This month, Gracie Barra is launching a series of pillars and innovations to improve teaching Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for kids. It’s the Future Champions Program 3.0, which aims to modernize the kid’s curriculum and promote important updates to the belts system.

From the warming-up to toys, and classes for children with special needs, the program covers everything. There are also aspects of the instructors interest, like nine elements of a good lesson and nine good reasons fo belt exams for children.

Product of the work of more than ten GB black belts, the program resulted in a 110-page Manual, which seeks more encouragement, motivation and fun for the Jiu-Jitsu future champions.

Teaching young people is seen as increasingly important by teachers. In a sample of 42 schools Gracie Barra, it was found that about 40% of students are children. And more: in the U.S., 70% of martial art fighters are between 4 and 14 years.

The program Future Champions Program 3.0 will be applied in the main schools affiliated to GB Association, and the Manual will be available at the brand new online store GB Online Marketing Store. For more information about the store, send an email to frank.nava@graciebarra.com.

A series of videos about the new program will be launched on the GB site, stay tuned.

The former UFC champion Tim Sylvia knows what to do when he hang up his gloves.

“I’ll be a full-time police officer when it’s time to stop fighting. And obviously Jiu-Jitsu is the perfect key for police officers”, said Tim, who works in the police once a month in Illinois.

Awarded with a purple belt in October by Peter Silveira, Tim commented on his graduation to GRACIEMAG.com.

“I love this guy (Pedro), he is the brother I never had and always wanted. I’ve learned a lot with him and John Gutta (also purple belt), with whom I’ve been training with for more than two years, at Pat Miletich’s gym. John knows a lot”, said Sylvia.

“For Tim, Jiu-Jitsu is more than a martial art, it’s a life style”, said professor Pedro Silveira. “It’s part of it to be kind with people around us, family, friends and the society. You need to do something important in your life for others. My students understand that, I don’t want them to be merely tough guys. Jiu-Jitsu allows us to improve our lives in every aspect, in every detail.”

Since last year, the Jordanian government has used Jiu-Jitsu as a training foundation for its main security force, the Darak. This elite group is responsible for security at sensitive locations around the country, such as embassies and airports, and performs special anti-terrorist operations.

Since 2009 Brazilian born Samy El Jamal has been schooling its members in techniques that aim to minimize the risk of injury, both to the Jordanians troopers and to any potential suspects.

It is expected that within four years all arrest techniques in Jordanian territory will be standardized. But Samy went beyond. The Darak want to put together a high-level competition team by 2012.

Watch the video and see for yourself how effective these soldiers have become.