Raise a confident, bully-proof kid. We help parents raise over-achievers through jiu-jitsu and fun.
No mystery, no pressure. Three simple steps get your child on the mats.
Your child gets a private intro lesson with a coach, plus a facility tour and a program overview for you.
Right after the intro, your child can jump into a real group class. It can happen the same day.
Three free uniform rentals for the trial period, plus a free uniform when your child signs up. No gear to buy up front.
Over 175 kids train at Legion in San Diego, ages 4 to 14. Every child trains with peers at their level.
Built for little movers with short attention spans. Fun games teach the first jiu-jitsu movements without ever feeling like a lecture.
Kids move from games to real technique. They learn to control their bodies, work with partners and stick with a challenge.
Full jiu-jitsu with live practice, anti-bullying scenario training, and competition training for kids who want to test themselves.
These are the kids class times at our San Diego academy.
| Day | Kids class times |
|---|---|
| Monday to Friday | 5:00 PM, main kids classes |
| Tuesday and Thursday | 4:00 PM, no-gi class |
| Sunday | 11:00 AM, ages 6 and up |
Please check the live schedule for the most current times. Kids can start as young as 3.5 years old if they are ready. That one takes a quick call to the gym at 858-888-1815.
Most parents want to picture the first visit before they bring their child in. Here is how it usually goes at our academy on Miramar Road in San Diego.
Park in the free on-site lot and come up to Suite 330. Let the front desk know it is your child's first class. We send the waiver when you book, and if you did not get to it, you can fill it out at the desk.
A coach comes out to say hello and gets to know your child a little. If there is anything the coach should know, like nerves, a medical condition or an old injury, this is a good time to mention it.
Your child gets a free private intro lesson with the coach. It gives them a chance to learn a few first movements and get comfortable on the mats before they join a group of other kids.
You get a tour of the facility and a walk through the program. We explain the age groups, the class times and how kids move up in rank, and we go over membership options and answer your questions.
When your child is ready, they can join a real group class with kids their age, and that can happen the same day as the intro. They wear one of the free rental uniforms, so you have nothing to buy first.
You can watch from the viewing area. We ask parents to let the coaches do the coaching during class, because kids settle in faster that way. With the youngest group, you can sit closer to the mat at first if your child needs a little extra encouragement.
Parents ask about safety more than anything else, and it is a fair question for any martial art. Here is how our kids classes are set up to keep training safe.
Kids train in age groups, so a 5-year-old drills with other young kids and never with a 12-year-old. Inside each class, coaches watch the pairings and make changes when there is a big gap in size or skill.
Coaches run every class and keep an eye on each pair on the mat. If a child gets hurt, the coach pauses class to check on them, and the front desk has ice and basic first aid on hand.
Jiu-jitsu is grappling, with no punches or kicks. Kids learn to tap, which ends the position right away, and they practice with a partner at a controlled pace. A few techniques are on a banned list because they are too dangerous.
Respect is part of every class. Kids learn to listen to the coach and to stop the moment their partner taps. We also keep the mats clean. They are cleaned and disinfected several times a day, and we ask kids to come with trimmed nails and hair tied back and to leave jewelry at home.
If your child has a medical condition or an old injury, tell the coach on the first day so they can plan partners and positions around it. The same goes for kids who are nervous or who learn differently. Our coaches work with shy and neurodivergent kids regularly, and a quick conversation before class helps us get the first day right.
Jiu-jitsu gives kids skills they use long after they leave the mats.
Kids learn to stay calm, set boundaries and defend themselves without throwing a punch, so bullies lose their power.
Every class sharpens balance, timing and body awareness through movement kids cannot get sitting in front of a screen.
Kids train with partners every session. They make friends, learn to cooperate and become part of a real team.
Jiu-jitsu works against bigger opponents. Kids learn skills that actually hold up under pressure, not just in theory.
Learning to solve problems while someone resists teaches kids to breathe, think and stay composed when things get hard.
Our coaches build character on the mats. Kids learn to respect others, control themselves and look out for their teammates.
Your child learns from real professionals who love working with kids.
Our curriculum is growth-based, with individual attention and progress tracked beyond belts.
16 virtues, four per pillar. Kids earn stripes for the character traits that matter, not just technique.
Earned for attendance and tenure. Showing up and sticking with it gets recognized and rewarded.
13 promotions on the belt path. Every rank is a clear, earned milestone your child can be proud of.
Legion American has been absolutely amazing for our son! Since he started training here, we've seen so much growth, not just in his jujutsu technique, but in his overall discipline, focus, and confidence. He’s having fun, learning valuable skills, and most importantly, he looks forward to every single class.
