BUSHIDO'S COMPREHENSIVE JIU JITSU GUIDE FOR PARENTS

ABOUT OUR PROGRAM

We design our KIDS JIU JITSU PROGRAM at Bushido to provide benefits beyond the mats. We believe Jiu-Jitsu can positively impact the next generation.

Our primary objective is to help children become better versions of themselves through Jiu-Jitsu. We focus on character first and champions second. “Are they good people? And can they kick butt?” In that order.

Jiu-Jitsu is an unrivaled tool for self-defense and personal development. Our students learn to work well with others, focusing on effort, respect, and discipline while developing invaluable self-defense skills. Jiu-Jitsu helps build character, resilience, physical fitness, and emotional intelligence, fostering better overall wellness and growth.

Thank you for allowing us to play a small role in your child’s development. We receive this responsibility gratefully and sincerely. We look forward to helping your kids learn and grow at Bushido!

BUSHIDO'S CORE VALUES

EXCELLENCE

We set and surpass the highest standards through constant improvement.

TRUST

We authentically earn and grant trust.

COMPASSION

We honor the dignity of all.

STEWARDSHIP

We empower others.

ADAPTABILITY

We adapt to change quickly and positively, without victimhood.

PARENT GUIDELINES

• No Video Recording During Kids’ Martial Arts Classes.
  To protect the privacy and safety of our students, video recording and photography are not permitted during our kids’ martial arts classes.
  
  The only exceptions are:
  1. Technique Instruction – It is permitted to video the instructor’s teaching techniques.
  
  2. Student Promotions – Parents are welcome to record/photograph their own child during stripe and belt promotion ceremonies or end of class photos.

• No coaching from the sidelines.
  Whether you train or not, coaching from the sidelines is prohibited during our kids’ classes. It is distracting and encourages them to focus on parental approval rather than listen to our coaches and the task. Your child cannot fully concentrate on Jiu-Jitsu and listen to both coaches and parents simultaneously. Encouraging or cheering for your child during sparring can create an unhealthy competitive environment. Remember how you would feel if someone applauded when your child made a mistake.
• You represent Bushido.
  Even if you may not be a Bushido student. We ask that our students and parents conduct themselves in a positive manner that represents Bushido’s values.
• Stewardship is our core value.
  Our words and actions must build your child’s confidence rather than diminish it. Our goal is to create an environment where our students pursue success instead of avoiding failure.
• Parents and coaches can work together.
  By modeling these lessons we want our students to learn. Kids are more likely to copy what you do than what you say.
• Respect the coaches.
  We always encourage parents to talk with coaches to get on the same page about a student’s progress. If there is something you would like to discuss, do so appropriately and respectfully.
• Let the coaches do their job.
  Please remember that your student receives tailored coaching in class, and it may not be productive to coach them at home (especially if you do not train Jiu-Jitsu). Students need parents to be parents and coaches to be coaches.
• Avoid showing negative emotions.
  When watching your child perform, try to stay composed. If you react negatively when your child fails, you will likely create a fear of failure. We seek to cultivate a growth mindset where mistakes are lessons to be learned and grown from.

STUDENT EXPECTATIONS

We aim to use Jiu-Jitsu to give your child the tools to succeed. The more sincerely they practice the art, the greater the benefit they will receive.

That is why we ask the following from our young students: Our four principles. F.R.E.D.

FOCUS

The ability to control one’s attention is a foundation for a successful life. Stay standing or seated and maintain eye contact during instruction.

While practicing with their teammates, we expect our students to focus on the task.

Purposefully cultivating these powers of attention will give them the tools to perform better on and off the mats–in school at and at home.

RESPECT

We can only improve our skills with our training partners and in our training space. The mats do not care about our perceived differences. Our training partners are essential and deserve to be treated with respect.

We have created an environment where children from all walks of life come together to use this art as a tool for personal development classes, designed so that everyone may participate and feel welcome.

We work together to help each individual achieve their goals while feeling the fellowship of the community.

All instructors are referred to as coaches.

