There’s a reason Jocko Willink and so many other leaders recommend Jiu-Jitsu for kids. Jocko specifically encourages all kids to train Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu—not just for self-defense, but because of the character, confidence, and resilience it builds.

Jiu-Jitsu is unusual in the best possible way: it’s an individual sport practiced on a team. On the mat, it’s you versus one other person. In the academy, it’s a community that sharpens each kid’s skills, empathy, and grit.

I’ve spent decades training and coaching. I also graduated from West Point and later commanded an infantry company in Iraq. Discipline, teamwork, and calm under pressure aren’t abstract ideas to me—they’re lived experience.

What I see every week at Bear Hug Jiu-Jitsu is simple: Jiu-Jitsu shapes children into stronger, kinder, more capable humans. There’s no downside, only upside, and the benefits spill into school, friendships, and life.