Confidence that's earned
Kids don't get told they're capable. They prove it to themselves every class, by escaping a hold they couldn't escape last week.
Kids Jiu-Jitsu in Botany for Ages 5 to 15
Your child walks in shy, restless or unsure of themselves. Over the following months they walk out standing taller, listening better and knowing how to keep themselves safe. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu does that, and our Black Belt coaches have been doing it for Auckland kids since 2006.
More Than a Sport. A Skill They Keep for Life.
Most after-school activities keep kids busy. Jiu-jitsu changes how they carry themselves. It is a grappling art built on leverage and technique, so a smaller child learns to stay calm and in control against someone bigger, without punching or kicking.
A real answer to bullying
Children learn to set boundaries with their voice first, then how to get free and get away if someone grabs them. No strikes, so the skill de-escalates instead of hurting.
Focus that follows them to school
Ninety seconds of listening, then doing, then trying again. Teachers notice the difference in attention span.
Calm under pressure
Being held down on a soft mat is uncomfortable but safe. Learning to breathe and think there teaches kids to handle exams, tryouts and tough days.
Fitness without the screen
Strength, flexibility, balance and coordination, built through games and partner drills that feel like play.
Friends who lift them up
Partners take turns, tap and reset, and help each other improve. Kids learn that their teammates success is part of their own.
Coached by Champions. Trusted by Parents.
Most kids martial arts classes are run by junior instructors. At Sorriso BJJ Botany, your child is taught by Black Belts who lead at national and world level.
Paulo Oliveira
Black BeltPresident of the Sport Jiu-Jitsu Federation New Zealand.
Paulo founded Sorriso BJJ in 2006 and is co-founder of Sorriso BJJ Botany and head coach of the whole Sorriso team.
Spiro Kovac
Black Belt2025 SJJIF World Champion, 2026 World SJJIF 2 x Silver Medallist and 2026 New Zealand Gi Champion.
Spiro shows kids what years of steady effort can lead to.
Bruno Maciel
Black BeltWidely regarded as one of New Zealand's best kids coaches.
Bruno knows how to hold the attention of a room full of six-year-olds and still teach real technique.
Four Age Groups. One Clear Path from 5 to 15.
A five-year-old and a fourteen-year-old need different classes. Each group trains with kids at the same stage, and each step builds on the last, so your child always has a next goal.
Little Cubs Ages 5 to 6
- Class times
- Mon & Wed, 4:00pm
First steps on the mat, through play.
Little Cubs learn to roll, fall safely, balance and move like animals while picking up their first simple holds and escapes. Short, high-energy games keep attention where it needs to be. The bigger win is learning to line up, wait their turn and listen to an adult who isn't Mum or Dad, which makes the start of school easier.
They'll learn
- Safe falling
- Body awareness
- Taking turns
- "Stop" means stop
Cubs Ages 7 to 8
- Class times
- Mon & Wed, 4:30pm
Games become techniques.
Cubs start linking moves together: hold a position, escape from underneath, get back to their feet. They also learn the anti-bullying basics, from using a strong voice to breaking a grip and walking away. This is the age where kids first feel the pride of earning a stripe and start asking to go to training.
They'll learn
- Core positions and escapes
- Standing self-defence
- Controlled partner practice
Little Lions Ages 9 to 12
- Class times
- Mon & Wed, 5:15pm
- Sat, 10:00am
Real jiu-jitsu, with real thinking.
Little Lions learn submissions, sweeps and guard work, and start supervised live rounds (sparring) at a pace set by the coach. Problem-solving on the mat builds the resilience they need for intermediate school, when friendships and pressure get more complicated. Kids who want to compete get their first taste of tournaments here.
They'll learn
- Full technical curriculum
- Supervised sparring
- Game plans
- Optional competition
Lions Ages 13 to 15
- Class times
- Tue & Thu, 4:00pm and 4:30pm
- Sat, 10:00am
Teen training with adult-level detail.
Lions train closer to the adult class: longer live rounds, deeper technique and conditioning that carries over to school sport. For teenagers, the mat is a place with no phones, clear expectations and older role models. It is the bridge into our adult program and, for many, the start of a path to black belt.
They'll learn
- Advanced technique
- Strength and conditioning
- Leadership by helping younger kids
- Competition preparation
Jiu-Jitsu vs Other Activities
Team sports keep kids busy for a season. Striking arts teach kicks and punches. Jiu-jitsu gives every child a partner every minute, and a way to stay safe without hurting anyone.
| What matters | Team sports | Striking martial arts | Jiu-jitsu at Sorriso |
|---|---|---|---|
| Every child is involved every minute | Often on the bench | Yes | Yes, always with a partner |
| Size and natural athleticism decide who wins | Often | Often | Technique wins |
| Practical self-defence | No | Yes, by striking | Yes, by control and escape |
| Clear personal goals | Season results | Belts | Stripes and belts |
| Runs all year, rain or shine | Seasonal | Yes | Yes |
What Happens in a Kids Class
Every session follows the same rhythm, so kids know what's expected and settle in fast.
