An Australian study found 1 in 4 students experiences bullying! In the Gracie Bullyproof program, our goal is to instil in your child unshakable confidence, so they can overcome bullies without violence!

We will teach your child to use verbal assertiveness to deter bullies and several non-violent self-defence techniques to stay safe if physically assaulted. Importantly, we don’t teach how to punch or kick, since this often does more harm than good. Instead, we use leverage-based control holds to neutralise threats without violence. Numerous school districts have embraced the defensive nature of the Gracie Bullyproof techniques as a reasonable, nonviolent response to bullying and some even host Gracie Bullyproof classes on campus! The bottom line is: we will prepare your child to defend themselves against bullies without turning them into one.

If you’re interested in instilling in your child with unshakable confidence, while reinforcing positive values and good character, the Gracie Bullyproof program is for you! Even if your child has previously tried Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) and had a negative experience, we can assure you that they will absolutely love the Gracie Bullyproof program!

Critical Confidence
Studies suggest that bullying may be the leading cause of low self-esteem in children. According to some surveys, less than 15% of kids actually report acts of bullying. A child’s inability to stand up to a bully is rooted in profound fear for their personal safety. Ironically, the victims know that they must confront the bully and would like nothing more than to stand up to them. But they simply can't follow through for fear of the physical harm that backs the bully's every action. And therein lies the challenge – how do you instil in a victim of bullying the confidence to face the tormentor, look them in the eye, and back them down? The answer is simple – teach the victims to defend themselves against physical attack and the rest will follow.

Fighting Fire with Water
Most martial arts programs rely on striking the attacker with violent punches, kicks, knees, and elbows. In the Gracie Bullyproof program we take a different approach! All the techniques are purely defensive and utilise no strikes. Furthermore, we teach children how to defuse confrontations with words and to never initiate physical aggression. If attacked, we offer techniques to non-violently neutralise the threat and gain control until help arrives. In the Gracie Bullyproof program we teach the children how to fight fire with water, so that you never have to worry about your child becoming a bully under our guidance.

The Gracie Bullyproof program prepares your child using a three-pronged approach:

• Increased Awareness: harassment comes in many forms. Sometimes a victim doesn’t take a stand because they can’t differentiate between “joking” and “bullying.” We teach your child to differentiate between harmless play and harmful harassment, so they know precisely when and how to act in each circumstance.
• Unshakeable Confidence: a confident child is a Bullyproof child. Bullies seek “easy targets” – those who will tolerate their abuse. We arm your child with the tools needed to overcome physical, verbal, and psychological harassment, so they are so confident in themselves that no bully will try to harass them.
• Total Responsibility: we prepare your child to deal with bullies without turning them into one. We emphasise discipline, responsibility and respect throughout the course. We teach the five “Rules of Engagement” to ensure they never abuse their power.
  

The Rules of Engagement
Teaching a child jiu-jitsu without teaching them when to use it, is akin to giving someone a car license without teaching them how to drive. Gracie Bullyproof is the only kid’s jiu-jitsu program that actually teaches children precisely when they can, and cannot, use the techniques they are learning. The five "Rules of Engagement" are regularly rehearsed in class so that children will never abuse their power and, equally important, they will not hesitate to take a stand when abused by bullies.

Rule 1: Avoid the fight at all costs.
Rule 2: If physically attacked, defend yourself.
Rule 3: If verbally attacked, follow the Three T-steps (talk, tell, tackle).
Rule 4: Never punch or kick the bully, establish control and negotiate.
Rule 5: When applying submissions use minimal force and negotiate.

Although we discuss the Rules of Engagement in Gracie Bullyproof classes, we strongly encourage you to discuss the Rules at home to ensure your child that they have your support in the event that they need to take a stand against bullying.

Verbal Jiu-Jitsu Training
One of the most pervasive and damaging forms of bullying is verbal harassment. Gracie Bullyproof is the only kids' jiu-jitsu program that makes Verbal Assertiveness Training, or as we like to call it "Verbal Jiu-Jitsu," part of its regular curriculum. We've devised a series of role-playing exercises to teach kids how to identify and manage the common threats associated with verbal harassment and relational bullying. Gracie Bullyproof students learn how to differentiate between "bullying" and "joking". Not only are kids taught how to speak assertively, when necessary, but they also learn how to use direct eye contact and confident posture to deter bullies from targeting them.

