Your first class at
We are excited to welcome you to the mats! Here is everything you need to know before you arrive.
For the first trial class, your child does not need a specific uniform. However, for safety reasons, we ask that you follow these guidelines:
What Should I Wear?
A tight-fitting athletic t-shirt or rash guard. Loose t-shirts can get stretched or caught.
Board shorts (with no outside pockets) or athletic leggings/spats.
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.
62-19 Myrtle Ave, Glendale, New York 11385
When you arrive, look for the side door with the white “Artists in Motion” sign.
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.
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⏱ Duration: 30 Minutes
The Goal: Confidence, Body Awareness, and "Safe Contact." We don't teach toddlers to fight; we teach them how to move, fall safely, and respect their training partners through structured play.
First Bit | Attunement: We start with a "Focus Circle" and listening games. The goal here is simple: turn on the eyes, quiet the mouth, and wake up the body.
Middle Chunk | Exploration: We ditch the rigid lines. Kids build strength through animal movements (bear crawls, crab walks) and learn grappling concepts through games like "Sock Tag" or "Sumo Push." They learn to engage with a partner safely without realizing they are working out.
Final Bit | Reflection: A quick calm-down breathing reset and a 30-second lesson on confidence (e.g., "What do we do when we fall? We get back up.").
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⏱ Duration: 45 Minutes
The Goal: Focus, Coordination, and Problem Solving. At this age, we introduce "live resistance" in a safe environment. No robotic drilling—students learn to react to real movement.
First Bit | Focus Check-In: We set the standard immediately with coordination challenges and mirroring games. Students must pay attention to visual cues from their partner, not just verbal commands.
Middle Chunk | Movement & Games: We use high-energy reaction games to build athleticism. Then, students enter "The Game"—specific tasks with rules (e.g., "Keep your balance while your partner tries to hold your waist"). They learn to solve physical problems against a resisting opponent.
Final Bit | Outro: A brief wrap-up connecting the physical effort to a mental skill, focusing on trying hard rather than just winning.
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⏱ Duration: 60 Minutes
The Goal: Technique via "The Puzzle." We stop spoon-feeding moves and start challenging them to solve problems. This is where Jiu Jitsu becomes a physical chess match.
First Bit | Intention & Prep: We set a specific goal for the day, followed by competitive warm-up games (like Turtle Tag) to spike the heart rate and prep the nervous system.
Middle Chunk | Phase Work: We rotate through Standing, Passing, and Guard positions using specific "Task Games." Students are given a goal (e.g., "Get past the legs") and must solve the puzzle while their partner actively resists. This builds real skill faster than static drilling.
Final Bit | Live Rounds: Open rolling or positional sparring where students test their solutions in real-time against fully resisting partners.
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⏱ Duration: 60 Minutes
The Goal: athleticism, Agility, and Style. This is trained like a sport, not a traditional martial art. We focus on creating elite movers who can handle high-intensity rounds.
First Bit | Combat Activation: We build strength the way grapplers need it—by moving people, not metal. We utilize "Alive Strength" games like partner carries, resistance dragging, and heavy grappling-specific movements. This builds real-world power and protects joints during growth spurts, all while keeping the energy high.
Middle Chunk | Ecological Games: High-paced positional games where we restrict variables (e.g., "Top person can only pass to the left") to force adaptation. This forces the student to be creative and sharp.
Final Bit | Rounds: Hard rolling rounds and conditioning. We encourage students to explore their own style of grappling while pushing their cardio limits.