Your first class at

We are excited to welcome you to the mats! Here is everything you need to know before you arrive.

What Should I Wear?

For the first trial class, your child does not need a specific uniform. However, for safety reasons, we ask that you follow these guidelines:

Board shorts (with no outside pockets) or athletic leggings/spats.

A tight-fitting athletic t-shirt or rash guard. Loose t-shirts can get stretched or caught.

NO zippers, buttons, or plastic loops. These can scratch training partners or damage the mats.

We train barefoot. Please have your child wear flip-flops or slides to the gym so they can easily take them off at the edge of the mat.

Where to find us

Grapple House operates inside Artists in Motion Dance Center, located on Myrtle Ave in Queens.

When you arrive, look for the side door with the white “Artists in Motion” sign.

62-19 Myrtle Ave, Glendale, New York 11385

Please arrive 15 minutes early to sign waivers and get your child settled.

Take the M to Fresh Pond Rd, or take the L to Myrtle/Wycoff Ave and the Q55 bus to Myrtle Ave/62 St. 

 

hygiene & safety

Jiu Jitsu is a close-contact sport. To keep everyone healthy, please ensure:

Fingernails and toenails are trimmed short to prevent scratching.

Clothes are freshly washed.

Remove all jewelry (necklaces, earrings, bracelets) before stepping on the mats.

If you are sick, please stay home. We will happily reschedule your trial!

What Happens in Class?

We don't mix toddlers with teens.

Our classes are split by age and development phase, ensuring your child gets exactly what they need—whether that's a fun game to build focus or technical drilling to build skill.

  • ⏱ Duration: 30 Minutes

    We focus on general body awareness and "rough and tumble" play to build confidence.

    • 00:00-05:00 | Attunement: Welcome circle and "Focus Games" to prepare the eyes, mind, and body for activity.

    • 05:00-25:00 | Exploration: We play movement games (animal walks, balancing) followed by simple opposition games to introduce safe physical contact.

    • 25:00-30:00 | Reflection: Calm-down breathing and a quick lesson on a specific life skill.

  • ⏱ Duration: 45 Minutes

    We use "live" games to teach grappling logic, starting with a strict emphasis on attention and control.

    • 00:00-05:00 | Focus Check-In: We set the standard immediately with our "Focus Eyes, Mind, and Body" check and a short attention game.

    • 05:00-12:00 | Movement Warm-Up: High-energy reaction games (hops, rolls, mirroring) to build coordination before contact.

    • 12:00-40:00 | Constraint-Led Games: Students play specific tasks with rules (e.g., "Keep your balance while I try to hug your waist"). They solve problems against real resistance immediately.

    • 40:00-45:00 | Outro: A brief wrap-up connecting the physical game to a mental lesson.

  • ⏱ Duration: 60 Minutes

    We focus on skill acquisition through "Aliveness"—learning by doing, not just watching.

    • 00:00-10:00 | Intention & Prep: Goal setting followed by competitive warmup games (e.g., Turtle Tag) to spike the heart rate.

    • 10:00-45:00 | Phase Work: We rotate through Standing, Passing, and Guard using specific task-games. Students must solve the "puzzle" of the position while their partner actively resists.

    • 45:00-60:00 | Live Rounds: Free rolling or positional sparring where students test their solutions in real-time.

  • ⏱ Duration: 75 Minutes

    A high-intensity environment focused on athletic development and complex problem solving.

    • 00:00-15:00 | Athletic Prep: Multi-directional movement and reaction drills designed to build agility and athleticism.

    • 15:00-55:00 | Ecological Games: High-paced positional games where we restrict variables (e.g., "Top person can only pass to the left") to force adaptation.

    • 55:00-75:00 | Rounds: Harder rolling rounds and conditioning, encouraging students to explore their own style of grappling.