WHAT TO EXPECT
Exactly what happens from drop-off to pick-up, whichever program your child is in. Ages 5 to 12 train together, and nobody is ever out of their depth.
A DAY IN THE AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM
Our weekly program, running through the school term at the end of the school day.
Our North Vancouver classes run as a 90-minute block. Once the group has walked down from Cleveland or Highlands Elementary to St. Catherine's, students have a dedicated 15-minute window to eat a snack, hydrate, change, and transition. The remaining 75 minutes take place entirely on the mats. Longer sessions at our other locations follow the same order with more time in each block, and kids settle faster when they know what is coming next, so that order rarely changes.
Our North Vancouver classes run as a 90-minute block. Once the group has walked down from Cleveland or Highlands Elementary to St. Catherine's, students have a dedicated 15-minute window to eat a snack, hydrate, change, and transition. The remaining 75 minutes take place entirely on the mats. Longer sessions at our other locations follow the same order with more time in each block, and kids settle faster when they know what is coming next, so that order rarely changes.
- 1
CHECK-IN & HEAD COUNT
We meet the students at the agreed spot inside the school and take a roll call before anyone moves. Every child is accounted for by name before the session starts, and we let the school office know who is with us.
- 2
SUPERVISED WALK
In North Vancouver, our coaches pick the students up directly from Cleveland and Highlands Elementary and walk them down to St. Catherine's, where the program runs. Children line up in a buddy system, pairing younger students with older buddies. One coach leads the front of the line while the second coach covers the back. Before every road crossing, the line comes to a complete stop, and one coach steps into the center of the crosswalk with clear visual signaling to ensure all traffic has fully stopped before allowing the children to cross. Students registered as drop-off come straight to the venue instead, so the walk does not apply to them.
- 3
ARRIVAL
15 minKids come off a full school day, so the first thing they get is a break. Snack, hydration, changing, and preparing for the mat. Nobody is asked to train until they have had time to transition.
- 4
HOW WAS YOUR DAY?
Before class starts we go around and ask every student how their day was, and whether there is anything they want to bring up that was hard at school. Some days that takes two minutes, some days it is the most important part of the session.
- 5
WARM-UP
15 minMovement-based games, agility drills, and core athletic skills. This is also where we build the body mechanics everything else depends on: breakfalls, which is learning how to fall safely without injury, plus base, posture, and spatial awareness.
- 6
TECHNIQUE & CLA DRILLS
45 minGoal-oriented BJJ games designed to teach leverage, defense, and control. Concepts are taught through dynamic mini-games that focus on problem-solving, leverage, and balance rather than brute force, so a foundational concept stays accessible to a 5-year-old while remaining engaging and challenging for a 12-year-old. Students learn to safely control distance, maintain top control such as mount and side control, and defend from the bottom with guard retention. Water breaks, around 15 minutes in total, are integrated throughout the active training block as needed.
- 7
GUIDED ROLLING
Within the technique blockLive practice with a partner. During drill work and partner activities, students are strictly paired by age, weight, and skill level to ensure safety and fair engagement, and a coach supervises the whole time. Students are taught to tap early, to respect a tap instantly, and that control matters more than winning.
- 8
TEAM GAMES & COOL DOWN
15 minFun, cooperative group activities focusing on teamwork and athletic play. End-of-class group games reinforce cooperation, communication, and mutual respect. Then we always line up and bow out before class is done, with high-fives and a thank you to every partner they trained with.
- 9
TIDY UP & PICK-UP
Depending on the school the kids will not handle the mats, but they do help us tidy up and make sure they have all of their own things together. Students are then released only to a designated parent or guardian on the list, and we let you know directly if anything came up during the session.
A DAY ON A PRO D DAY
A full day of Jiu Jitsu, games, and supervised play when school is closed.
Pro D Days are a full day rather than a 90-minute block, so the shape changes. There is more mat time, more games, and proper breaks built in. The teaching, the partnering, and the safety expectations are exactly the same as the after school program.
Pro D Days are a full day rather than a 90-minute block, so the shape changes. There is more mat time, more games, and proper breaks built in. The teaching, the partnering, and the safety expectations are exactly the same as the after school program.
- 1
DROP-OFF & CHECK-IN
Parents sign their child in at the start of the day and confirm who is authorized to collect them. We take a head count and go over the plan for the day so nobody is wondering what happens next.
- 2
MORNING CIRCLE
We start sitting down together. Introductions for anyone new, a run through of the mat expectations, no shoes on the mat, mandatory listening when coaches speak, and immediate stopping when a partner taps or signals to halt, and the same check-in we do after school: how is everyone doing today.
- 3
WARM-UP & GAMES
A long, active warm-up while everyone is fresh. Movement-based games, agility drills, and core athletic skills, plus breakfalls, base, and posture. On a full day this is where new kids stop being nervous and start joining in.
- 4
TECHNIQUE & CLA DRILLS
The main teaching block of the day. Goal-oriented BJJ games designed to teach leverage, defense, and control, delivered so that a foundational concept is accessible to a 5-year-old while remaining engaging and challenging for a 12-year-old. Distance control, top control such as mount and side control, and guard retention from the bottom, all strike-free.
