I once enrolled a boy whose grandmother handled the paperwork. She told me he struggled with confidence, dealt with bullying, and had trouble focusing in school because of ADHD. I explained how Jiu-Jitsu could help—new skills, exercise, structure—and added, “He’s going to get a lot stronger.”

She surprised me: “I don’t care if he gets stronger. I just want him to have fun.”

I understood her heart, but here’s what I wish every parent knew: strength is a skill. You develop strength through practice and hard work. It’s also protective. A stronger child carries themselves differently. They feel capable. Bullies sense that and look elsewhere. In Jiu-Jitsu, kids build strength two ways: moving their own body and moving a resisting opponent who often weighs the same. That’s honest strength—the kind that transfers to life.