The coaches at Legion are truly the best. They’re incredibly knowledgeable, but what really stands out is their patience and genuine care for the kids. They know how to strike the perfect balance between teaching discipline and keeping things fun and engaging.
We’re so thankful to be part of the Legion Jujutsu community. If you're looking for a place that teaches solid technique, builds character, and feels like a second home, this is it!
Legion has one of the best kids programs. My son has trained here for 11 months. Coach Mike is wonderful and the family environment is exactly what we hoped for.
This has been a great gym for my 12 year old son. Coach Will is so friendly. The gym is super clean and in great shape. The coaches are top notch and very good with kids. Come check out this place with your kids.
Lots of great training options for kids throughout the week. Good supportive instructors, large accommodating space, structured sessions and achievements for teaching and motivating young ones. Kids are segmented from beginner-advanced, younger-older for safe and skill appropriate training that won’t be overwhelming.
Huge training area. Coaches here for the kids training are very professional and patient. Kids love them a lot. Great place to train your kids for Jiu Jitsu.
Kids train in three groups: Ages 4 to 6 with play-based fundamentals, Ages 7 to 9 with technique and discipline, and Ages 10 to 14 with real jiu-jitsu, anti-bullying training and an optional competition path. Over 175 kids train at Legion, ages 4 to 14.
Yes, and many do. Almost half of the 175+ kids who train at Legion are siblings. Brothers and sisters train in the same welcoming, family environment, in the age group that fits each child.
Kids can start as young as 3.5 years old if they are mature enough to follow along in class. Because it depends on the child, this one takes a quick call to the gym at 858-888-1815 so we can help you decide.
Classes start with dynamic, jiu-jitsu based warm-ups, then move into technique and controlled practice with a partner. Coaches keep it safe and structured, and kids earn promotions along the way as they progress.
Two to three times per week is typical for kids and gives steady, consistent progress. With main kids classes Monday to Friday at 5pm, a no-gi class on Tuesday and Thursday at 4pm, and a Sunday 11am class for ages 6 and up, it is easy to fit training around a busy family schedule.
No experience is needed. The free private intro with a coach gets your child comfortable on the mats before their first group class, and every child trains in the age group that fits them.
You do not need to buy anything. Your child borrows a uniform for free, and you get three free uniform rentals during the trial. Before class, please trim fingernails and toenails, tie long hair back with a soft hair tie, and leave jewelry at home. For no-gi classes, kids wear a rash guard and shorts with no zippers or metal.
Yes. We have a viewing area where parents can watch. Kids settle in best when parents watch quietly and let the coaches do the coaching. In the youngest group, parents can sit close to the mat at first while their child gets comfortable.
Our coaches work with shy and nervous kids regularly. We keep the first day low pressure, pair your child with a patient coach or partner, and let them go at their own pace. The private intro helps too, since your child meets the coach one on one before the group class. Let us know ahead of time and we will plan around your child.
Jiu-jitsu is a grappling art with no punches or kicks, and kids can tap to stop a position at any time. Classes are split by age so kids train with peers their own size, coaches supervise every class, and a few dangerous techniques are banned. As in any sport, minor bumps and bruises can happen.
Yes. Legion is an approved vendor with San Diego Regional Center (SDRC) through Community Interface Services, a financial management services provider for the Self-Determination Program. Call us at 858-888-1815 and we will help you get set up.
Yes, with Pacific Coast Academy (PCA) and Literacy First Charter Schools. You pay for classes from your instructional funds, and the school pays Legion directly. If your family uses another charter school or funding program, call us at 858-888-1815 so we can check whether we can get set up with them.
Legion American Jiu-Jitsu runs structured kids jiu-jitsu classes for ages 4 to 14 at 7550 Miramar Road in San Diego. Families come from Mira Mesa, Scripps Ranch, Miramar, Sorrento Valley, Clairemont, UTC, La Jolla and beyond. Your child trains in one of three age groups with kids at their level, and our coaches track progress well beyond belts. The academy is minutes from the I-15 and the I-805, with free parking on-site.
Submit the form, pick a time, then come meet a coach. More than 80% of parents enroll after the trial.
The Legion beginner path is objectively one of the biggest in the world, consisting of the 5-Week Beginner Course and the Funda...
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Find out more about our Intermediate-Advanced program, spanning gi and no-gi across various classes on our schedule from 6 AM t...
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Some people prefer to take the private lesson route, and we have plenty of coaches to teach them. Tailored to your strengths, w...
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Jiu-jitsu without the gi. 17 no-gi classes a week, morning and night, from fundamentals to advanced, led by Sloan Clymer.
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