ENERGY

The more sincerely our students seek to understand Jiu-Jitsu, the greater the transference of benefits to their daily lives. We ask our students to put forth effort and attention during class, making the most of our time together on the mat to create the most positive change in their lives.

We ask that our students attend at least twice weekly to ensure that learning compounds upon itself.

We want your kids on the mats as much as your schedule allows. There is no upper limit to the number of classes they can take.

DISCIPLINE

Discipline can be simply expressed as doing what you must do even when you don’t want to.

Discipline is essential for achieving goals, maintaining focus, and developing good habits. It enables individuals to make consistent, productive efforts in various aspects of life.

POSITIONAL HIERARCHY

The positions in Jiu-Jitsu follow a hierarchy, which goes from the least amount of control to the maximum amount of control. As we ascend this hierarchy, our ability to inflict damage on our opponent increases, and our opponent’s ability to hurt us decreases.

From worst to best:

• Your opponent has your back.
• Your opponent has the mount.
• Your opponent has side control.
• You are on the bottom of the guard.
• You are on top of the guard.
• You are on top and side control.
• You are on top of the mount.
• You have your partners back.

All of Jiu-Jitsu is an effort to ascend this hierarchy, increasing our ability to end the fight safely as we do so.

THE UNIFORMS & EQUIPMENT

We practice Gi and No Gi Jiu-Jitsu in the Bushido Jiu-Jitsu Program.

GI

In our Gi classes, we wear traditional kimonos. We ask that you train in a traditional white, blue or black gi.

• Gi Top or Jacket (left lapel folded over the right lapel)
• Gi bottom or Pants (tied by drawstrings)
• Belt (worn the entire class. It will fall off during training, which is okay—we like it!).

NO GI

In our No Gi classes, we wear shorts and rashguard.

• Rashguard (this way fingers do not get caught in loose cotton shirts)
• Boardshorts (no pockets, zippers, or metal fasteners. Must use velcro or drawstrings to tie.)
• Belt (our students line up, bow in, and close out class with their belt on. They take it off for the class duration).

I DO NOT KNOW WHY THIS SECTION IS IN A GREY BOX BUT IT NEEDS TO BE WHITE BACKGROUND LIKE THE REST

Please do not wear any other type of clothing under your uniform or in no gi classes.

The students may not wear jewelry in class or while training. (It can break or rip wholes in earlobes)

Students may wear glasses during class but must remove them for some drilling and all training.

Mouthguards are optional.

Please bring a water bottle to every class.

PERSONAL HYGIENE & WASHING YOUR UNIFORMS

The uniform shrinks slightly after the first wash or two. We recommend washing it in cold water with regular detergent and letting it air dry. Bleach may weaken the fabric.

Uniforms MUST BE WASHED after each class. We are in close contact and sweat a lot when we train, and no one wants to be the smelly one!

Before class make sure fingernails are trimmed to avoid scratching your partner.

HOW TO CLEAN YOUR GI < THIS SHOULD BE A HYPER LINK AND LAND ON THIS BELOW

HOW TO CLEAN YOUR BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU GI

So, you got your first gi for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Now what? Here are some pro tips on how to keep your gi looking fresh, feeling crisp, and smelling nice without destroying the material, fading the color, or shrinking it beyond use.

WASH YOUR GI IMMEDIATELY AFTER PRACTICE.

Bacteria builds up quickly, so make sure you wash your gi as soon as you get home. You don’t want to get your training partners or yourself sick. Staph is a real thing, and it’s not a fun experience for anyone. Be a good training partner and have a clean, nice-smelling gi to train with because no one wants an affront to their senses or their health!

HAVE A BACKUP GI.

Having an extra gi around makes sure that you always have a clean gi to put on for your next class. This tactic also helps you not wear your gi out too soon. If you are training more than 2 or 3 days a week, having a spare gi around makes sure that you are always prepared for class.

DON’T USE HOT WATER.

