Kids Jiu Jitsu at Elite Edge
Kids Jiu Jitsu in Ankeny
Kids Jiu Jitsu in Ankeny
Ages 5–15 · Elite Edge Kids Jiu Jitsu serves families in the Ankeny and Des Moines area with beginner-friendly Brazilian Jiu Jitsu instruction for children. Classes combine technique, partner drills, games and age-appropriate training while emphasizing confidence, discipline, fitness, respect and perseverance.
See it in action
Watch the training.
See what a real Elite Edge class feels like before you take your first step through the door.
Kids Kickboxing at Elite Edge
Quick facts · Ages 5–15
Confidence, built through practice.
ProgramKids Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
Experience neededNone for beginners
What kids practiceMovement, positions, escapes, control, grappling skills and safe partner training
Life-skill emphasisConfidence, discipline, respect, perseverance and teamwork
Teaching formatInstruction, drills, games, positional training and short mat chats
CoachesJoe Brammer and Josh Neer — BJJ black belts under Cesar Gracie
Location6717 NE 15th Street, Des Moines, IA 50313 — serving Ankeny families
A place to earn confidence
You Can Tell a Kid to “Be More Confident”… Or You Can Give Them a Place to Earn It.
Elite Edge Kids Jiu Jitsu serves families in the Ankeny and Des Moines area with beginner-friendly Brazilian Jiu Jitsu instruction for children. Classes combine technique, partner drills, games and age-appropriate training.
Real confidence grows when a child attempts something difficult, struggles, practices, improves and realizes: “I can do this.”
What kids can build
More than an armbar. Habits that matter.
Confidence & discipline
Learn something hard, practice it, listen and do the work even when the skill is not easy.
Fitness & coordination
Build balance, body awareness, coordination and general physical fitness through movement.
Respect & teamwork
Training partners take care of each other. Kids learn that the person across from them is a teammate.
What happens during class?
Structured, active and age-appropriate.
Warm up
Movement and coordination games help kids get ready to learn.
Learn & practice
Technique of the day, partner practice, skill-building games and drills.
Connect the lesson
Age-appropriate positional training and a short mat chat connecting respect, confidence and perseverance to life outside the gym.
Competition is optional. Some kids eventually want tournaments; others simply love training. Both can benefit from Jiu Jitsu.
Capability with control
And No… The Goal Is Not to Turn Your Kid Into a Tiny Cage Fighter
Kids learn real grappling skills. They also learn that having a skill does not mean looking for an excuse to use it. Good martial arts training should pair capability with control, respect and responsibility.
What kids can build
What Kids Can Build Through Jiu Jitsu
Confidence
Confidence grows from competence. Learn something hard. Practice it. Get better. Repeat.
Discipline
Progress requires listening, practicing and doing the work even when the skill is not easy.
Perseverance
A technique may not work the first time — or the fifth. Kids learn to adjust, try again and keep going.
Fitness & Coordination
Jiu Jitsu gets kids moving while developing balance, body awareness, coordination and general physical fitness.
Problem Solving
Every position creates a problem: Where do I move? How do I escape? How do I keep my balance? It is physical and mental at the same time.
Respect & Teamwork
Training only works when partners take care of each other. Kids learn that the person across from them is a teammate helping them improve.
Parents ask
What About Bullying?
No martial art can promise that a child will never encounter bullying. Jiu Jitsu can give children practice staying composed under pressure, controlling their body and working against physical resistance. Just as important, responsible coaching reinforces restraint and appropriate behavior.
We Hide a Lot of Learning Inside Games
Kids learn better when they are engaged. So whenever possible, we turn important Jiu Jitsu concepts into games and challenges. They think they are playing. We know they are practicing balance, base, reaction, positioning, coordination and teamwork. Everybody wins.
The real goal
Build habits that matter beyond the mat.
We want kids to practice habits that matter: show up, listen, work hard, be a good teammate, handle frustration, learn from mistakes and try again when something is difficult.
Common questions
Jiu Jitsu questions, answered.
Is Jiu Jitsu good for kids?
Jiu Jitsu gives children an opportunity to develop physical skills while practicing listening, discipline, problem solving, teamwork and perseverance.
Does my child need martial arts experience?
No. Beginners are welcome and do not need previous Jiu Jitsu, wrestling or martial arts experience.
Can Jiu Jitsu help my child’s confidence?
Children repeatedly learn difficult skills, practice them and see measurable improvement. Those experiences can help them develop greater confidence in their abilities.
Is Jiu Jitsu appropriate for a shy child?
It can be. Children do not need to be the loudest or most outgoing person in the room. A structured class lets them participate and develop skills gradually.
Can parents watch Kids Jiu Jitsu classes?
Parents interested in the program should contact Elite Edge about observing or trying a class. Seeing the coaching environment firsthand is one of the easiest ways to decide whether it is a good fit.
Parents: come watch
See the coaches. Watch the room.
6717 NE 15th Street, Des Moines, IA 50313
Serving families throughout Ankeny, Des Moines and surrounding Central Iowa communities.
The next step
Schedule your child’s first class.
You will learn more from experiencing a class than from reading another 47 martial arts websites.
Take the next step
Claim a Kids Jiu Jitsu session.
Tell the Elite Edge team about your child and we will help you find the right first-class next step.
What happens next
A coach will review your inquiry, answer your questions, and help you choose the right starting point.
Beginner-friendly · No obligation · Serving Ankeny, Des Moines and Central Iowa
Your information stays with Elite Edge and is used only to contact you about your inquiry.
Free 5-Day Trial
Try Kids Jiu Jitsu on us.
Fill in your details and a coach will call you to book your first class at the location that suits you — Ankeny or Waukee.
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