30/08/2026
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about what we really mean when we say Jiu-Jitsu “empowers” kids. I don’t think empowerment means creating situations where a child always gets to win, always feels strong, or always gets the experience they want. Jiu-Jitsu teaches something much more useful. A child can try incredibly hard and still lose. They can be pinned by someone more skilled. They can become frustrated. They can tap. And when they tap, the other person lets go. Then five minutes later, the roles might be reversed. Now they’re the one with the dominant position. Someone taps beneath them, and it’s their responsibility to let go immediately. Over and over, they experience both sides of power. Someone can be stronger than me and still respect my boundary. I can be stronger than someone else and I have a responsibility to respect theirs. That’s why I think good Jiu-Jitsu teaches something deeper than confidence. It teaches kids that they can be powerful without always being in power. And that’s a lesson that reaches a long way beyond the mats.