Warm or cool water is preferable with gis. Hot water will shrink your gi! All gis will shrink a minor amount after their first wash, but hot water will shrink them more than you would like and also damage the fibers. If you are going to compete, make sure that you take IBJJF gi standards into account in regards to the fit of your gi. You don’t want your pants or jacket to be too short.

WASH ON A “GENTLE” SETTING.

Gis get washed a lot. Make sure that they last as long as possible by washing them on gentle settings.

DO NOT USE FABRIC SOFTENER OR BLEACH.

Fabric softener and bleach will break down the fibers of your gi, making it thinner and weaker. This will be to your disadvantage when competing or training. You don’t want a flimsy gi that has the potential to rip mid-roll.

USE GOOD DETERGENT.

Cheap detergents won’t get out the smell and bacteria in a dirty gi as well as good detergent. Cheap detergent will also damage the fabric of your gi, making it thinner and weaker.

(10 Unspoken Rules of Jiu-Jitsu)

WASH YOUR BELT.

“But won’t my skills wash away?” Your skills aren’t reliant on the dirtiness of your belt. Be a good training partner and keep the staph away from the mats. Wash your belt.

PRO TIP FOR DRAWSTRINGS:

Tie the string of your gi pants before washing so that the string doesn’t slip out of your pants. If you forget to do this and it does, tying one end of the string to a pen or hanger and threading it through is the best way to fix this issue.

TURN YOUR GI INSIDE OUT WHEN WASHING.

This will preserve the color of your gi and keep your patches looking fresh.

IF YOU ARE WASHING YOUR GI WITH OTHER CLOTHES, THROW IT IN WITH SIMILAR COLORS.

It’s best to wash it alone or with other gis of the same color. But if you have to wash it with other clothes, make sure that your white gis don’t turn pink or gray by washing them with only white clothing.

REMOVE YOUR GI FROM THE WASH IMMEDIATELY.

This is so your gi doesn’t develop a terrible smell from sitting soaking wet in your washer for hours on end.

DON’T MACHINE DRY YOUR GI (UNLESS YOU WANT TO SHRINK IT).

Hang dry your gi so that it doesn’t shrink. Tumble drying a gi will absolutely shrink it, and also damage the fibers over time. Fans or radiators are great ways to safely make your gi dry faster. Make sure your gi is at least 3 feet away from the radiator if you are using this method. Avoid direct sunlight when hang drying your gi (again, this will damage the fibers). Hang-drying your gi inside is best.

IF YOU WANT TO IRON YOUR GI, DO IT INSIDE OUT.

Ironing it on the outside will damage your patches and also damage your gi’s fabric. If you feel the need to iron it, stick to turning it inside out.

BJJ APPAREL FAQS

Any differences with hemp gis? Hemp gis can be cared for in the same manner as cotton gis.

What about No Gi clothes? If you want your compression shirts and shorts to stay the same size, hang-dry them as well and wash them using cool water. Make sure that your grappling shorts are velcroed shut before washing so that you don’t ruin the velcro strap.

What if I want to shrink my gi? Gi pants shrink faster than a gi jacket. Keep this in mind when you want to shrink an oversized gi. All cotton gis will shrink a little bit after the first wash, so consider this before you throw it in the dryer afterward. Try it on, and if it’s still too big, throw it in the dryer. Try taking the gi out of the dryer every 5 or 10 minutes and try it on to see how it fits so that you don’t over-shrink it.

What about stains and smell that lingers? White vinegar and cool water work wonders for smells and stains. Run cool water over the stain, and if it still doesn’t go away, try soaking the stain in white vinegar before washing your gi.

Putting a dab of detergent on the stain and letting it sit for a few minutes before washing has also been a useful tactic for stains. Freezing your gi overnight has also been a useful method for pesky scents that don’t seem to go away. If the scent still lingers, let your gi sit overnight in a sink or bucket with some white vinegar and cool water. If that method still doesn’t take the terrible scent out of your gi, it’s probably time for a new gi.

