BJJ is a fun sport in its own right, but to keep kids engaged throughout a class or lesson they must have fun while developing their skills. When teaching BJJ to my kids at home they always look forward to the game portion of the training and the games serve as an excellent incentive for paying attention to the lesson. There are many games you can play with kids that are both fun and help them develop their conditioning attributes and technique at the same time.
This is a list of different grappling (BJJ, Judo, and wrestling) games that I’ve encountered and have tried with my kids. This list is meant to be a working list and I will add games as I encounter them.
Backpack Kid
In this game, a kid rides on the back of an adult to test their grip strength and hook strength while having the back of their opponent.
How to play backpack kid: As the adult sit on the mat and have a kid take your back. Ensure that they properly have a snug seat belt grip and strong deep hooks with the legs. Once they have the back secure you can lean back a little to test their grip strength. From there lean forward until you are on all fours in a tabletop position. Slowly move around from side to side and even roll on your backside all the while the kid holds their seat belt and hooks tight. Movement should be slow and controlled with weight place on the child. Once they are comfortable you can start to move to the feet while bending over and working to remove the hooks until the child gently rolls off your back in a controlled manner.
Benefits of playing backpack kid: Backpack kid is an excellent game for learning how to take the back and how to properly secure the back with hooks and a seatbelt grip.
Bears v.s. Crabs
Bears v.s. Crabs is a super fun game where students bear crawl or crab walk while playing tag.
How to play bears v.s. crabs: Bears v.s. Crabs is best played with a group of kids. To start the game assign one person as a crab and the rest of the group as bears. Bears are only allowed to bear crawl while crabs are only allowed to crab walk. Once the game starts the crab has to tag a bear while the bears try not to get tagged. If a crab tags a bear with any part of their body the bear becomes a crab and tries to tag the rest of the bears until all the bears have been tagged. The last bear tagged gets to be the first crab in the next round.
Benefits of playing Bears v.s. Crabs: Bears v.s. Crabs is pure fun and works mobility, strength, and endurance while playing.
Belt/Rope Tug of War
This is the classic tug of war game where a barrier is placed between two people or two groups of people. The opposing force then tugs on a rope or belt until one of the sides is pulled over the barrier.
How to play belt tug of war: On the mat create a line or barrier. I like to use a gi belt to draw a line on the mat. Next, take another gi belt and put its middle point over the barrier. Have two students grab each end of the belt. On the command go both opponents tug on the belt until one student is pulled over the belt barrier. The person who pulls the other person over the barrier is the winner. The game can also be played with a group of people on each side of the belt pulling until one team is pulled over the barrier. You may need to use a longer rope for playing with groups. Also, be careful and make sure to use rope or a strong gi belt so it doesn’t tear mid-game. Another variant is to start sitting.
Benefits of playing belt tug of war: Belt tug of war is great for strength development in the arms, back, and especially in the grip. It also helps with balance and body position to drive the most power.
Capture the flag
In this game, two students attach a tail behind them tucked into their gi belt. The first student to pull the flag out of their opponent’s belt wins.
How to play capture the flag: Find a suitable flag to tuck into the back of both students’ belts so that it hangs behind them like a tail. After tucking the flag into both students’ belts have them start in the standing position. On the command go each student will try to pull their opponent’s flag out first for the victory.
Benefits of playing capture the flag: this is a good game for students to practice arm drags and getting the appropriate grips to get behind their opponent and secure the flag.
Hug Monster
Hug monster is a fun game where one person attempts to lock their hands around the waist of their opponent in a hug. The other person does their best to prevent from being hugged.
How to play hug monster: Start with two students and assign one of them as the hug monster. Begin the game and encourage the hug monster to get the other student. The game ends when the hug monster locks their hands around the waist of their opponent.
Benefits of playing hug monster: Hug monster is great for developing the essential skills of getting and defending underhooks. This is also a popular fun game with kids that helps keep them happy and engaged throughout a BJJ class.
Race to the belt
Race to the belt is a fun BJJ game where a folded-up gi belt is placed between two students and on the command go the students race for the belt and the first to grab it wins.
