In the Gracie BullyProof® program, our goal is to instill in your child unshakable confidence so they can overcome bullies without violence. Due to the non-violent nature of the techniques, CNN, ABC, NBC, and Oprah have featured the Gracie BullyProof® program as one of the few effective counter-measures to bullying for children between the ages of 5 and 12.
This program is designed by the Gracie’s to teach children the beginning stages of Jr Grapplers (Ages 8-12), how to deal with bullies and how to have some fun. The Little Champs (Ages 5-7) program consists of 10 Gracie games that kids absolutely love! Each game has movements that build the foundation to the Jr Grapplers (Ages 8-12) techniques. They will also learn “The Rules of Engagement.” This is important so that every student knows when and when not to use the techniques they have learned. Many children even after learning the techniques will not take a stand against bullies. Fear of punishment, from school administrators and from parents, is so strong, that most children will do nothing in response to persistent verbal or physical harassment from a bully. By teaching your child the Rules of Engagement, not only will you ensure that they do not abuse their power, but you will give them a step-by-step plan to follow any time they are targeted by a bully and the assurance that you will support them in the event that they are compelled to stand up for themselves. Upon completion of Little Champs (Ages 5-7) your child will be allowed into Jr. Grapplers (Ages 8-12) where they will focus deeper by learning 33 techniques that pave the way to the Gracie Combatives® Program(Ages 13+).
CRITICAL CONFIDENCE
Studies suggest that bullying may be the leading cause of low self-esteem in children, and according to some surveys, less than 15% of kids actually report acts of bullying. Children’s inability to stand up to a bully is rooted in profound fear for their personal safety. Ironically, the victims know that they must confront the bully and would like nothing more than to stand up to them. But, they simply can’t follow through for fear of the physical harm that backs the bully’s every action. And, therein lies the challenge – how do you instill in a victim of bullying the confidence to face the tormentor, look them in the eye, and back them down? The answer is simple – teach the victims to defend themselves against physical attack, and the rest will follow.
What Gracie BullyProof® can do for Our Community
Austin McDaniel is a 14-year old boy from Indiana who loves video games and electric guitar. He gets good grades, has loving parents, and is kind to others. On one fateful day in September 2012, he had his dignity ripped away by a heartless bully who viscously assaulted him at school in front of his peers. Austin was choked from behind and subsequently knocked unconscious by a barrage of punches to the face...all of which was caught on camera by the school's security surveillance system.
After seeing the footage of the assault, Rener Gracie reached out to the McDaniel family to invite them to come to California so that Austin could rebuild what was taken from him during the attack. They accepted the offer, and in this short documentary you will witness the transformation that took place over a single week of intensive training (20+ hours of instruction) at the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy in June of 2013.
Before the assault, Austin didn't think it was possible for someone to be kind, courteous, and respectful while ALSO being strong, confident, and assertive. Now he knows otherwise. Learning Gracie Jiu-Jitsu® has given him the confidence to take a stand against bullies and the technique to defend himself non-violently should he ever need to.
On September 10, 2019, 12-year-old Luis was violently assaulted at Lakeland Middle School in Florida. Upon seeing the video, Ryron and Rener Gracie invited Luis and his family to California for one week of intensive Gracie Bullyproof® jiu-jitsu training at Gracie University headquarters. The family accepted the offer, and exactly 36 days after the incident they made it to Jiu-jitsu Heaven. This video documents their experience
Fighting Fire with Water
Most martial arts programs rely on striking the attacker with violent punches, kicks, knees, and elbows, but in the Gracie Bullyproof® program we take a different approach. All the techniques are purely defensive and utilize no strikes. Furthermore, we teach children how to defuse confrontations with words and never to initiate physical aggression. If attacked, we offer techniques to non-violently neutralize the threat and gain control until help arrives. In the Gracie Bullyproof® program, we teach the children how to fight fire with water so that you never have to worry about your child becoming a bully under our guidance. The Gracie Bullyproof® program prepares your child using a three-pronged approach:
Increased Awareness: Harassment comes in many forms. Sometimes, a victim doesn’t take a stand because they can’t differentiate between “joking” and “bullying.” We teach your child to differentiate between harmless play and harmful harassment so they know precisely when and how to act in each circumstance.
Unshakable Confidence: A confident child is a Bullyproof® child. Bullies seek “easy targets” – those who will tolerate their abuse. We arm your child with the tools needed to overcome physical, verbal, and psychological harassment, so they are so confident in themselves that no bully will try to harass them.
Total Responsibility: We prepare your child to deal with bullies without turning them into one. We emphasize discipline, responsibility, and respect throughout the course, and teach five “Rules of Engagement” to ensure they never abuse their power.
The Rules of Engagement
Teaching a child jiu-jitsu without teaching them when to use it, is akin to giving someone a gun without teaching them how to use it. Gracie Bullyproof® is the only kid’s jiu-jitsu program that actually teaches children precisely when they can, and cannot, use the techniques they are learning. The five "Rules of Engagement" are regularly rehearsed in class so that children will never abuse their power and, equally important, they will not hesitate to take a stand when abused by bullies.
Rule 1: Avoid the fight at all costs.
