Monterey, CA · Kids Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu · Ages 3–14
The kid who walks in shy walks out standing taller.
Kids Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Monterey, ages 3 to 14 — seven days a week, Saturday and Sunday (no one else in town runs both). Your child learns to stay calm, win and lose with grace, and handle themselves without starting fights. First week’s free, and you watch every minute from the parent lobby.
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Ages 3–14
small classes, grouped by age, never thrown in with the adults
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Age-appropriate technique
taught through games that teach real grappling
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A parent lobby
stay and watch every class, every time
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Nothing to buy for the free week
no uniform fee, free first week
You don’t drop nothing off and hope for the best here — you sit ten feet away and watch your kid grow.
What it actually does for them
You’re not signing them up for a sport. You’re handing them a temperament.
Maybe your kid is the one who melts down when they lose. Maybe they’re the quiet one who’d never stand up for themselves. Maybe they have energy with nowhere to put it. You’re not looking for a trophy shelf — you’re looking for a calmer, steadier, more confident kid.
That’s the part of jiu-jitsu most people miss. On the mat, a child runs into a problem they can’t tantrum their way out of — and learns, rep by rep, that staying calm and thinking is how you solve it. They learn to lose a round, shake hands, and go again. They learn exactly how strong they are, which is precisely why they stop needing to prove it. The confidence isn’t a pep talk; it comes from doing hard things and finding out they can.
“I’ve enjoyed watching my little girl build confidence and have watched her do things I didn’t even know she was capable of. She has learned sportsmanship and has built great bonds with her classmates and coaches.” — Maria D., parent of a 4-year-old member
And because it’s No-Gi grappling — not striking — the goal is never to hit harder. It’s control. A kid who knows how to control a bigger kid almost never has to.
The thing no one else offers
Soccer ate Saturday? Bring them Sunday instead.
AOE is the only academy in the Monterey area that runs kids jiu-jitsu seven days a week — Saturday and Sunday included. Every other gym in town closes the kids program on the weekend or runs it weekdays only. We don’t.
That matters more than it sounds. Most families lose two or three weekday afternoons to traffic, homework, and a parent stuck late at work. When the only class times are 4 PM on a Tuesday, the week wins and the kid quietly drops the sport. With morning classes Saturday and Sunday — plus weekday afternoons — missing one day never means missing the week. Your kid keeps the habit, keeps the friends, keeps the momentum.
Weekday afternoons run from 3:00 to 6:00 PM, grouped by age; weekend classes run 9:00–10:00 AM Saturday and Sunday.
Who actually teaches your kid
Coaches the kids listen to — and a room parents can trust.
Your child’s classes are led by the AOE kids coaching team, including Coach Gabriel Salazar — bilingual, patient, and good at holding a room of restless kids without turning class into chaos. Kids move through games, so they think they’re playing while they’re actually drilling real technique.
Behind the kids program is the same technical standard that shapes the adult No-Gi room: controlled movement, real fundamentals, and coaches who teach confidence without turning the room into a toughness contest. Having that level of care inside a kids program is not normal for a town this size.
So your kid gets patience, structure, and real Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu fundamentals in the same room. You rarely get all three.
Kids class times
Here’s the week, including the days everyone else is closed.
Grouped by age — all No-Gi Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, plus Kids Kickboxing on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. Weekday afternoons after school, plus both weekend mornings — so there’s almost always a class that fits your family’s week.
| Day | Class | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Tue · Thu | Kids No-Gi, ages 3–4 | 3:00–3:45 PM |
| Mon · Wed · Fri | Kids No-Gi, ages 5–9 | 4:00–5:00 PM |
| Mon · Wed · Fri | Kids No-Gi, ages 10–14 | 5:00–6:00 PM |
| Tue · Thu | Kids Kickboxing, ages 5–9 / 10–14 | 4:00–6:00 PM |
| Saturday | Kids class, ages 6+ | 9:00–10:00 AM |
| Sunday | Kids class, ages 6+ | 9:00–10:00 AM |
Weekend mornings are a single kids class, ages 6 and up. Not sure which class fits your child? Call and we’ll place them in the right one.
Para las familias
En AOE, hablamos español.
Si te sientes más cómoda hablando español, aquí estás en casa. En AOE atendemos a nuestras familias en tu idioma de principio a fin: María, la dueña y directora de la academia, habla solo español, y el coach Gabriel, quien enseña a los niños, es bilingüe. Nunca vas a quedarte sin entender una respuesta sobre el horario, las clases o tu inscripción.
Enseñamos jiu-jitsu brasileño a niños de 3 a 14 años, siete días a la semana — incluyendo sábado y domingo, algo que ninguna otra academia de Monterey ofrece. Tu hijo aprende a mantener la calma bajo presión, a ganar y perder con respeto, y a defenderse sin tener que pelear. Tú lo puedes ver todo desde la sala de espera para padres.
La primera semana es completamente gratis, sin compromiso, y no hay que comprar nada para empezar: ropa deportiva cómoda es suficiente. Ven, observa una clase y deja que tu hijo lo pruebe.
What parents ask us first
The questions every parent asks before the first class.
What age can my child start jiu-jitsu?
Three. AOE’s youngest kids class is built specifically for ages 3–4, and the program runs all the way through age 14 — a 3–4 class, a 5–9 class, and a 10–14 class. Classes are grouped by age, so a young child is never matched against a much bigger kid. If you’re unsure your child is ready, come watch a class first.
Is Brazilian jiu-jitsu safe for young kids?
Yes — and it’s why we teach grappling rather than striking. There’s no punching or kicking; the goal is control, not impact. The AOE kids coaches run class through age-appropriate games and drills, kids are paired by size and age, and you watch the whole class from the parent lobby.
Does my child need a uniform or any gear?
Not to start. Comfortable athletic clothes are fine for the first week — there’s no uniform fee to begin. The current BJJ schedule is No-Gi only, so there is no Gi to buy before your child starts. Just bring your kid for the free week first.
Will jiu-jitsu make my kid more aggressive?
The opposite, in our experience. A child who actually knows how to handle themselves stops feeling the need to prove it. Jiu-jitsu teaches control, composure, and how to lose a round and shake hands — the foundation of the confidence that prevents fights rather than starting them.
How much do kids classes cost?
Start with the free week first — that’s the honest way to know if it’s right for your kid before any money changes hands. Once your child has trained a few days and you’ve seen a class for yourself, we’ll walk you through membership options.
Can I stay and watch?
Always. AOE has a dedicated parent lobby built so you can watch every class your child takes — you’re encouraged to, especially in the first weeks. You’ll see exactly who’s coaching your kid and how they’re being treated, every single session.
From other parents
Other parents were nervous too. Here’s what changed their minds.
Unedited, from families training here now:
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“I’ve enjoyed watching my little girl build confidence and have watched her do things I didn’t even know she was capable of.”
— Maria D., parent of a 4-year-old member -
“A plus for me was seeing many of my teammates’ kids also signed up for the kids’ class… It’s nice to see that family environment; it’s refreshing.”
— Brandon M., Monterey
Your child’s first week
Let them try it before you decide anything.
You don’t have to be sure. That’s what the free week is for. Bring your kid in comfortable clothes — no uniform to buy, no commitment — and let them train for a full week while you watch from the lobby. If it’s not their thing, you walk away owing nothing. If it is, you’ll already know, because you’ll have seen it. As another parent put it: “If you haven’t gone in for a trial yet, you are missing out.”