Kids Gi — Ages 3-6
KidsKids BJJ
Kids BJJ
Gi, No-Gi, and Competition. Academic accountability included.
Book a Free Trial ClassWhat You'll Train
Academics Held Alongside Athletics
Kids Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) covers real ground - Gi fundamentals, no-gi grappling, takedown entries, submission chains - taught in age-specific classes rather than one curriculum stretched across every age. Kids ready to compete get real preparation: match strategy, mental prep, and tournament simulation, not just technique in isolation. What makes the program distinct is the second half of its own standard - academic accountability is held alongside athletic development, not treated as a separate concern from training. A tap-out mechanism and an enforced culture around it is the actual safety system underneath all of it, not a marketing line.
Ages 3–15Academic Accountability Included
Youth athletes. Age-specific classes. Academic standards are held alongside athletic development.
The Skill Under The Skill
The First Thing We Teach Isn’t A Technique - It’s A Stance
Before takedowns, before submissions, kids are taught a simple defensive posture - hands up, open, palms out - the same non-aggressive ready position that shows up across multiple respected self-defense and youth martial arts curricula as the actual first line of real-world protection. It reads to an adult, a teacher, or another kid as calm and non-threatening, not defensive-and-about-to-fight, which is exactly the point: most real confrontations a kid ever faces get defused with words and space, not grappling. The mat skills matter, but they're the second layer. The first is a kid who can recognize a situation getting tense and knows what to do with their hands and their voice before it ever becomes physical - and that's taught on purpose, not left for a kid to figure out under pressure.
Across multiple respected youth self-defense curricula, the first technique taught isn't a technique at all - it's a stance that de-escalates before contact.
What To Expect
What A Class Actually Looks Like
No surprises on day one. Every Kids Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) session follows the same real structure.
01
Age-Specific Curriculum
Classes are split by age group, not one curriculum stretched thin across every kid on the mat - drills matched to what a given age group can actually absorb.
02
Controlled Practice
Submissions are introduced gradually with a real, enforced tap-out culture from day one - the tap-out mechanism is the core safety system, not an afterthought.
03
Accountability Check-In
Academic standards are held alongside athletic development - part of the actual program, not a separate policy bolted on.
Coaches & Schedule
Who's Teaching, When
Kubi Demirhan • Jessen Ramcharan • Matthew Franco • Nick Sabato • Geovani Caceres
Multiple sessions per week - see the full schedule for exact days and times.
Matthew Franco
Co-Founder & Law Enforcement Program Director
Jessen Ramcharan
Head Coach (No-Gi) / Woman's Program Director
Kubi Demirhan
Co-Founder & Youth Program Director
Nick Sabato
Assistant Kids Coach
Geovani Caceres
Assistant Kids Coach
Akwasi Okyere
Assistant Kids Coach
Monday
Kids Gi — Ages 7-13
KidsKids Competition Class
Invite OnlyTuesday
Kids No-Gi — Ages 7-13
KidsKids Competition Class
Invite OnlyWednesday
Kids Gi — Ages 3-6
KidsKids Gi — Ages 7-13
KidsThursday
Kids No-Gi — Ages 7–13
KidsKids Competition Class
Invite OnlyFriday
Kids Gi — Ages 3-6
KidsKids Gi — Ages 7–13
KidsKids Competition Class
Invite OnlySaturday
Kids No-Gi — Ages 3–6
KidsKids No-Gi — Ages 7–13
KidsSee every class, every day. Kids Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is part of the full weekly schedule.
Academic accountability held alongside athletic development. The mat is the vehicle, not the whole point.
— VIA Jiu Jitsu Academy
Who It's For
Real Talk, No Gatekeeping
- Youth athletes.
- Age-specific classes.
- Academic standards are held alongside athletic development.
Still comparing options? See how BJJ compares to other kids martial arts programs →
Common Questions About Kids Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ)
- Is Kids Jiu-Jitsu the same as Kids BJJ?
Yes - Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is the full name, Kids BJJ is just the common short version. VIA's Kids Jiu-Jitsu program runs age-specific classes for ages 3-15, from first-day fundamentals through real competition preparation, in Milford, CT.
- Is BJJ actually safe for kids?
Yes, when it's taught the way it's supposed to be: fundamentals first, submissions introduced gradually, and a real, enforced tap-out culture from day one. It becomes a real risk in exactly one scenario - a gym that skips that order to teach flashy, high-risk moves too early.
What VIA's coaches actually look for- Does training BJJ make kids more aggressive?
This is one of the most common parental objections, and it deserves a direct answer rather than a dismissal - real programs built around discipline and an enforced tap-out culture tend to channel physicality, not encourage it outside the mat.
A real parental objection, answered directly- What should I actually look for in a kids martial arts gym?
Not the discipline itself - the coaching. The real pattern across parent conversations: a coach who doesn't step in, a gym that lets bigger kids run over smaller ones, or an instructor teaching flashy, dangerous moves because it looks good online are the actual red flags.
What to look for, what to ask, before signing anything- How does BJJ compare to Judo or Wrestling for kids?
Same family of grappling skills, three different paths - BJJ centers on ground control and submissions rather than throws or top-position pressure. It's an honest comparison worth reading before choosing, not a case for one over the others.
Honest breakdown of all three
Ready to Feel the Difference?
Come try a real Kids Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) class at VIA - no experience required, every belt welcome.