Our now 6-year old son started the Little Kids BJJ class in early May, and it’s been one of the best experiences we’ve ever had as a family.
The teachers are incredibly patient with the kids (not an easy feat), while also holding them to high standards. Not only do they make the kids feel like they are doing something important, but they make the kids feel important, without creating false or inflated reasons to do so.
At the beginning and end of each class, students line up in rank order. We’ve been able to watch our son slide his way up the line in the few months we’ve been involved. He knows his place, and it motivates him to keep moving up. They also hold small ceremonies anytime a student earns a promotion (usually a stripe on their belt). They celebrate progress, and teach kids the importance of seeing small improvements over time.
Each 30-minute class follows a familiar routine, but includes fresh, varied activities each night. Students are paired and grouped for certain activities, but those partners and groups are fluid, often changing multiple times within a single class.
All of this results in an atmosphere that’s been incredibly rewarding for our son, and his confidence. I’ve seen multiple positive changes in his approach to school, play time with friends, and other sports/activities because of the way he is treated at No Coast. He doesn’t ALWAYS want to drive across town for his twice weekly class, but the ONLY time he’s ever ended a class unhappy was the night he learned one of his closer friends was moving, and it had been their last class. Those are the only years we’ve seen from him since joining.
From the parent side, in addition to the great experience the coaches create for the students, the front desk staff is incredibly welcoming, helpful to new families, and patient/empowering with the kids.
The other amazing thing about this place is the family atmosphere in the waiting area. There are 10-12 families that regularly congregate twice a week for the class, and they interact as a community, holding each other’s babies, sharing each other’s snacks and toys, and jumping to clean up messes, as a group, whenever there is a spill or a fall.
I will never forget seeing a little brother spill a snack on the floor, only to see at least six adults spring into action, crawling on the floor to clean up the area.
Since Day One, our family has felt welcomed into that group, and not once treated like newbies or outsiders.
Finally, I wanted to share a story of one of the more impressive interactions I’ve witnessed in our relatively short time at the gym.
Near the beginning of a class, one of the teachers came out into the waiting area with a student and explained to the dad that his son had accidentally whipped another boy with his belt while playing before class. The issue was that the boy was refusing to apologize for the accident and denying any involvement, choosing not to accept any responsibility. The dad, supporting the coach, calmly explained to his son that he either needed to apologize to the other student, or leave for the delay. However, instead of laying into his son, or threatening him, he offered to come with his son to stand by him while he apologized. It took some time, but he did come in and apologize. It was an especially surprising end to the story to find out, watching the apology, that it was our son who’d taken the belt to the face. He was fine, but it felt so great to know how he would have been dealt with, in a similar situation.
To wrap up a loooong review, No Coast is an amazing place for kids to learn life and BJJ skills. We couldn’t recommend it more highly.
Instructors
Facility
Classes
Atmosphere
Posted 5 years ago