Rule 2: If physically attacked, defend yourself.
Rule 3: If verbally attacked, follow the Three T-steps (talk, tell, tackle).
Rule 4: Never punch or kick the bully, establish control and negotiate.
Rule 5: When applying submissions use minimal force and negotiate.
Verbal Jiu-Jitsu Training
One of the most pervasive and damaging forms of bullying is verbal harassment. Gracie Bullyproof® is the only kids' jiu-jitsu program that makes Verbal Assertiveness Training, or as we like to call it "Verbal Jiu-Jitsu," part of its regular curriculum. We've devised a series of role-playing exercises to teach kids how to identify and manage the common threats associated with verbal harassment and relational bullying. Gracie Bullyproof® students learn how to differentiate between "bullying" and "joking," and not only are kids taught how to speak assertively when necessary, but they also learn how to use direct eye contact and confident posture to deter bullies from targeting them.
“IMAGINE EVERY CHILD BEING PREPARED”
— RYRON GRACIE
Perfect Programs for Every Age
Nearly all jiu-jitsu schools have all of their youth students bunched into one class, and a few schools have classes separated by age group. The Gracie Bullyproof® program is one of the only youth jiu-jitsu programs that separates kids by age AND experience level, so that every child gets the perfect balance of fun and challenge in their weekly classes. All kids begin in super-playful entry level programs for their age group, and as soon as a child reaches a certain level of maturity, they are promoted to the next training program.
Little Champs (5-7 Years Old)
The Little Champs program is for kids 5-7 years old (we offer private lessons for children ages 3-4). Using our time-tested “Gracie Games,” we teach the Little Champs basic self-defense techniques while instilling the foundational principles of leverage and control. The secret to the success of this program is that we make the lessons so fun that the kids beg for more! Once a child masters all ten Gracie Games, they advance to the Jr. Grapplers program.
Jr. Grapplers (8-12 Years Old)
In the Jr. Grapplers program, we focus on 33 non-violent self-defense techniques that teach children to “neutralize and negotiate” with the bullies. Verbal assertiveness strategies are a major portion of this curriculum. A child needs absolutely no experience to start, and we guarantee a noticeable increase in your child’s confidence within a few weeks!
Black Belt Club (Invitation Only)
We invite children who excel in the Jr. Grapplers program to join the Black Belt Club. This is our most advanced youth jiu-jitsu program and joining the Black Belt Club is the highest honor for any youth Gracie Jiu-Jitsu® practitioner. Kids in this program possess all the traits necessary for success on the path to black belt: discipline, respect, courage, leadership, loyalty, and compassion.
“PUSH TEACHING” VS. “PULL TEACHING”
The teaching methodologies used in the Gracie BullyProof® program are unlike anything else in BJJ. Not only are all the entry-level techniques presented in the form of "jiu-jitsu" games so that kids are highly enthused about learning them, but we use "push teaching" rather than "pull teaching." When a child makes a mistake, we don't focus on the error, instead, we emphasize the correctly executed aspects of the move. Through this carefully layered positive reinforcement, we help the kids reach their full potential without jeopardizing their love for the art.
GRACIE CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
We have found that our instructors develop powerful bonds with every student on the mat, but especially with our youth practitioners. We leverage this connection to help you develop your child’s character for success in all aspects of life. The Gracie Character Development Program consists of six chapters: Responsibility, Health, Respect, Citizenship, Manners, and Caring. We spend two months on each chapter. In every class, we discuss the featured character trait for 5-10 minutes, emphasizing the simple things your child can do to make it a part of their life. The secret to success lies in our use of a unique point-based reward system that we tie to attendance at Gracie Game Day, a special two-hour party where they get to play tons of games with all the instructors and kids. Only kids who score enough points during the two-month chapter qualify to attend Gracie Game Day, so it’s a powerful incentive for kids and a useful tool for parents to encourage positive behavior at home and school. Gracie Game Day is so much fun that parents will often put on a uniform just so they can join the party!
Jiu Jitsu Changes Our Lives
It's been 5 years since Austin McDaniel was brutally assaulted by bully at a middle school in Indiana. After Ryron and Rener brought him to Torrance for one week of BULLYPROOF® training, he never got bullied again, and you won't BELIEVE how he's doing now!
Free Online Access & Free Satellite Training
Upon enrolling your child in the Gracie Bullyproof® program, you qualify for a free subscription to Gracie Bullyproof® Online. Through our interactive online curriculum, you’ll have access to detailed video instruction on every technique in the course enabling you and your child to review techniques, or learn new techniques, from home! Furthermore, if you ever take a family vacation to a destination that has a Gracie Bullyproof® Certified Training Center, your child can participate in a class free of charge!
10-Day Free Trial at Any CTC!
Most BJJ schools limit new students to one free trial class. We offer all children a 10-day risk-free trial. We’re confident that the curriculum, the camaraderie, and quality of the instruction will exceed all your expectations. If your child doesn’t have the time of their life, just let us know, and we will never charge you a penny. To take advantage of our 10-day free trial, simply contact the Certified Training Center nearest you, and we’ll schedule your child’s first class today!