Kids Striking in Grand Junction: Confidence, Coordination & Skills That Go Beyond the Mat
Chaos Theory | Elevate Jiu Jitsu + Striking
There’s something powerful about watching a kid realize, “I can do this.”
Maybe it happens the first time they learn how to throw a proper punch. Maybe it’s when they put together their first combination, land a clean kick on the pads, or finally figure out the footwork they’ve been practicing.
Those moments are a big part of why we created our Kids Striking Program at Elevate Jiu Jitsu + Striking in Grand Junction, Colorado.
Every Tuesday from 5:00–6:00 PM, kids ages 6–15 have an opportunity to learn age-appropriate boxing, Muay Thai and kickboxing fundamentals in a structured environment built around technique, control, confidence and discipline—with experienced coaches who know how to teach kids and make training fun.
Because at this age, martial arts should be about more than learning how to punch and kick. It’s about building confidence, developing coordination, making new friends, learning to work with others and discovering that doing hard things can actually be a lot of fun.
What Is Kids Striking?
When parents hear words like boxing, kickboxing or Muay Thai, it’s understandable that one of their first questions might be:
“Is this really appropriate for my kid?”
At Elevate, the answer comes down to how it’s taught.
Our Kids Striking Program isn’t about teaching children to go out and fight. It’s about introducing the fundamentals of martial arts through controlled, age-appropriate instruction.
Students work on skills drawn from boxing, Muay Thai and kickboxing, including proper stance, footwork, punches, kicks, combinations, pad work, defensive movement and introductory clinch concepts.
More importantly, they learn how to practice those skills with control and respect for their coaches and training partners.
That distinction matters to us.
Building More Than Punches and Kicks
The physical skills are only one part of what makes martial arts valuable for kids.
Think about what’s happening when a child is trying to remember a combination while moving their feet, maintaining their stance, listening to their coach and reacting to a moving target.
They’re doing a lot more than exercising.
They’re learning to listen, process information and execute under pressure.
They’re developing balance and coordination. They’re learning that getting something wrong isn’t failure—it simply means they try it again. They’re discovering that improvement comes from practice and repetition.
And little by little, they begin gaining confidence because they’re becoming capable at something that once felt difficult.
Those lessons have a way of following kids beyond the academy.
Learning, Laughing & Making New Friends
There’s another part of kids martial arts that can be easy to overlook: the friendships they build along the way.
Our Kids Striking class is designed to be structured and productive, but we also want kids to genuinely enjoy being here.
They work with partners, encourage one another, laugh, learn together and become part of a team.
For some kids, martial arts becomes one of the places where they feel most comfortable being themselves. They meet kids outside their normal school or social circles and build friendships around a shared experience.
They’re learning real skills—but they’re also having a bunch of fun doing it.
And when kids look forward to coming to class, consistency becomes a whole lot easier.
Experienced Coaches Who Know How to Teach Kids
Knowing martial arts and knowing how to teach martial arts to children are two very different things.
The coaches leading Elevate’s Kids Striking Program have more than 10 years of experience specifically working with and training kids.
That experience matters.
A six-year-old doesn’t learn the same way as a fifteen-year-old. Attention spans are different. Physical abilities are different. Communication is different. Even what motivates a student can change dramatically between age groups.
Our coaches structure their lesson plans with those differences in mind, adapting instruction for the different ages and experience levels within the program.
The goal isn’t simply to teach punches and kicks. It’s to create an environment where kids can understand what they’re learning, experience success, stay engaged and continue progressing.
We want classes to challenge them—but we also want them leaving the academy excited to come back next Tuesday.
A Great Workout Without Feeling Like a Workout
Kids need to move, and striking gives them plenty of opportunities to do exactly that.
Footwork, pad drills, striking combinations and movement exercises can help develop balance, coordination, cardiovascular fitness, agility and overall athleticism.
But there’s another advantage: they’re learning a skill at the same time.
Instead of simply telling a child to exercise for an hour, we’re giving them problems to solve, techniques to learn and goals to accomplish.
The workout happens along the way.
For kids who may not connect with traditional team sports, martial arts can also provide another option. Progress is personal, but they still get the camaraderie and friendships that come from being part of a team.
Confidence Without Creating Aggression
One of the biggest misconceptions about kids martial arts is that teaching a child how to strike will somehow make them more aggressive.
That’s not what we’re trying to develop.
We want our students to understand that knowing how to do something and knowing when not to do it are equally important.
Training gives kids an appropriate place to test themselves, make mistakes and become comfortable doing difficult things.
Over time, that can create a quieter kind of confidence:
“I know what I’m capable of.”
That confidence can matter at school, in sports, in social situations and eventually throughout adulthood.
No Experience Necessary
Your child does not need previous martial arts experience to join.
Our program is progressive, meaning students develop their skills over time. Beginners can start by learning foundational movements while more experienced students continue building on those same concepts.
You also don’t need to worry about showing up knowing all the terminology, having the right equipment or understanding how martial arts classes work.
That’s what we’re here for.
Come in, meet our coaches, see the academy and let your child experience a class.
Everything They Need to Get Started
We want getting started at Elevate to be easy for families.
Kids Striking membership for new students is $125 per month.
Already an Elevate member? Kids can add the striking program to their existing membership for just $25 per month.
There are no signup fees and no cancellation fees. Memberships simply require 30 days’ notice to cancel.
Don't have striking equipment? We’ve taken care of that too.
Our optional Kids Striking Gear Bundle is $160 when purchased at signup, discounted from the regular $180 price, and includes:
Headgear
Mouthpiece
Boxing gloves
Shin guards
That means parents don’t have to search online trying to figure out which gloves fit, what type of shin guards their child needs or what equipment is appropriate for class.
We can help get them outfitted and ready to train.
Why We Added Striking at Elevate
Elevate has always been about more than learning techniques.
Our goal is to help develop capable, confident young people.
Jiu Jitsu teaches kids how to solve problems when someone grabs them, controls them or puts them in an uncomfortable position. Striking presents a completely different set of challenges involving distance, timing, movement, coordination and reaction.
Together, those experiences can help create a much more well-rounded young martial artist.
But your child doesn't have to train Jiu Jitsu to benefit from striking.
Whether they eventually want to compete, cross-train with Jiu Jitsu, become a better athlete, build confidence, get more active, make some new friends or simply find something they look forward to every Tuesday, there’s a place for them here.
Kids Striking Classes in Grand Junction, Colorado
Our Kids Striking Program is open to ages 6–15 and meets:
Tuesdays | 5:00–6:00 PM
Elevate Jiu Jitsu + Striking
Grand Junction, Colorado
Class space is limited so that we can maintain the quality of instruction, individual attention and environment we’re building.
Come Try Kids Striking for Free
The easiest way to decide whether martial arts is right for your child isn’t reading another article about it.
Come experience it.
Bring your child in for a free trial class, meet our coaches, tour Elevate and see what Kids Striking is actually like.
No previous experience is necessary. There are no signup fees, no cancellation fees, and getting started is simple.
Your kid might walk through the door because you want them to try something new.
They might keep coming back because they’re having fun, making friends and discovering what they’re capable of.
Visit Elevate Jiu Jitsu + Striking to learn more and schedule your child’s free Kids Striking trial in Grand Junction, Colorado.
Confidence starts with trying something new.
Confidence in Chaos.
Coach Jed Hammond working with 8-year-old student.