Kids Program
Little Dippers
Ages 4–7 — Structure — Discipline — Fun
Classes designed to keep young kids engaged, active, and learning — through games, movement drills, and partner activities that build real skills.
Start Your Free Week Trial“Nick’s experience and passion for grappling makes him a great instructor. He leads the kids and adults by example and upholds the values of his affiliations proudly. I would highly recommend North Star Jiu Jitsu if you’re in the area.”
Class Times
When Little Dippers Trains
Two classes a week, both at 4:30 PM so the routine is easy to build a week around.
-
Afternoon
4:30 PM 2 days a week- Monday
- Wednesday
2 classes a week in total. See the full weekly schedule →
Membership
What It Costs
- First week free — no signup fee, no contract
- Family discount: 25% off each additional family member, up to 50% off
- Cancel whenever — membership is month to month
Classroom Standards
Our Three Core Rules
Every student is expected to follow three non-negotiable rules. These rules create a structured, safe, and productive learning environment where every child can grow.
Listen and Focus
- Stay engaged and face forward
- Do not distract partners during instruction
- Raise your hand to ask questions
Be Respectful
- Be kind and friendly to your training partners
- Treat your coach and teammates with respect
- Never attempt to hurt your partner
Give Your Best Effort
- Lock in and work hard, even during games
- Practice what you learned that day, one step at a time
- Help build up new students who are struggling
How Kids Learn
Learning Through Play
At ages 4–7, kids learn by moving and by doing, and that's exactly what our classes are built around. Every "game" in this class is designed to keep kids engaged while teaching real jiu jitsu concepts — here's an example of what a class might look like:
How the Games Connect
Each class strings games together into one connected flow.
- 1
Double Knee-Tap Game
Kids learn to get past their partner's hands — often the single biggest thing standing between them and their partner's legs.
- 2
The Turtle Game
Next, they work on escaping the turtle position — one of the most common spots a kid ends up after getting taken down.
- 3
Double Leg Game
Then it comes together: finishing the same takedown they just set up, using the scrambling instincts from the turtle game to keep going even if the first attempt doesn't land clean.
- 4
Sumo Wrestling
Class wraps with a kid favorite — the only goal is to push your partner out of bounds.
The Instructors Go First
Before every game, Coach Nick and Martha demonstrate it live — real movement, real energy, 20 to 30 seconds. Kids see exactly what they're about to do and get excited before they ever step in.
What They Actually Learn
Structured Curriculum
Kids Jiu Jitsu here runs on a written nine-month curriculum. It's divided into three blocks — Guard and Passing, Wrestling, and Submissions. Each block runs for three months and covers one topic per month, so a full cycle is nine topics over nine months. After the ninth month the cycle starts over, adding new details for more experienced athletes and a refresher on the same material for anyone who needs it.
- 3 blocks
- 3 months per block, one topic each
- 9 topics in a full cycle
Little Dippers and Rising Stars work through the same curriculum. What changes is the teaching method: with the 4–7 group the same positions are taught through games, partner activities and short repetitions suited to their attention span.
Our goal is to teach kids Jiu Jitsu in a structured way: clear goals, objective metrics of success through progress reports, and a full system of grappling that prepares them for competition while giving them genuine self defense skills that stay with them from a young age into adulthood.
- Flat Half Passing + Halfguard
- Closed Guard Top and Bottom
- Loose Passing + Guard Retention
- Single Leg + Wizzer/Dogfight
- Double Leg + Sprawling
- Front Headlock + Inside Ties
- Turtle + Back Control
- Closed Guard + Back Control
- Mount + Back Control
Staying Informed
Monthly Reports and Quarterly Report Cards
Progress at Northstar Jiu Jitsu is intentional and documented. Each month parents receive a report, and every quarter — at the end of each three-month curriculum block — parents receive a full report card of their child's progress. Progress is measured objectively, based on the level of understanding a student demonstrates from class to class.
Generally speaking, younger kids take much more time to see progress than older kids. Both programs are designed to teach young athletes the same fundamental skills, but are structured differently to suit their age group.
Kids improve at different paces — some kids will be better at certain concepts than others. But regardless of the speed of improvement, progress takes time, years in fact. A green belt, the highest belt achievable for kids, takes on average 8 years of consistent training to acquire, but demonstrates a level of mastery in grappling that would warrant an automatic promotion to purple belt (the belt required to become an instructor or referee, i.e. a professional) upon reaching 16 years of age.
Example report shown with placeholder names.
Ready to Sign Up Your Child?
No experience needed. No contract. No signup fee. Try a full week free.
Contact Us to Get StartedFor Parents
Common Questions From Parents
You're welcome to stay and watch. There's seating along the edge of the mat, and the whole room is visible from the front — so you can see exactly how your child is coached, what they're working on, and how they're doing with the three core rules.
Come watch a class before you sign up. Coach Nick is happy to answer questions before or after.
Is Jiu Jitsu Safe for Kids?
Classes are structured, supervised, and built around respect, control, and safe partner practice.
Does My Child Need Experience?
No. Most kids begin with zero experience and learn step by step through coaching, drills, games, and live practice.
What Does the First Kids Class Look Like?
Students are introduced to the rules, basic movements, simple techniques, and partner activities in a structured, beginner-friendly environment.
How Do You Keep Classes Structured?
Classes follow clear rules, consistent routines, focused instruction, and age-appropriate training so students know what is expected.