END OF HYPERLINK FOR GI WASHGING AT RED LINE

HOW TO TIE YOUR BELT

1. Hold both ends of the belt to ensure it is even, and place the middle of the belt at your navel.

2. Wrap the belt around your back, switching hands behind, and bring the belt back in front, making an “X.”

3. The top of the “X” is wrapped under both belt layers and pull out the slack.

4. Flipping the lower belt end over and placing the higher belt end on top make one more “X.”

5. Reach through the hole and pull the top end through and to the side. You have now tied your belt!

VIDEO OF BELT TYING SOON TO BE ADDED

CLASS LEVELS

AGES 5-7 LITTLE SAMURAI

WHITE BELT +

Little Samurais are our youngest age group, and it is a great time to start your child on their Jiu-Jitsu journey. The program aims to enhance focus, build confidence and resilience, teach basic Jiu-Jitsu techniques and sparring while introducing core values, and prepare students for the next level of training.

Little Samurai is the introductory level for this age group, where newer students will receive attention and guidance to ensure the best possible experience during their initial phase of Jiu-Jitsu. Our team will introduce every new student to an instructor who will guide them when they join their first class.

Little Samurais is a six-month curriculum, and we repeat most techniques three weeks at a time.

Students will stay at this level until they become eligible to transition into next belt level promotions. We respect each student’s progression and focus on ensuring a seamless transition between levels.

LITTLE SAMURAIS TO JUNIOR SAMURAI TRANSITION

When our students move to Junior Samurais from Little Samurais, it is a big step up and a different experience. We have a step-by-step process to skillfully advance our students from one class level to the next, which can begin 90 days before a student’s 7th birthday. Some students will be ready to advance in less than 90 days, while others may take longer.

• Month 1: Start training in the standing portion of class with no submissions.
• Month 2: Then, add in learning techniques at that level.
• Month 3: Then, add the drilling portion of the class.
• Then, the whole class.

The following class levels will continue to build on the Little Samurais’ goals and incorporate a broader and diverse set of Jiu-Jitsu techniques and skills. Regardless of rank, all new students to the Junior Samurais class start in Fundamentals and stay for a minimum of six months.

AGES 8-13 JUNIOR SAMURAIS

The Samurai program aims to establish a solid technical foundation in Jiu-Jitsu to serve our students for the rest of their journey.

We teach self-discipline and personal responsibility, reinforce respectful behavior, and build focus, confidence, and resilience.

With increased sparring and training, our students develop physical awareness, coordination, strength, speed, and balance.

FUNDAMENTALS—WHITE BELTS

Fundamentals is the introductory level for this age group, where newer students will receive attention and guidance to ensure the best possible experience during their initial phase of Jiu-Jitsu. Our team will introduce every new student to an instructor who will guide them in joining the class.

Our Samurais Fundamentals is a six-month curriculum. The techniques rotate weekly, and some repeat within the six-month cycle.

Students will stay at this level for at least six months until they become eligible for the next level. We respect each student’s progression and focus on ensuring a seamless transition between levels.

INTERMEDIATE—GREY/WHITE BELT +

Our intermediate students are familiar with the core techniques and sparring.

Intermediate is an 18-month curriculum. Students focus on techniques for two weeks; some repeat within the 18-month cycle.

Students will stay at this level until they become eligible for the advanced program; however, all Samurais regularly attend intermediate classes. We respect each student’s progression and focus on ensuring a seamless transition between levels.

AGES 9+ ADVANCED SAMURAIS

GREY BELT TO GREEN BELT

This age group is the oldest in our program and marks an essential transition to the adult program. We aim to develop high-level sparring skills, encourage teamwork, foster self-control, and use goal setting for self-improvement, equipping students with confidence and skills to excel in Jiu-Jitsu.

We expect exemplary focus, respect, and an outstanding work ethic from every student at this level.

Grey Belts may attend this class if they also attend the intermediate level.

18-month curriculum. This is where evolution happens. As the martial art evolves, so does this class.

Our students stay at this level until they are ready to enter the adult program. Students may transition to the adult program at 13-14 with the instructor’s permission; however, many students attend Junior Samurai classes until they are promoted to the adult belt system (the year they turn 16).

