This month, for the first time, our family tried Brazilian jiu-jitsu at Exodus Jiu-Jitsu in Phoenix! All three kids + Chris took a trial class at age-appropriate levels. There’s classes for ages 3-7, 8-12, and teens-adults.
View our Instagram Reel, here!
This was our first time doing Brazilian jiu-jitsu or any form of martial arts. The first trial class was amazing! We got to do and try a lot of different moves and even grapple with a partner in the class. It is truly a whole-body workout! Three of us signed up for regular classes, it was that fun.
The kids are doing it for exercise, self-defense training, and frankly because they had such a great time. They learned how to do several easy but effective moves, and played related games. It was a big win!
Each class is about an hour in length and you’ll want to arrive a few minutes early to put on your gi (the outfit that you will be wearing). They have loaners if it’s your first time and you’re just trying to class.
Exodus Jiu-Jitsu offers both Gi (with a cotton jacket and pants), and No-Gi programs. Wednesday is No-Gi (so you wear your gym clothes). A lot of the tactics involve grabbing the collar of the Gi jacket, so that’s why everyone wears the same style jacket.
Chris shares:
“My first class (for teens and adults) involved a short warm-up session (jogging around the matt, pushups, situps, and stretches), followed by learning and trying about seven or eight different maneuvers with a class partner. They match you up with another person in the class, and the instructor shows you what to do. All of the people that I met that night were exceptionally friendly and very welcoming. They understood that everyone has to start somewhere and many of the people shared their experiences with me about how they had lost weight, gained muscle, and learned many self-defense tactics.
This was my first time doing Brazilian jiu-jitsu or any form of martial arts. I was nervous, as I’m a bit out of shape. The first trial class was amazing, I got to do and try a lot of different moves and even grapple with a partner in the class. It is truly a whole-body workout!“
Exodus Jiu-Jitsu is located on Bell Road off of the 51 freeway at 3607 E Bell Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85032. It’s a great central location and is right by the freeway.
Check out Exodus Jiu-Jitsu on social media, or check out their website at exodusjjphx.com. They have a schedule on their website.
