The Gracie Institute provides free jiu-jitsu training for children facing anxiety, bullying, focus challenges, and emotional struggles — helping them build confidence, discipline, and resilience through the principles of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu.
Built by members of the Gracie family, whose martial arts legacy has helped generations develop confidence, discipline, and resilience through jiu-jitsu.
Millions of children in the US struggle with anxiety, focus challenges, and the effects of bullying. They need something they actively look forward to — something that builds confidence naturally.
Anxiety can affect a child's confidence, relationships, participation in school, and everyday experiences.
Some children struggle to connect with peers or feel comfortable participating in social environments.
Difficulty maintaining attention can affect learning, communication, and participation in structured activities.
Bullying can affect a child's confidence, sense of safety, relationships, and willingness to participate socially.
Often described as “human chess,” Jiu-Jitsu demands attention, problem-solving, and complete engagement with the present moment. Through structured training, children face challenges, develop skills, experience progress, and learn to remain composed under pressure.
“The Gracie Institute uses Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu as a tool for youth development — helping young people build confidence, resilience, discipline, and a stronger sense of self.”— The Gracie Institute
Training demands complete presence, requiring sustained attention and present-moment focus.
Progressive skill development lets children experience tangible achievement and build self-belief.
Children practice remaining composed in challenging situations — skills that can carry into everyday life.
Training creates opportunities for positive social connection, teamwork, and peer support.
Working through challenges on the mat provides opportunities to practice composure and persistence.
Our program is designed for children who could benefit from a supportive, structured environment that builds confidence and resilience.
Children who may benefit include those dealing with:
Training is provided free of charge. If your child is struggling and you think jiu-jitsu could help, we want to hear from you.
From school outreach to ongoing support, every step is designed to help your child grow.
We partner with local schools to identify children who would benefit from our program.
We learn about each child's circumstances, goals, and needs to determine whether the program is a good fit and connect them with an appropriate academy.
Children train 2-3 times per week at a nearby certified academy with instructors experienced in working with youth.
We track progress and maintain communication with parents and schools to support each child's continued development.
A growing body of peer-reviewed research explores how martial arts training may support children's development and emotional wellbeing.
Our programs are designed to complement, not replace, professional mental-health care when it is needed.
A randomized school-based study found that boys participating in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu showed improvements in teacher-rated emotional symptoms, hyperactivity/inattention, overall difficulties, and externalizing problems compared with traditional physical education.
A systematic review and meta-analysis examined martial arts training across a range of mental-health outcomes and found evidence of potential psychological benefits, while also highlighting limitations in the available research.
A large systematic review found generally positive associations between sport participation and several psychological and social outcomes in children and adolescents, although effects varied by sport, study design, and population.
A systematic review of longitudinal studies found inconsistent effects of martial arts training on youth behavior, concluding that outcomes may depend substantially on program structure, educational goals, instructor guidance, and training context.
Our growing network of certified academies across the Northeast ensures that geography is never a barrier to support.
A curated network of schools meeting rigorous standards for instruction quality and safety.
Urban, suburban, and rural communities — children train at locations close to home.
Our growth plan extends to national impact, helping thousands of children thrive.
Choose the option that fits you best.
Tell us about your child and we'll connect you with a program near you.
Your support gives a child access to free jiu-jitsu training and mentorship.
Schools, academies, and organizations — let's work together to reach more children.