CLASS STRUCTURES

We train hard every day in every kid’s class. Our class structure always contains the same core components (in different configurations):

• Warm Up
• Instruction
• Drilling
• Training
• Mat Chat

THE BELT SYSTEM

We follow the IBJJF belt guidelines to ensure uniformity and that the kids always have a goal to aspire toward.

The first two white and gray-white belts last at least six months each.

The students may receive a stripe on their belt each month, assuming they have attended the classes and are focused in class, respectful to their partners, training hard, and practicing discipline on and off the mats.

After that, each belt lasts at least one year +, with the students receiving 11 total stripes per belt, potentially one each month. This is not solely based on attendance but also progression.

The IBJJF established these guidelines to prevent kids who start at a young age from achieving their highest potential rank early and then waiting for years until entering the adult system (the year the student turns 16).

The belts are a great motivator for our students in a way that acknowledges their progress, but the belts do not matter. Your child’s happiness and growth do!

All of Jiu-Jitsu is an effort to ascend this hierarchy, increasing our ability to end the fight safely as we do so.

COMPETITION PROGRAM

OUR PHILOSOPHY

We are a school that values the growth benefits of competition over winning. Competition is a powerful vehicle for personal growth, providing students with a safe and supportive arena to challenge themselves beyond their comfort zones. While we train to win, not all students compete, and we do not pressure them. Instead, we focus on keeping them on the mats and enjoying Jiu-Jitsu. If some students are internally motivated to train extensively, we support them, too.

We emphasize the lessons competition teaches about success in life. Competing at the highest levels, we prioritize good sportsmanship, honoring our competition and partners. Win or lose, we remain humble and grateful, avoiding overt celebration, trash-talking, taunting, or cheating. We do not encourage cutting weight and measure success through sportsmanship and respect for training partners.

Respect for officials and referees is essential. We do not argue, throw tantrums, or protest when things don’t go our way, acknowledging that officials are human and can make mistakes. Parents and coaches must model respectful ways to handle frustrations as children observe and learn from their behavior.

We view our competitors as worthy training partners who help us improve, not as enemies. We maintain a healthy respect for our opponents while staying competitive, never sacrificing character, honor, or integrity for winning. Teamwork is paramount, and we value effort and attitude over results. Success depends on how students respond to challenges.

We avoid critiquing a student’s performance immediately after a competition, providing time and space to process their experiences and address mistakes later at the academy. We also provide unconditional love and support regardless of outcomes.

COMPETITION CLASS

Competition Class Requires Coach Approval. Bushido does offer a competition class for Samurais who want to compete. This is a high-intensity class focused on training young students to perform in competitions. We cover various topics such as point systems, multiple rule sets, and how to handle common competition scenarios. Additionally, we emphasize the importance of having fun, staying humble, and being grateful for our partners. Our weekly curricula are based on feedback from our coaches at tournaments, creating an evolving program tailored to our team’s needs. This is strictly for kids who compete.

Every student in a competition class is expected to uphold our principles, exhibit composure, and have an outstanding work ethic. Competition class is for kids who are wanting improvement.

COMPETITION TEAM PATCH

Students can join our competition team anytime and earn their patches by participating in two divisions across tournaments. Once earned, the patch is theirs to keep forever. Additional participation is optional, and students can purchase extra patches at the academy.

SEASONAL PROGRAM - REWARDS

Our goal is for this program to enhance our students’ Jiu-Jitsu journey! Our Seasonal Program features at least two local “seasons” per year, each featuring designated tournaments. Speak with your coach before registering.

Students can earn limited-edition patches each season by participating in BJJ competition divisions, regardless of their results, to celebrate and challenge themselves to grow with each season.

TRAVEL SEASON

In addition to our local competition seasons, Bushido makes the annual pilgrimage to the toughest and highest-level competitions for kids each summer. Please speak with your coach for more information and determine whether your child is ready for these events.

