22/08/2025
Introduction…..
I found that the milestone bringing the biggest change in our lives was when my daughter started walking and moving in all sorts of ways, testing out her motor skills and mobility. Climbing sofa, furniture, stairs and anything where she can plant her feet, and grab to pull herself up.
I was torn between encouraging and trying to stop it, because unfortunately, our home is not always the safest place for the practice. Hard floors, sharp corners, free-standing furniture, and the list goes on. However, I know that movement and her drive to move should not be restricted. Fortunately, we run a Jiu Jitsu club, Triton BJJ Weymouth, where our floor is matted, and any falls and mistakes while our daughter is climbing equipment are in a very forgiving environment.
Having Gym Tots in our space was exactly what she needed! I also felt that it was what I needed, a safe space to let her do what she wants to do. Climb, hang, jump and just keep on testing out her abilities and allow her development to continue unrestricted. She asked to be helped when she needed, which also offered me a good idea of where her limitations are. It helped to establish a trust between us, and I do not worry when we are out and about, as I know what she can and cannot do, and so does she.
I was very sad when Gym Tots stopped. But since we have a Jiu-Jitsu club, I continued coming into our gym with her, allowing her to climb the equipment, but it wasn’t the same. The aspect of the “collective” was a huge part missing from the perfect set-up. She joined in for some of our kids' sessions, and she did very well for about 15 minutes, which is huge for not even 3 years old, but it's not what she needs just yet. No matter how talented and independent we think our children are, there is a time and order to everything.
We acquired Gym Tots equipment, and here we are, TritonTots! https://tritonbjj.com/triton-tots/
TritonTots fits better with how we run all of our sessions, for kids and adults, and so we hope to offer continuous training sessions from the age when they start walking to adulthood.
TritonTots is designed as an introduction to the concept of instructional sessions. You have a warm-up, which will be a big part, and creates a habit to do so, for any sport you choose for your child. Expanding on a child's ability to follow instructions, create a bond with their teammates in the session, and accept the idea of working with the instructor one-on-one during that time. All the above is an important foundation for them to be able to focus, learn from what is offered and deliver the results.
Our Jiu-Jitsu Kids Program:
We plan to open an entry-level Jiu-Jitsu class for the age group 4-6 years old, starting in September 2025. We are already running sessions for the 7-14 age group, so this new addition to our kids' program would allow us to bridge that gap. Many of our Kids are active competitors, and we hope to nurture more talent in the future.
