Jiu-Jitsu for Elizabethtown Area School District Families

If your family lives in the Elizabethtown Area School District, you probably have more than one age in the house. One child fits a kids class. Another is in middle school or high school and has outgrown it. Maybe someone wrestles. This guide explains where each of them starts at Elizabethtown BJJ, and what it costs when more than one of you trains.

New to the sport? Start with what BJJ is.

The short version: children ages 5 to 12 take the Kids Class. Teens train in the adult room, starting at Tuesday Fundamentals. Wrestlers start there too. A second family member pays half.

Elizabethtown BJJ is an independent academy. We are not affiliated with the school district, its schools, or its teams.

Kids ages 5 to 12: the Kids Class

The Kids Class is for ages 5 to 12. It meets on Saturdays, 3:00–4:00 PM. It teaches movement, self-defense, and how to train safely with a partner, and parents can watch. The kids jiu-jitsu page describes a class, and the Kids Program explains what the coaching focuses on.

Ages are a guide, not a gate. A child a little younger than 5 or a little older than 12 is placed by a coach. A small 13-year-old and a big 11-year-old are different cases, and so are a shy 5-year-old and a confident one. Bring your child in, and the coach will tell you which room fits.

Our parents' guide to kids jiu-jitsu covers the first class, what to bring, and how to tell whether your child is enjoying it.

Teens 13 to 17: the adult room

There is no separate teen program. Teens 13 to 15 train with the adults. So do 16- and 17-year-olds. They train with adult partners and the same coaches. We would rather say that plainly than call an adult class a teen class.

A new teen starts where a new adult starts. New adult? Start Tuesday Fundamentals. Fundamentals is 6:00–7:00 PM. It is the beginner class: the coach teaches positions and escapes step by step before anyone spars hard. Tuesday night Fundamentals is a mixed family night for all ages, where older kids and adults can roll together. The Saturday Kids Class is not mixed. After a few weeks, a teen can add other classes from the schedule as the coach suggests.

A coach runs every class, a tap ends the round right away, and anyone can sit out a round. If you are a parent, you are welcome to watch the first class.

Elizabethtown Area High School wrestlers in the off-season

Wrestlers tend to like jiu-jitsu. It is grappling, it is hard work, and it is open all year. A wrestler who wants mat time in the spring and summer can train with us like any other student. To be clear, we have no relationship with Elizabethtown Area High School or its wrestling team. This is ordinary training at an independent academy.

A wrestler starts at Tuesday Fundamentals too. Your takedowns, top pressure, and conditioning will help, but the rules are different. Jiu-jitsu wins by submission, there is no pin, and fighting from your back is normal. Our article on moving from wrestling to BJJ explains what carries over and what changes. The BJJ vs. wrestling comparison sets out the rules side by side.

Three habits keep a wrestler and their partners safe:

• Tap early, and let go when your partner taps. A tap ends the round right away.
• Match the pace of the drill. A cooperative drill is not a live match.
• Keep the two sports separate. Chokes and joint locks stay in the jiu-jitsu class. They are illegal in folkstyle.

Talk to your wrestling coach about how extra training fits your season and your weight. The wrestling team decides that, not us.

What it costs for a family

Everyone starts with the same offer. Two weeks of training and a free gi cost $59. It is open to anyone, new or returning, and it is a one-time offer. After that, training is $75 a month, month to month, with no contracts.

The first family member pays the regular rate. After that, any additional family member is half off, kids and adults alike. Family members do not have to live in the same household. So a parent and a child, or two siblings, pay the regular rate once and half for the second person. Current details are on the pricing page.

Your first visit

Just show up. No email needed, whether you want to watch, take a free trial class or start training. No gi is required for a trial class: we will lend you one. Arrive 10 to 15 minutes early and bring workout clothes and water. There is plenty of parking, with a lot plus off-street spots. Tell the coach who is training: a child, a teen, a wrestler, or a parent.

Common questions

What age is the Kids Class?

The Kids Class is for ages 5 to 12. A child a little younger than 5 or a little older than 12 is placed by a coach. Bring them in, and the coach will put them in the Kids Class or the adult room.

Is there a teen jiu-jitsu class in Elizabethtown?

No. There is no separate teen program. Teens 13 to 15 train with the adults. So do 16- and 17-year-olds. A new teen starts at Tuesday Fundamentals, the same class every new adult starts in.

Can a high school wrestler train jiu-jitsu in the off-season?

Yes. A wrestler starts at Tuesday Fundamentals like any other new student, then adds classes from the schedule. Tell the coach you wrestle so they can explain where the rules differ. We have no relationship with the school or its wrestling team, so check with your wrestling coach about how the training fits your season.

Is there a family discount?

The first family member pays the regular rate. After that, any additional family member is half off, kids and adults alike. Family members do not have to live in the same household.

Start this week

Pick a class on the schedule: the Kids Class on Saturday for ages 5 to 12, and Tuesday Fundamentals for teens, wrestlers, and parents. Then claim the startup special: two weeks of training and a free gi for $59. Start your $59 trial.