“Jiu-jitsu is a great developer of character, builds their courage, work on friendships with other kids. They close their fears.” Prof. Kayron Gracie

The Gracie Barra Competition Network (Compnet) brings together schools in the Gracie Barra family and provides students a chance to test their skills and gain experience in a safe, structured competition environment.

Why is it important and enjoyable for young people to compete in a jiu-jitsu tournament?

Gracie Barra Compnet Highlights, and the impact Jiu Jitsu has on children

One black belt said that training and competing in jiu-jitsu provided mental training in effort, perseverance and ability to deal with success and failure. Real life contains both sides of successes and failure and jiu-jitsu helps “inoculate” the students for the challenges that they will face in real life.

“ I think that jiu-jitsu will teach certain values to kids that they can learn anywhere else.
The way that jiu-jitsu teaches discipline, courage, respect and cooperation is very unique to that lifestyle that the Gracie family created around it.” – Prof. Marcio Feitosa

The pressure and heightened intensity of a tournament match can provide preparation for stressful encounters like bullying that unfortunately plagues many young people. A bjj student has some exposure to the heightened adrenaline of a bjj tournament can more likely remain cool in a difficult bullying situation.

For those students who desire to compete in jiu-jitsu as their main sport throughout their child and teenage years, the Compnet provides a solid beginner experience.

“They believe in themselves and make their personality. When they go outside and face a big tournament they don’t have the impact of that challenge because they already learned to manage that before in a nice environment with the structures around. With their friends. I think this helps with their goal.” Master Carlos Gracie Jr.

on Gracie Barra : Gracie Barra Kids : Part 1

on Gracie Barra : Gracie Barra Kids : Part 2

Credits: Mark Mullen 
Gracie Barra Black belt based in Saigon, Vietnam
Twitter: @MarkMullenBJJ