- 5
LUNCH & DOWNTIME
A proper break off the mats. Students eat the lunch they bring from home, and get real downtime to sit, talk, hydrate, and reset before the afternoon.
- 6
AFTERNOON ACTIVITIES
The afternoon leans lighter: team challenges, problem-solving games, and a second shorter technique block that builds on what they learned in the morning. Older and more experienced students are encouraged to model techniques, which builds teamwork and leadership across the age spectrum.
- 7
GUIDED ROLLING
Live practice, with students strictly paired by age, weight, and skill level to ensure safety and fair engagement, supervised the whole time. Newer students get more coaching and shorter rounds. Water breaks are integrated throughout as needed.
- 8
TEAM GAMES & PICK-UP
Fun, cooperative group activities to finish, reinforcing cooperation, communication, and mutual respect. Then we line up and bow out with high-fives and thanks to every partner. Students help tidy up, gather their things, and are released only to a designated parent or guardian on the list.
A DAY AT SUMMER CAMP
Week-long camps over the summer break, built to be sustainable rather than intense.
Summer camp runs across a full week, so the day is built to be sustainable rather than intense. Kids train, but they also play, rest, and make friends. The partnering rules and the mat expectations do not change from any other program we run.
Summer camp runs across a full week, so the day is built to be sustainable rather than intense. Kids train, but they also play, rest, and make friends. The partnering rules and the mat expectations do not change from any other program we run.
- 1
ARRIVAL & CHECK-IN
Sign-in at the start of each day and a confirmation of who is authorized to collect. Early arrivals get free time on the mats while we wait for everyone to land.
- 2
MORNING CIRCLE
We open the day together. Anyone new gets introduced, we go over the mat expectations, no shoes on the mat, mandatory listening when coaches speak, and immediate stopping when a partner taps or signals to halt, and we set out what the group is working towards this week.
- 3
WARM-UP & MOVEMENT
Movement-based games, agility drills, and core athletic skills to get everyone moving, along with breakfalls, base, posture, and spatial awareness. On a week-long camp this is also where we spot who needs extra help before the technique work starts.
- 4
TECHNIQUE OF THE DAY
Each day of the week builds on the last. Goal-oriented BJJ games teaching leverage, defense, and control, drilled with a partner while coaches work the room, so by the end of the week they have a sequence rather than a handful of isolated moves.
- 5
LUNCH & REST
A full break off the mats. Lunch from home, shade, water, and enough downtime that the afternoon does not fall apart.
- 6
GAMES & TEAM CHALLENGES
The afternoon is deliberately lighter. Cooperative group activities, obstacle-style games, and team challenges that reinforce cooperation, communication, and mutual respect rather than rewarding winning individually.
- 7
GUIDED ROLLING
Live practice, with students strictly paired by age, weight, and skill level, fully supervised. Rounds stay short, water breaks are integrated as needed, and coaches stop anything that stops being controlled.
- 8
BOW OUT & PICK-UP
We line up and bow out the same way we do every session, with high-fives and thanks to every partner. Students tidy up, collect their things, and are released only to a designated parent or guardian on the list.
HOW WE KEEP IT SAFE
These apply to every program, every session, without exception, whether that is the after school program, a Pro D Day, or a week of summer camp.
Play-Based Learning
We use a research-backed, play-based methodology, the Constraint-Led Approach. Instructions are delivered so that foundational concepts are accessible to a 5-year-old while remaining engaging and challenging for a 12-year-old.
Smart Partnering
During drill work and partner activities, students are strictly paired by age, weight, and skill level to ensure safety and fair engagement.
Peer Leadership
Older and more experienced students are encouraged to model techniques, building teamwork and leadership skills across the age spectrum.
Mat Expectations
On the mat, safety rules are strictly enforced: no shoes on the mat, mandatory listening when coaches speak, and immediate stopping when a partner taps or signals to halt.
Supervised Line
In North Vancouver, our coaches pick the students up directly from Cleveland and Highlands Elementary and walk them down to St. Catherine's, where the program runs. Children line up in a buddy system, pairing younger students with older buddies. One coach leads the front of the line while the second coach covers the back. Students registered as drop-off come straight to the venue instead.
Street Crossing Protocol
Before every road crossing, the line comes to a complete stop. One coach steps into the center of the crosswalk with clear visual signaling to ensure all traffic has fully stopped before allowing the children to cross.
Verbal De-escalation First
We emphasize using a strong voice, clear verbal boundaries, stop and back off, and stepping away from conflict.
Adult Involvement
Children are consistently taught that seeking help from a teacher, coach, or parent is a sign of awareness and safety, not weakness.
Physical Defense as a Last Resort
Our physical training focuses strictly on self-defense, distance control, and non-striking control holds to protect oneself from harm. Because we do not have the authority to permit physical force outside of class, we explicitly encourage students and parents to discuss home expectations regarding when self-defense is appropriate.
Qualified Coaches
Coaches hold current criminal record checks and first aid certification, and the curriculum is strike-free, with no punching or kicking taught at any level.
Pick-Up and Communication
Students are released only to a designated parent or guardian on the list, and anything that happens on the mat is communicated to you the same day.
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE DAY?
We are happy to walk you through anything before your child starts.