How to play race to the belt: Start by folding up a gi belt and placing it between two students. The students then face away from each other an equal amount of distance from the folded up belt. Upon the go command, the students will quickly turn around and race to grab the belt. The first student to grab the belt wins. You want to make sure to educate the students to be careful and aware so that they do not hit heads together when lunging for the belt. There are other variations of the race the belt where you can start students with their backs on the mat or their knees before saying go. If there are mismatches you can also provide a handicap by having the slower student start closer to the belt.
Benefits of playing race to the belt: Race to the belt is an excellent game for working on reaction time and situational awareness.
Shoulder/Knee Tag
In the game shoulder/knee tag two students are in the standing position and each tries to touch each other’s shoulders or if playing the variant touch the knees. The winner is determined by who touches the shoulders first the number of agreed-upon times.
How to play shoulder/knee tag: Start both students standing with hands up and knees slightly bent. Determine upfront whether you are playing shoulder or knee tag and how many touches wins. I usually go with the first to 5 wins. On the command go each student will then try to touch each other’s shoulders and will also trying to dodge or block the other person. Playing the knee touch version gets the students lower while playing. First to touch the agreed to number of times wins.
Benefits of playing shoulder knee tag: Shoulder and knee tag is a good game for developing the standing game for grappling. It gets the students use to attacking and defending at the same time.
Steal the belt
Instead of hunting for submissions students attempt to steal their opponent’s belt while trying not to lose theirs at the same time.
How to play steal the belt: This is rolling but instead of submissions the opponents are trying to take their belts off each other. The first person to succeed wins.
Benefits of playing steal the belt: One of BJJ’s mantras is position before submission and stealing the belt helps reinforce this as you have to secure the position before you can remove your opponent’s belt before losing your own.
Sumo
Sumo is a classic BJJ game where a circle is drawn on the mat and two competitors try to push each other out of the circle. The first person to step out of the circle or have a body part hit the mat outside of the circles loses.
How to play sumo: First you need to create a ring on the mats. If you have a wrestling mat with the inner circle you’re good to go. If you need to make a circle you can use extra belts or a rope to create a circle. Start with the two smallest kids in the circle. You can either have the students start with grips on gi or without. The advantage of starting without allows the students to fight for grips before trying to move their opponent out of the ring. The game can be played no-gi as well. Make sure your students slap and tap before competing and start the game. The first person to touch any body part outside of the ring by pushing, take down or throw loses. The winner stays in the circle and the next biggest kid comes into the ring until all have had a turn.
Benefits of playing sumo: Sumo is a great game to build strength, endurance, balance, and timing in the standing game. The game also helps with getting good grips and practicing takedowns and takedown defense.
Take Down Sumo
Takedown sumo is similar to regular sumo with the emphasis being on takedowns and throws. Two students take the circle and grapple until one student gets a clean takedown or throw.
How to play takedown sumo: I like to start this game without grips if wearing the gi since winning can come with a throw or takedown. Make sure your students slap and tap before competing and start the game. The first person to land a clean takedown or Judo throw wins. The winner stays in the circle and the next biggest kid comes into the ring until all have had a turn.
Benefits of playing takedown sumo: Takedown sumo is a great game to build strength, endurance, balance, and timing in the standing game. The main benefit of this game is practice and development of takedowns, throws, and defense of takedown/throws.
Take the back
Take the back is similar to the hug monster, but the object is to get behind the person and then interlock hands together.
How to play take the back: For take the back, both students start standing, with or without grips. On command go both students fight for position and attempt to get to their opponents back with interlocked hands. The first person to get the back and interlock hands wins.
Benefits playing take the back: Another great game for working on stand up positioning, grips, leverage, and defense.
Steal the hat
Take the hat is a game where one person wears a knit hat with their back on the mat. The other student starts standing and their task is to take the hat off of their opponent.
How to play steal the hat: Start one student on their back with their back on the mat with their hands and legs up. The other student will start on their feet. At the go command, the person standing will work to pass their opponent’s legs and arms to secure the hat off their opponent’s head.
Benefits of playing steal the hat: Take the hat is an excellent game for students to practice passing the guard and prevention of getting their guard passed.
Toe Tag
Toe tag is a standup game where two students work to be the first person to touch their opponent’s toes with their fee.
How to play toe tag: Start two students back to back and on the command go both students spin around and try to be the first to touch their opponent’s toes with their foot.
Benefits of playing toe tag: Toe tag is another stand-up game that helps with reaction and timing skills.