COMPETITION PROGRAM MAILING LIST & SCHEDULE

RECEIVE EMAIL UPDATES ABOUT EACH SEASON AND UPCOMING COMPETITIONS

WHAT IS JIU JITSU?

Jiu Jitsu is a grappling-based martial art.

Using takedowns, the Jiu-Jitsu player brings the fight to the ground. Once on the ground, the goal is to achieve a dominant body position, using timing, leverage, and technique to control an opponent safely and, if necessary, joint manipulations and chokes to end the altercation.

WHAT JIU-JITSU IS NOT

Jiu-Jitsu is not MMA (mixed martial arts) but one of the many martial arts featured in such competitions. In Jiu-Jitsu, we do not strike (punch, kick, elbow, or knee).

The absence of striking allows for the safe practice of the art while avoiding injuries and gives our young students the tools to defend themselves without harming another.

JIU JITSU CAN BE DESCRIBED SIMPLY AS:

• Avoiding strikes on the feet, we secure a takedown, bringing the fight to the ground.
• On the ground, we advance to a dominant position.
• Once in that dominant position, we use a submission to end the fight.

THE HISTORY OF JIU JITSU

OUR LINEAGE

MAKE ZIG – ZAG BULLET POINTS FROM LEFT TO RIGHT – I WILL PROVIDE PICS OF EACH PERSON

KANO JIGORO AND THE KODOKAN SCHOOL

In 1854, the Treaty of Kanagawa opened Japan’s ports to foreign commerce, ending over 200 years of isolation. This influx of foreign ideas significantly impacted Japanese society, including martial arts development.

Between 1882 and 1889, Kano Jigoro established the Kodokan school in Tokyo, Japan. Kano sought to modernize Japanese martial arts, emphasizing the scientific principles of leverage, balance, and movement efficiency.

This new martial art was called Judo. Kodokan Judo included traditional Japanese arts like Kito-Ryu, which emphasized throws and balance, and Tenjinshino-Ryu, which focused on joint locks and pins. Additionally, Sumo and foreign influences like Western Wrestling contributed to the development of modern martial arts in Japan.

The Kodokan school became the central hub for Judo training, attracting students from across Japan.

SPREAD TO BRAZIL

In the late 1800s and early 1900s, Japan experienced stagnating economic conditions, leading to poor living conditions and high unemployment. This financial hardship pushed many Japanese to immigrate to the Americas for a better life.

One of Kodokan’s students, Mitsuyo Maeda, played a crucial role in the spread of Judo (and subsequently, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu). In 1914, Maeda traveled to Brazil, where he demonstrated Judo and taught the art to locals.

Carlos Gracie began training under Maeda’s students in 1917. Impressed by the effectiveness of Judo techniques, Carlos started developing his style, focusing more on ground fighting.

DEVELOPMENT & EXPANSION OF JIU-JITSU

Carlos Gracie and his brothers, particularly Hélio Gracie, continued to refine and adapt the techniques they learned from Maeda. They focused heavily on ground fighting, submissions, and positional control, effective in real-life self-defense situations and competitive matches.

Hélio Gracie, due to his smaller stature, emphasized the ground techniques further to rely more on leverage and technique rather than strength. The ground game made the art more accessible and practical for practitioners of all sizes.

The Gracie family showcased their skills in Vale Tudo (anything goes) matches in Brazil, proving the effectiveness of their techniques. In the 1990s, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu gained international fame through the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where Royce Gracie demonstrated the superiority of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in mixed martial arts (MMA) competitions.

PROFESSOR JOHN PARSON

HYPERLINK JOHN CONNORS ACADEMY – NICK DIAZ ACADEMY – RENZO GRACIE ACADEMY – ROB MAGAO

Prior to Bushido, John was a successful middle-distance runner before beginning his martial arts journey with Jiu Jitsu, initially studying under multiple time World and Pan Am Champion, John Connors in Norwood, MA. He developed a passion for martial arts early on to relentless pursue it continuing his training at the Nick Diaz Academy in Lodi/Stockton, CA, Renzo Gracie Academy in New York , NY, among many others while landing home at Manchester Jiu-Jitsu in Manchester, CT with his Coach Rob Magao, 4th degree Black Belt under legendary Jiu-Jitsu Master Pedro Sauer.

