How do you make friends and defend yourself from school bullies? Simple: with Jiu-Jitsu. (Publicity photo)

A lot of mothers and people who are uninformed about Jiu-Jitsu still feel the gentle art isn’t for everybody. After all, it would be a lot of pressure, a lot of contact and a lot of brutishness for their beloved and fragile little ones.

Things aren’t quite like that, we guarantee. There’s a myriad of schools with a variety of philosophies, but one of the few similarities common between all Jiu-Jitsu academies the world over is this: all instructors want their students to happily return the next day.

And it is thus, day after day, that Jiu-Jitsu strengthens, entertains, improves self-esteem, provides will power and a new life. You can take our word for it, mothers!

To reinforce this message, GRACIEMAG.com unearthed a video showing how Jiu-Jitsu for kids is based on creative exercises, with classes that combine self-defense with play and gymnastics.

Give your kids a chance to try Jiu-Jitsu. If they don’t like it, they’ll be the first to say it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnXFqxbu-w0

Professor Davi de Souza awards Wescley Souza his first stripe. Photo by Junior Samurai/GRACIEMAG.com.

Diagnosed with autism, attention deficit disorder, and with a total lack of motor coordination–that’s what Wescley Souza’s life was like a year ago.

In exactly 12 months, he was rescued by Jiu-Jitsu, thanks to Fortaleza, Brazil-based Carlson Gracie/Gutenberg Melo Academy instructors Moisés Costa, Cristiano Pantanal and Davi de Souza. How’s he doing today? Take a look for yourself in the following video.

Now, do you know of any other cases of Jiu-Jitsu changing someone’s life or even transforming life in a community?

Let us know in the comments field below or by shooting an email to gracie@graciemag.com.