Kids Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
(classes in Grand Junction, CO)
At Elevate Jiu Jitsu Academy, we believe some of the most important things kids learn on the mats have very little to do with winning a match.
Our Kids Jiu Jitsu program in Grand Junction is designed to help young people become more confident, capable, resilient, and comfortable facing challenges. Through Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, kids learn how to solve problems, work with others, handle both success and failure, and keep going when something isn’t easy.
From a three-year-old stepping onto the mats for the first time to a teenager developing real Jiu Jitsu skills, every stage of our youth program is built around age-appropriate coaching, positive relationships, and steady progression.
We want kids to have fun. We want them to learn how to protect themselves. But most importantly, we want the confidence they build at Elevate to follow them into school, sports, friendships, and everyday life.
Strong kids. Confident kids. Good humans.
Tiny Grapplers (Ages 3 to 5)
Tiny Grapplers is Elevate's jiu jitsu program built specifically for 3 to 5 year olds. Classes use games and age-appropriate movement instead of traditional drilling, so kids build spatial awareness and comfort being close to other children before they ever learn a formal technique.
Coaches introduce discipline and structure through play. Kids learn how to partner safely, how to follow directions in a group setting, and how to connect with other children in a controlled, coached environment. It's often a family's first experience with structured activity outside preschool, and the jiu jitsu-based games make that transition easier.
Kids and Teens
Jiu Jitsu
Our youth program picks up where Tiny Grapplers leaves off. Kids learn core BJJ techniques, escapes, sweeps, and submissions, while building discipline, teamwork, and problem-solving skills on the mats. As students move into their teen years, they train alongside adult beginners in our Foundations classes, which speeds up their technical growth and exposes them to a higher level of focus and maturity.
Elevate's Kids Competition Team is built for kids and teens who want to compete at local, regional, and national tournaments. Led by our competition-tested instructors, these sessions sharpen technique, build strategy, and prepare athletes to perform under pressure.
Kids Competition Team
Serving toddlers, kids, and teenagers from across Mesa County, including Fruita, Palisade, and Clifton. If you're searching for a martial arts gym near Grand Junction, our mats and our community are a short drive
from anywhere in the valley.
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Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) is a martial art focused on leverage, technique, and strategy rather than size or strength. It teaches students how to control, escape, and defend themselves using grappling and submissions.
Unlike many sports, BJJ develops physical fitness, confidence, problem-solving, discipline, and resilience all at the same time. Whether you’re looking for self-defense, competition, stress relief, or a new hobby, BJJ offers lifelong benefits for people of all ages.
At Elevate Jiu Jitsu Academy in Grand Junction, our curriculum is designed to help complete beginners feel comfortable while providing enough depth to challenge experienced practitioners for years.
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Yes.
Safety is our highest priority.
Students learn control before intensity, and our instructors closely supervise classes to ensure everyone trains responsibly.
Our academy maintains strict cleanliness standards, daily mat sanitation, and emphasizes proper hygiene because a clean academy is a safe academy.
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Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is known as one of the most rewarding martial arts because black belts are earned—not given.
Most dedicated students earn a black belt in approximately 8–12 years.
Rather than chasing belts, we encourage students to focus on becoming just a little better every week.
The friendships, confidence, and personal growth gained along the journey are just as valuable as the belt itself.
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Yes.
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu was specifically developed to allow a smaller person to defend themselves against a larger, stronger opponent through leverage and technique.
More importantly, it teaches awareness, confidence, emotional control, and the ability to remain calm under pressure—skills that extend far beyond the mats.
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No. Competition is completely optional. Some students join the Competition Team and train toward local, regional, and national tournaments, while plenty of others train purely for fitness, self defense, or personal growth and never step on a competition mat. If you do want to compete, our Competition Team gives kids, teens, and adults dedicated training led by black belt coaches with their own competition backgrounds.
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Yes.
One of our favorite things to see is families training together.
Many parents begin by bringing their child to class and eventually decide to start training themselves.
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu provides families with a shared challenge, healthier lifestyle, and unforgettable memories both on and off the mats.
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Our Tiny Grapplers program begins at age three.
From there, children progress through age-appropriate programs designed specifically for their physical, emotional, and cognitive development.
Every class is designed to make learning fun while building confidence and discipline.
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Quite a bit.
While children learn Brazilian Jiu Jitsu techniques, they also develop:
Confidence
Respect
Discipline
Focus
Problem-solving
Teamwork
Leadership
Perseverance
Emotional resilience
These life skills often carry over into school, athletics, and everyday life.
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Yes.
Our philosophy is simple:
We don’t teach children to become bullies. We teach them not to become victims.
Students learn confidence, awareness, communication, emotional regulation, and practical self-defense in a safe, controlled environment.
Often, increased confidence alone changes how children carry themselves.
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Absolutely.
Many of our strongest students began as the quietest kids in class.
Our coaches work hard to create an encouraging atmosphere where every child is celebrated for effort—not perfection.
Confidence isn’t required to join.
It’s something we help build.
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Our community is open to all abilities! Jiu jitsu's structure, predictable routines, and one-skill-at-a-time teaching style work well for a lot of neurodiverse people, and our coaches have direct experience adapting instruction for different learning styles. We also understand that every person is different. Instead of trying to answer your specific scenario in an FAQ, just give us a call, and we'll walk through what a class looks like for your and your family.