With adults they can take a lot more control of creating a community in many ways. They can hang out at open mats, they can go out for drinks after class every now and then.

With Kids it is just as important, if not more so. If their friends are in jiu-jitsu, they aren’t going to stop training.

We don’t lose kids to other martial arts schools, we lose them to soccer, or football, online gaming, or wherever their friends happen to be.

So to keep jiu-jitsu as a priority, having them have friends in class is very important.

This means facilitating non-training events and activities regularly to help them build and strengthen those bonds. To make martial arts feel like more then just something they show up for and then leave at the end.

Team sports have wind ups, they travel together, they have post game celebrations together.

We don’t see that as much in martial arts gyms with the non-competitors that make up most of the people training.

So how do we do that with kids?

Parents Nights – Once a month or so, a big party with pizza, games and lots of freedom

Birthday Parties – If they have their party with you, and their friends all see what they do as fun and cool, it will help keep them training.

Large family events – Easter egg hunts, BBQs, Holiday events, etc.

and more.

We need to make jiu-jitsu not just a thing they do, but a part of who they are and a community they feel they belong too.

Does anyone do any unique things to build community and culture in their kids classes?