Our oldest kids group trains real jiu-jitsu with live practice and anti-bullying scenario training. Kids who want to test themselves can also follow an optional competition path.
By ten, most kids are ready for the full sport. The 10 to 14 group trains real jiu-jitsu in both the gi and no-gi, and live practice is a regular part of class. Kids learn how techniques fit together and how to use them against a partner who is trying to stop them.
Kids this age spend more time on their own, at school and out with friends, so we put real weight on anti-bullying scenario training. They practice what to say and what to do in situations modeled on the kind of trouble kids can run into.
Our promotion guide describes orange belts as typically starting around age 10, for students who show maturity and strong fundamentals. Kids at that level often start helping younger classmates and learn to apply techniques under pressure. Green belts are the last kids ranks before the adult belt system, which begins at blue belt.
Kids train in the traditional uniform and in a rash guard with shorts, which gives them a complete picture of how jiu-jitsu works.
Regular live rounds let kids use their technique against real resistance, with coaches supervising and keeping it safe.
Kids rehearse realistic situations, starting with words and boundaries and moving to physical defense only when there is no other choice.
Kids who want to compete can train toward it. Competing is always optional, and kids who skip it still train the full curriculum in regular classes.
Classes for this group look much closer to a teen or adult class, with coaching adapted to the age. There is more detail in each technique and more time spent training live.
Movement drills taken from the sport get kids warm and sharpen the basics they rely on in every round.
A coach teaches a technique in detail, and partners drill it back and forth until it starts to feel natural.
Kids test what they know in live rounds. Coaches supervise closely and keep the intensity appropriate for kids.
Anti-bullying scenario training is part of this program, and kids practice both the words and the physical skills for handling a bully.
Each week also highlights one virtue from our four pillars, which are Warrior Spirit, Personal Growth, Physical Fitness and Life Skills. Coaches look for kids who show that week's virtue in how they train and how they treat others, and those kids can earn a pillar stripe for it.
Kids in this range can change quickly once they commit to training. These are the things the 10 to 14 program is designed to build over the first months, and each child gets there at their own pace.
Live rounds put kids in uncomfortable positions on purpose. The program is designed to teach them to breathe and think their way out.
Scenario training is designed to give kids a plan for difficult moments, starting with words and backed by skills that work against someone bigger.
More experienced kids are encouraged to help newer classmates, which is designed to build responsibility and patience.
For kids who choose it, competition training is designed to give them a clear target and a reason to train with purpose.
Promotions are based on consistent training, technical progress, behavior and time on the mat. The Kids Promotion Guide lays out each rank from white through green.
Below are the kids class times at the Legion academy in San Diego.
| 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 |
The Sunday class at 11:00 AM is open to ages 6 and up, so it is available to every child in this group. On Tuesday and Thursday there is a 4:00 PM no-gi class as well.
The front desk can tell you which classes are the right fit for a 10 to 14 year old. The live schedule has the latest times, and you can always reach us at 858-888-1815.
Starting at Legion begins with a free private intro. Your child gets one-on-one time with a coach, and while that happens we show you around the academy and explain how the program works for kids this age. Right after, your child can take a group trial class on the same day.
The trial includes three free uniform rentals, so you have nothing to buy while you decide, and a free uniform comes with sign-up.
No. Every new student in this group begins at white belt, whatever their age. The free private intro lets your child learn some basics one on one with a coach before joining the group, so the first class does not feel like being thrown in.
No. Competition training is optional. Kids who want to test themselves can follow that path, and kids who would rather just train get the full program in their regular classes.
Live practice happens under coach supervision, and coaches keep the intensity at a level that is right for kids. Safety and self-control are a focus across the whole kids program, and partners are expected to look after each other.
Kids act out situations they might face with a bully and practice how to respond. The first tools are words and boundaries. Kids also learn how to protect themselves and others without escalating, and how to defend themselves physically if there is no other option.
Both. Kids in this group learn gi and no-gi technique. For gi classes they wear a clean gi, and for no-gi they wear a rash guard and shorts with no zippers or metal. There is also a no-gi kids class on Tuesday and Thursday at 4:00 PM.
If your family receives education or support funds, you may be able to use them here. We are set up as a vendor with Pacific Coast Academy (PCA), Literacy First Charter Schools, and San Diego Regional Center (SDRC) through Community Interface Services. For any other charter school or program, call 858-888-1815 and we will check it for you.
Head back to the main kids program page for coaches, reviews and the full picture.
See the kids program → Toddler and Preschool, ages 4 to 6Play-based fundamentals for the youngest kids, taught through games.
See toddler and preschool jiu-jitsu → Youth, ages 7 to 9Core positions, escapes and the discipline that sets kids up for this group.
See youth jiu-jitsu →Tell us a little about your child, pick a time, and come in for a private intro with a coach and a trial class.
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...
Request a Private →
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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