Perfect Programs for Every Age
Nearly all jiu-jitsu schools have all their youth students bunched into one class, and a few schools have classes separated by age group. The Gracie Bullyproof program is one of the only youth jiu-jitsu programs that separates kids by age AND experience level, so that every child gets the perfect balance of fun and challenge in their weekly classes. All kids begin in super-playful entry level programs for their age group, and as soon as a child reaches a certain level of maturity, they are promoted to the next training program.

Little Champs (5-7 Years Old)
The Little Champs program is for kids 5-7 years old. Using our time-tested “Gracie Games,” we teach the Little Champs basic self-defence techniques while instilling in them the foundational principles of leverage and control. The secret to the success of this program is that we make the lessons so much fun that the kids beg for more! Once a child masters all ten Gracie Games, they advance to the Jr. Grapplers program.

Jr. Grapplers (8-12 Years Old)
In the Jr. Grapplers program we focus on 33 non-violent self-defence techniques that teach children to “neutralise and negotiate” with the bullies. Verbal assertiveness strategies are a major portion of this curriculum. A child needs absolutely no experience to start, and we guarantee a noticeable increase in your child’s confidence within a few weeks!

Black Belt Club (Invitation Only)
We invite children who excel in the Jr. Grapplers program to join the Black Belt Club. This is our most advanced youth jiu-jitsu program and joining the Black Belt Club is the highest honour for any youth Gracie Jiu-Jitsu practitioner. Kids in this program possess all the traits necessary for success on the path to black belt: discipline, respect, courage, leadership, loyalty, and compassion.

"PUSH TEACHING" VS. "PULL TEACHING"
The teaching methodologies used in the Gracie Bullyproof program are unlike anything else in BJJ. All the entry-level techniques presented in the form of "jiu-jitsu" games so the kids are highly enthused about learning them. We use "push teaching" rather than "pull teaching." When a child makes a mistake, we don't focus on the error. Instead, we emphasise the correctly executed aspects of the move. Through this carefully layered positive reinforcement, we help the kids reach their full potential without jeopardising their love of the art.

GRACIE CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
We have found that our instructors develop powerful bonds with every student on the mat, but especially with our youth practitioners. We leverage this connection to help you develop your child’s character for success in all aspects of life. The Gracie Character Development Program consists of six chapters: Responsibility, Health, Respect, Citizenship, Manners, and Caring. We spend two months on each chapter. In every class, we discuss the featured character trait for 10-15 minutes, emphasizing the simple things your child can do to make it a part of their life. The secret to success lies in our use of a unique point-based reward system that we tie to attendance at Gracie Game Day, a special two-hour party where they get to play tonnes of games with all the instructors and kids. Only kids who score enough points during the two-month chapter qualify to attend Gracie Game Day. It’s a powerful incentive for kids and a useful tool for parents to encourage positive behaviour at home and school. Gracie Game Day is so much fun that parents will often put on a uniform just so they can join the party!

Free Online Access & Free Satellite Training
Upon enrolling your child in the Gracie Bullyproof program, you qualify for a free subscription to Gracie Bullyproof Online. Through our interactive online curriculum, you’ll have access to detailed video instruction on every technique in the course, enabling you and your child to review techniques (or learn new techniques) from home. Furthermore, if you ever take a family vacation to a destination that has a Gracie Bullyproof Certified Training Centre, your child can participate in classes free of charge for up to 30 consecutive days!

10 Calendar Day Free Trial
Most BJJ schools limit new students to one free trial class. We offer all children a 10 Calendar Day risk-free trial that includes unlimited access to all our beginner Gracie Bullyproof classes. We’re confident that the curriculum, the camaraderie, and quality of the instruction will exceed all your expectations. If your child doesn’t have the time of their life, just let us know, and we won't charge you anything! To take advantage of our 10 Calendar Day free trial, simply contact us at Gracie Jiu Jitsu Shepparton and we’ll schedule your child’s first class today!