- Line up and bow inKids greet the coach and their partners. Respect starts before the first move.
- Warm-up and movementRolls, crawls and drills that build coordination and prepare the body.
- Technique of the dayThe coach demonstrates one move, breaks it into steps, then corrects each pair by hand.
- Partner drillingKids repeat the move with a partner of similar size and age until it feels natural.
- Games or live roundsYounger groups play jiu-jitsu games; older groups test the technique in supervised sparring.
- Bow out and a life lessonA short talk on the value of the week, such as patience, honesty or helping a teammate.
We don't build fighters. We build kids who don't need to fight.
How We Keep Kids Safe
Safety is the first thing parents ask about. Here is how every class is run.
Matched partners
Partners are matched by age, size and experience.
Sparring when ready
Only when the coach decides a child is ready, and always supervised.
The tap
Taught from day one. When a partner taps, everyone stops.
Parents welcome
You are welcome to watch any class.
2006Twenty years of teaching Auckland kids. Sorriso BJJ has been doing this since 2006.
Goals They Can See. Progress You Can Measure.
Kids follow the international youth belt system: white, then grey, yellow, orange and green. Each colour after white has three belts: one with a white stripe, a solid one and one with a black stripe. That makes thirteen belts between a child's first class and the adult blue belt at 16.
Stripes are awarded in class for attendance, technique and attitude, so your child always has a goal only a few weeks away. Belts are awarded at gradings where coaches look at skill, effort and how they treat their training partners.
A belt should say exactly what a child can do. Under the rules of the Sport Jiu-Jitsu International Federation (SJJIF), a child spends at least eight months at each belt before moving to the next, and the federation verifies every promotion with the child's coach. That keeps the belt meaningful and protects the lineage behind it.
-
WhiteBeginner
- WhiteAny age
-
GreyIntermediate
- Grey / WhiteFrom age 4
- GreyFrom age 5
- Grey / BlackFrom age 6
-
YellowIntermediate
- Yellow / WhiteFrom age 7
- YellowFrom age 8
- Yellow / BlackFrom age 9
-
OrangeAdvanced
- Orange / WhiteFrom age 10
- OrangeFrom age 11
- Orange / BlackFrom age 12
-
GreenAdvanced
- Green / WhiteFrom age 13
- GreenFrom age 14
- Green / BlackFrom age 15
-
BlueAdult belts
- BlueFrom age 16
Questions Parents Ask Us
Frequently asked questions
Something we haven't covered? Call us, or ask the coach at your child's trial.
027 667 7661Will jiu-jitsu make my child more aggressive?
The opposite. Kids burn off energy in a controlled setting and learn that the mat is the only place for grappling. A child who knows they can handle themselves has less reason to prove it.
My child is shy or not sporty. Will they cope?
Yes, and they often gain the most. There's no ball to drop and no team to let down. Progress is personal, and quiet kids tend to open up once they realise they can do it.
Is it good for girls?
Very. Jiu-jitsu teaches control without relying on size or strength, which makes it one of the most practical forms of self-defence for girls. Boys and girls train together in every age group.
Does it help kids with ADHD or trouble focusing?
Many parents tell us it does. Short instructions, physical repetition and an instant reward for paying attention suit active minds. Let the coach know before the first class so they can set your child up well.
How often should my child train?
Twice a week is the sweet spot for steady progress. Once a week still works for busy families. Little Lions and Lions can add the Saturday class.
Do they have to compete?
No. Competition is optional and only offered from the Little Lions group up. Plenty of kids train for years without entering one.
What if my child is 8 and very mature, or 9 and new?
Age groups are a guide. After the trial, the coach will place your child where they'll learn best.
Can I train at the same time?
Adult classes start at 6pm, straight after the kids sessions finish. Many parents end up training too. See the Adults Program and ask us about family memberships.
Give Your Child One Class. See the Difference for Yourself.
Book a free trial in the age group that fits. Bring your child, watch the whole class, and ask the coach anything afterwards. If they come off the mat grinning and asking when they can come back, you'll have your answer.
Sorriso BJJ Botany, 7/11D Town Centre Drive, Botany Town Centre. Kids jiu-jitsu for families in Botany, Dannemora, Flat Bush, Howick, Pakuranga and across East Auckland.