Training BJJ as a family at Kaizen Academy in Venice, CA creates shared challenge, mutual growth, and a physical practice that every family member can participate in at their own level.
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is one of the few physical activities that genuinely serves every member of a family simultaneously — from toddlers (ages 3+) through adults of any age or fitness level. This post explores how families train together at Kaizen Academy in Venice, CA, what the experience looks like for different family configurations, and why BJJ is increasingly becoming the activity that replaces screen time, builds family bonds, and develops character across generations.
Most family fitness activities work for one segment of the family. Soccer is great for kids — parents watch from the sideline. Adult yoga doesn't work for toddlers. Running with a stroller is possible for infants but not meaningful physical activity for either parent.
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is genuinely different. At Kaizen Academy in Venice, CA, we regularly have families where the toddler is in kids class, the 10-year-old is in a kids class, and both parents train in the adult program — often in adjacent or overlapping time slots.
Here's what family training at Kaizen Academy actually looks like.
Our class schedule is designed to accommodate families — meaning we structure kids and adult class times with overlap so parents aren't simply waiting while their children train.
Common family training patterns at Kaizen:
Parent trains while kid watches, then kid trains while parent cools down. Overlapping classes mean transitions are smooth and time at the gym is efficient.
Both parents train while kids are in class simultaneously. Families with multiple kids in our program and two adult practitioners often have all family members on the mat at the same time.
One parent trains the adult class while the other observes the kids class. Many parents find watching their child's BJJ class from the sideline genuinely enjoyable — the developmental progress is visible and consistent.
Children who have a parent training BJJ alongside them experience something specific and valuable: they see their parent as a beginner. A parent who is also learning something, who also gets things wrong, who also has to ask questions and practice fundamentals — normalizes the learning process in a way that watching a parent be competent at everything doesn't.
This modeling of the growth mindset is one of the most underappreciated benefits of family BJJ training. Kids who see their parent showing up and working through difficulty learn that adults do hard things too — and that struggle doesn't mean failure.
Beyond the obvious fitness and self-defense benefits, parents who train alongside their children report:
A shared vocabulary. When your 8-year-old mentions they finally hit the scissor sweep in class and you know exactly what that means — and can celebrate it specifically — the connection is real and meaningful.
Mutual motivation. "Dad trained today, I should train too." "My kid showed up even though they didn't feel like it — I should do the same." Family training creates accountability in both directions.
Seeing your child in a new context. Watching a child navigate challenge, frustration, and breakthrough on the mat shows you a version of them you don't see at the dinner table. Many parents describe this as one of the most meaningful parts of the experience.
Both adult and kids first classes at Kaizen Academy are completely free. You don't need to coordinate complex schedules to try — simply book a trial for the family members you want to start and come see how it feels.
2014 Lincoln Blvd, Venice, CA 90291. (424) 299-1563.