John is a 1st Degree Black Belt in Jiu-Jitsu under his coach, Rob Magao of Manchester Jiu-Jitsu, Manchester, CT. Over the years, John has fought, competed as well as coached students to success in numerous local, regional and national grappling competitions as well as amateur and professional mixed martial arts.

He started the Bushido Zionsville Academy after utilizing what he learned during training at some of the world’s most prestigious Jiu-Jitsu and MMA gyms around the world as well as self-defense from Coach Rob Magao/Manchester Jiu-Jitsu to create Indiana’s premier Jiu Jitsu Martial Arts Academy.

Through Bushido, John is able to share his passion for the “way of the warrior,” and building character through martial arts training.

JIU JITSU: SIMPLY PUT

There are two types of takedowns and four positions on the ground. For our purposes, that’s it!

TAKEDOWNS

The goal of the Jiu-Jitsu player is to bring this fight to the ground. There are two major types of takedowns: wrestling and judo. Our classes teach these takedowns, and there are many variants to give our students the ability to take someone down should they have to.

Wrestling takedowns generally involve grabbing your partner’s legs with your arms and manipulating their balance to bring them down.

Judo throws generally entail using your hips and feet to throw or trip your partner.

ONCE ON THE GROUND

The four fundamental positions in Jiu-Jitsu are:

• Guard
• Side Control
• Mount
• Back

THE GUARD

A guard is any position where we can control our partner using our legs.

While on the bottom, we seek to defend ourselves, sweep our partner to gain the top position or submit our partner using joint locks and chokes.

When on top, our goal is to pass the guard to gain a more dominant position and increase our control over our partner.

SIDE CONTROL

Side control is the first dominant position after the guard in the positional hierarchy.

On top of side control, our job is to maintain this dominant position and use it to advance to an even better position or submit to our partner.

While on the bottom, our goal is to recover guard or to reverse our partner and land on top.

MOUNT

The mount is the next position along the positional hierarchy and is a common position in street fights that end on the ground.

On top, the practitioner seeks to control the position to nullify the attacker and, if desired, execute a submission to end the altercation. The practitioner may also seek to advance position, with the next position, the back, being the most dominant.

When on the bottom, our goal is to recover guard to return to a place of control or to reverse the position and get on top to regain safety.

BACK

The most dominant position in jiu-jitsu, all that is left to do once you have someone’s back is to submit them.

When someone takes your back, your job is to escape to a more advantageous position.

POSITIONAL HIERARCHY

The positions in jiu-jitsu follow a hierarchy, which goes from the least amount of control to the maximum amount of control. As we ascend this hierarchy, our ability to inflict damage on our opponent increases, and our opponent’s ability to hurt us decreases.

From worst to best:

• Your opponent has your back.
• Your opponent has the mount.
• Your opponent has side control.
• You are on the bottom of the guard.
• You are on top of the guard.
• You are on top and side control.
• You are on top of the mount.
• You have your partners back.

All of Jiu-Jitsu is an effort to ascend this hierarchy, increasing our ability to end the fight safely as we do so.

CONCLUSION

We are excited to serve your child through Jiu-Jitsu. We will do our best to teach our young students this beautiful art in a way that improves every other area of their lives and gives them the tools to defend themselves.

We ask that you communicate openly as you are comfortable about your child’s progress in school and at home. We will do anything and everything we can to serve your family best.

We hope to use Jiu-Jitsu as a foundation to improve the rest of your child’s life. Jiu-Jitsu is a great tool for personal development, and we are grateful you have allowed us to share it with your family.

We look forward to years of growth and camaraderie together!

See you on the mats!

John Parson Bushido

FAQ

• What if my kid refuses to go or runs off the mat during class?
• When can my child begin competing, and what do we sign up for?
• Will my child fall behind if they participate in other sports?
• What can I work on at home with my kid?