“Hello. My 5-year-old son wants to learn karate.”
We receive some version of this inquiry from prospective Calgary parents at least half a dozen times each week. For many, “karate” remains a catch-all term for martial arts training, much like “Kleenex” for facial tissues or “Band-Aid” for adhesive bandages.
It gets even more interesting when we ask the kids in our jiu jitsu classes about Karate and how it differs from Kung Fu and Jiu Jitsu. Here’s the most recent answer I received from one of our 9-year-old SBG Calgary students: “Karate is for attacking, and Kung Fu is for defending.” Of course, this isn’t close to being accurate, but it’s interesting to hear what people imagine to be true, especially young children,
The truth is, parents who contact us are seldom ever looking for karate specifically. They want their children to learn how to take care of themselves, build confidence, and understand how to stand up for themselves. In fact, that’s almost always what the adults who reach out to us are looking for too! Much like a patient who goes to a doctor for a cure without asking for a specific medicine, parents want their kids to feel better prepared for life. In most cases, the “medicine” we prescribe is Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) is uniquely suited to teaching children self-defence through control rather than striking. Our students learn how to handle close-contact situations safely, without the need for punches or kicks.
Unlike karate and taekwondo, which emphasize punching and kicking, BJJ centres around grappling and ground control. This approach is ideal for both kids and adults, as students learn to defend themselves by neutralizing an opponent’s strength without relying on physical size or aggression.
For people seeking a practical self-defence solution, BJJ is like the perfect prescription—it builds confidence, control, and resilience in a safe, supportive environment. Beyond self-defence, BJJ instills patience, respect, and adaptability. Our students grow in both skill and confidence, learning how to handle challenges on and off the mat.
