What age can my child start Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at Gracie Humaita?

From age 4. There are classes for 4-6 years (45 min), 7-12 years (60 min), and a juvenile and beginners class for ages 13-17.

What days and times are the kids classes?

Monday to Friday: 4-6 years at 3:30PM and 4:15PM, 7-12 years at 4:15PM and 5:15PM, 13-17 at 6:15PM. Saturday: 4-6 years at 9:30AM, 7-12 years at 10:15AM and 11:15AM.

Can my child try a class first?

Yes. The academy offers a free trial, which you request through the form on its website.

Who teaches the kids classes?

Joana Roza, the academy's Kids & Ladies Coach and a BJJ black belt. The academy is led by head coach Professor Olavo Belo.

Does Gracie Humaita run holiday camps?

Its website advertises a December camp for ages 4-6 and 7-12 (Monday to Friday, 9AM-2PM) with BJJ, boxing, self-defence, games and mobility, snack and lunch included, at AED 225 a day or AED 200 a day when booking a full week. Ask the academy for this year's dates and fees.

How much do regular kids classes cost?

Regular class and membership fees are not on the website - ask the provider.

Gracie Humaita

Combat SportsMartial Arts

Checked Oct 2026Details checked October 2026

Al Safa

Free trial

Gracie Humaita Dubai is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu academy at Al Ferdous Center 3 on Al Wasl Road, Al Safa First, led by Professor Olavo Belo, a Gracie Jiu-Jitsu black belt. Children train in their own age groups: 45-minute classes for 4-6 year olds, 60-minute classes for 7-12 year olds, and a juvenile class for ages 13-17 that also takes beginners. Kids classes run Monday to Friday in the afternoon, with more sessions on Saturday morning, so there is usually a slot that fits around school. The kids classes are led by Joana Roza, a BJJ black belt whose coach profile describes her approach as patient and nurturing. On Saturdays there are also mobility and flexibility sessions for 4-6 and 7-12 year olds, and the website advertises a December holiday camp mixing BJJ, boxing and self-defence. The academy offers a free trial class through its website. It is rated 5.0 on Google from 63 reviews.

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The activity

Martial Arts, explained

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is a grappling martial art built on leverage and technique rather than strikes, which is why a smaller child can learn to control a bigger partner. Kids classes teach falling safely, escapes, holding positions and basic submissions through drills, games and light sparring (called 'rolling'). Along the way children build coordination, body awareness, discipline and confidence, and many academies use a belt and stripe system so progress is visible. Classes are usually split by age, because a 5-year-old and a 12-year-old need very different pacing, and some academies take children from around four.

Who it's for

Children from 4 to 17, in three groups: BJJ for 4-6 years (45 min), BJJ for 7-12 years (60 min), and a juvenile and beginners class for ages 13-17. Kids classes are led by Kids & Ladies Coach Joana Roza.

What to expect

Start with the free trial class, which you request through the form on the academy's website. Weekday classes are at 3:30PM and 4:15PM for 4-6 year olds, 4:15PM and 5:15PM for 7-12 year olds, and 6:15PM for the 13-17 juvenile and beginners class. On Saturdays, 4-6 year olds train at 9:30AM and 7-12 year olds at 10:15AM or 11:15AM, with mobility and flexibility sessions at 8:30AM (4-6) and 9AM (7-12). Joana Roza leads the kids classes. What to wear to the first class, and regular class fees, are not on the website - ask the academy when you book the trial.

Highlights

Free trial class, booked through the academy's website (graciehumaita.ae)
Three age groups: 4-6 years, 7-12 years, and 13-17 juvenile and beginners (graciehumaita.ae)
Kids classes Monday to Friday afternoons plus Saturday mornings (graciehumaita.ae)
Kids coach Joana Roza is a BJJ black belt; head coach Professor Olavo Belo is a Gracie Jiu-Jitsu black belt (graciehumaita.ae)
Saturday mobility and flexibility sessions for 4-6 and 7-12 year olds (graciehumaita.ae)
5.0 on Google from 63 reviews (Google listing)

Why parents rate it

What parents say on Google

Gracie Humaita is rated 5.0 on Google from 63 reviews. Of those, 62 are 5-star ratings and one is 3 stars.

The facts

Ages: 4-6, 7-12, and 13-17 juvenile and beginners (graciehumaita.ae)
Prices: Regular fees not published. December camp as listed: AED 225/day, or AED 200/day when booking a full week (graciehumaita.ae)
Schedule: Kids Mon-Fri: 3:30PM and 4:15PM (4-6), 4:15PM and 5:15PM (7-12), 6:15PM (13-17). Sat: 9:30AM (4-6), 10:15AM and 11:15AM (7-12), mobility 8:30AM (4-6) and 9AM (7-12) (graciehumaita.ae)
Trial: Free trial class, requested via the website form (graciehumaita.ae)
Where: Al Ferdous Center 3, Al Wasl Road, Al Safa First, Dubai
How to book: graciehumaita.ae · +971 4 884 3640 · +971 56 169 0269 · wa.me/971542470126 · [email protected]

Guide · 8 min readRead: Gymnastics and martial arts: body control, balance and learning to fall

Questions parents ask

Good to know

Al Ferdous Center 3, Al Wasl Road, Al Safa First (graciehumaita.ae)
Also runs ladies-only BJJ and self-defence classes, taught by Joana Roza (graciehumaita.ae)
Wheelchair-accessible car park and entrance (Google listing)

Prices, ages and times change — confirm with the provider before you book.