Homeschool PE Just Got an Upgrade at Forged Jiu Jitsu

One of the things I’ve learned since opening Forged is that sometimes you don’t need to reinvent everything. You just need to pay attention.

We’ve had more conversations with homeschool families looking for activities they can do during the day. And it made me realize something: we already have something that fits that need really well.

So why were we only offering it in the evening?

Starting immediately, Forged Jiu Jitsu is adding daytime Kids Jiu Jitsu classes every Monday and Friday at 10:30 AM.

These classes are open to kids ages 5–13, and while we added them because we saw a need in the homeschool community, you don’t have to be homeschooled to attend. If your child is available during the day, they’re welcome on the mats.

PE Can Be More Than Just Exercise

Kids need to move. They need to run, play, sweat, compete, fall down, get back up and learn what their bodies are capable of.

But I think physical education can do more than simply wear kids out for an hour.

Jiu Jitsu gives us an opportunity to work on physical fitness while developing things that carry over far beyond the mats.

Kids learn coordination and body awareness. They learn practical self-defense. They have to solve problems while someone else is actively working against them. They learn how to win without becoming arrogant and how to lose without falling apart.

They learn to be uncomfortable and keep going.

And at Forged, we do it in a way that kids actually enjoy.

This Isn't a Watered-Down Homeschool Class

I want to make this part really clear.

We aren't creating a separate "homeschool version" of our kids program.

This is Forged Kids Jiu Jitsu.

Same Jiu Jitsu. Same games. Same activities. Same expectations.

If you've seen one of our kids classes, you know we don't believe kids need to stand in lines and repeat movements for an hour to learn. We want them moving. We want them thinking. We want them interacting with each other. We want them laughing and having fun.

There's a method behind what we're doing, though.

Those games and activities are developing Jiu Jitsu, coordination, teamwork, leadership, confidence and discipline—sometimes without the kids even realizing how much they're learning.

That's one of my favorite parts.

That picture probably communicates what we're trying to build better than I can.

They're training.

They're learning.

And they're having fun doing it.

More Opportunities to Train

The new daytime classes don't replace our normal kids schedule either.

Homeschool students who attend Monday and Friday mornings are absolutely encouraged to come train during our regular 5:30 PM Kids Jiu Jitsu classes Monday through Thursday as well.

That's actually one of the things I'm excited about.

Families now have more flexibility. If evenings are packed with family activities one week, you've got daytime options. If your child wants more mat time, come to both.

We're not interested in making it complicated.

We just want to give kids more opportunities to get on the mats.

An Alternative to Traditional Homeschool PE

If you're a homeschool parent in Ozark, Nixa, Springfield, or the surrounding area trying to figure out what PE looks like for your family, I think Jiu Jitsu is worth considering.

Not because every kid needs to become a Jiu Jitsu competitor.

That's never been what Forged is about.

I care much more about what happens when these kids walk back out the door.

Are they a little more confident?

Are they learning how to handle adversity?

Can they work with other kids?

Can they listen when it's time to listen and lead when it's time to lead?

Are they becoming comfortable doing things that are difficult?

And, yes—can they protect themselves if they're ever put in a situation where they need to?

That's a pretty productive hour of PE.

Come Try It

The new daytime Kids Jiu Jitsu schedule is:

Mondays & Fridays
10:30 AM
Ages 5–13
733 N 20th St, Ozark, MO 65721

And just like our other programs, your child's first class is free.

No need to wonder whether they'll like it. Bring them in and let them experience Forged for themselves.

If you've been looking for a different option for homeschool PE, your evenings are already packed, or you've simply been looking for a reason to get your child into Jiu Jitsu, this might be exactly what you've been waiting for.

Stop talking about change. Start living it.

Register for your child's free class and come see what we're building at Forged.