Most of the parents who walk through our door at Artists in Motion have never seen a jiu-jitsu class before, let alone dropped their kid into the middle of one. So here's what actually happens, from the second you walk in to the second class ends.
We're at 62-19 Myrtle Ave in Glendale, through the side door of Artists in Motion — Sabrina's dance studio, which is where we run out of. Come about fifteen minutes early. That's not padding. We need that time to get a waiver signed and get your kid comfortable in the room before we start moving.
What they wear matters more than people expect.
- All-black top — a rash guard if you've got one, an athletic tee if you don't. No zippers, no buttons, no pockets.
- Board shorts or leggings on the bottom. No pockets there either.
- We train barefoot, so bring something to slide on for the walk in and out.
- No jewelry, including earrings.
- Fingernails and toenails trimmed short before they get here.
None of that is a style rule. A zipper or a loose button can cut a training partner during live grappling, and we're not willing to have a kid get hurt over a hoodie.
Once the waiver's done, your kid heads into whatever their age group is doing that day. I don't run one class for four-year-olds and one for eleven-year-olds and pretend that's the same thing — every age band gets its own structure, built around what actually holds their attention and what their bodies can do at that age. A five-year-old and an eleven-year-old are not doing the same session, even if it looks like the same sport from the doorway.
The first few minutes are usually the hardest part, and that's true for almost every kid who's ever walked in here. New room, new adults, new rules about touching people. That discomfort is supposed to be there — it isn't a sign something's wrong. By the second rotation, most kids have stopped watching the door and started paying attention to their partner instead. That's the part I actually care about on day one. Not whether they're any good. Whether they came back for day two.
If you want the full rundown on gear and the class schedule before you book, it's on the First Class page. Or just show up and ask me directly.