston.
Mixed Martial Arts (MMA)
Ages: Kids MMA (7-16 years).
Mixed Martial Arts is an increasingly popular combat sport following the rise in success of the UFC. MMA classes teach students how to combine together the three main elements; striking, grappling and ground fighting.
Locations: Derby & Ilkeston.


Japanese Jiu-Jitsu
Ages: Kids JJJ (4-16 years).
Japanese Ju-Jitsu is the traditional style of Ju-Jitsu, historically used by the Samurai warriors.
Japanese Ju-Jitsu teaches a well-rounded self defence system, utilising a combination of throws, locks and strikes to control an opponent in real life situations.
Locations: Derby & Ilkeston.
Private Tuition
Jiu-Jitsu is like any other sport or activity: your progress is a consequence of how hard and how smart you train.
Group classes are the best proven way to teach Jiu-Jitsu, since the diversity of training partners creates more varied opportunities and challenges, allowing a student to improve more quickly. However, private classes are definitely an essential complement that no serious Jiu-Jitsu student should do without.
The individual attention and approach to details that a one-to-one session with one of our instructors provides, can and does lead to significant improvement in a student’s personal development.
It is highly recommended that all students take at least one private lesson per month to review their techniques and address specific challenges in his or her Jiu-Jitsu game plan.
Locations: Derby & Ilkeston.


Private Bookings
Private bookings for Self Defence seminars and group workshops are also available for schools, businesses and groups.
These sessions are an opportunity for providing your staff/pupils with a basic awareness and knowledge of simple and effective self defence techniques, taught by experienced Martial Arts instructors, and can also be a great activity for team building.
Locations: Derby & Ilkeston.