Grapple House NYC — About
Head Coach
Keith Vartanian.
I've been coaching kids in martial arts for over a decade. I've learned a lot about what actually works, and built Grapple House around those lessons. This is the school I always wanted to run.
Glendale, Queens · 2026
Background
Ten years of coaching in a system that prioritizes discipline over fun. That can work, but I wanted an approach that facilitated longevity in the sport — and not because Mom or Dad said so.
I'm a second-degree black belt in Taekwondo and a purple belt in BJJ. I also coach a kids' competition team at a premiere school in Manhattan — kids who've taken gold at IBJJF and JJWL championships. I know how to build good grapplers.
Grapple House is built around the things I've seen make a real difference over the years — a culture where kids feel safe to fail and try again, and a teaching approach that gives them real skills, not just a routine to memorize.
"The goal isn't to make tough kids. It's to make kids who know what they're capable of."
Why Jiu-Jitsu
Wrestling is the oldest sport humans ever invented.
Before belt systems, before uniforms, before any of that — people wrestled. It's not just exercise. It's a problem-solving environment that puts a kid's whole nervous system to work. They're reading a moving body, managing physical pressure, adjusting in real time. You can't fake your way through it.
That's what sets grappling apart from almost every other sport a kid can do. No-gi BJJ specifically — no uniform to grab, all leverage, all pressure, all movement — is about as honest as it gets.
Philosophy
Two things most schools get wrong.
Culture
High expectations and a calm environment aren't opposites. We set firm boundaries and hold kids accountable — without making the mat feel like a place where mistakes get punished. That's how you keep kids coming back.
How they practice
We use Ecological Dynamics — structured games with rules that force kids to solve real grappling problems against a live partner. Instead of watching and repeating, they're discovering. That's how it actually sticks.
Class structure
What actually happens in class.
Get them focused
We skip the generic warm-up. Class starts with Focus Circles and games like Turtle Tag. The energy in the room shifts fast — they're locked in before we even get to technique.
Learn by doing
We use task games — structured problems against a resisting partner. Kids aren't watching a move get explained for 10 minutes. They're figuring it out with their body, which is the only way it actually goes in during a real roll.
Finish strong
Older kids get live rolling. Younger kids cool down with a Breathing Reset and a Word of the Day — something like Perseverance or Patience. We connect what they just did on the mat to something they can carry with them.
What parents are saying
From the Grapple House community.
"My 10 year old son, who never volunteers, is always volunteering to go first. My son is autistic, so seeing him actively engaged is beautiful to see. Coach Keith is mindful of each child's strength and needs."
"It's not about fighting — it's about problem-solving, discipline, and self-control. The instructors teach the kids to stay calm, assess what's happening, and use smart movements to handle challenges."
"My 4 year old son joined Grapple House and it was one of the best decisions I've made. Coach Keith is super patient but also stern when necessary, which I appreciate. My son looks forward to Mondays."
"Came in for a trial and signed up on the spot. Coach Keith does an incredible job teaching the kids through unique games and challenges while keeping them focused and having fun. My 7 year old looks forward to class every week."
★ All reviews verified on Google
Ready?
Come see it for yourself.
First class is free. No pitch, no pressure — just come watch what a good class actually looks like.
Book a free trial