Understanding the Challenges of SEND Students and how Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu can Benefit Children and Adults with Special Educational Needs & Disabilities

With Alex, Mainstream English Teacher/ Specialist Resource and Inclusion Lead: CAPTURE Project, and Molly, Director of English at a Specialist School  for Neurodiverse Young People 

At Gracie Barra Neepsend, our ambition is to create an inclusive and supportive environment where everyone, regardless of age or ability, can experience the transformative benefits of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ). We’ve always believed that BJJ has something to offer to people from all walks of life. However, we also recognise that for children and adults with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), a martial art like BJJ can present unique challenges as well as opportunities. 

To better understand how we could improve our approach to Jiu-Jitsu inclusion for students requiring extra support, we invited two knowledgeable and dedicated SEND specialists—who also happen to be BJJ students and parents of kids who train at our academy—to share their expertise with our coaching team. Their input has been invaluable in shaping how we adapt our teaching styles for students with additional needs, ensuring that we can offer the best possible experience for everyone in our community. We learned that every member is unique, with different strengths and challenges, and the way we communicate, structure lessons, and provide feedback can have a huge impact on how they progress and feel about their training. 

During our SEND Specialist led coaching workshop, the following benefits of BJJ for  students with additional needs were discussed: 

1. Physical Coordination and Motor Skills 

One key challenge for students with additional needs can be difficulty with physical coordination. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu can help to improve this by focusing on balance, body awareness, and patterns of movement. In our classes, we use drills that encourage fine and gross motor control to develop physical coordination in a safe and supportive way. Whether it’s learning how to execute a technique or simply moving on the mat, the structured nature of BJJ provides a great opportunity to enhance these important skills. 

2. Building Confidence and Self-Esteem 

Confidence can often be a struggle for children and adults with additional needs. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu provides an excellent environment for them to achieve success. Milestones that help build self-esteem can look like mastering a technique, earning a new stripe or making slow, steady progress in class. At Gracie Barra Neepsend, we have always encouraged all our members, no matter their ability, to recognise their progress and be proud of their hard work. As a result, we have seen adults with additional needs who started out as beginners wanting to explore their potential, become leading members of our coaching team, providing invaluable insight into how we can make training as accessible as possible for all our students. From their ongoing input in combination with the workshop it has become even more apparent that celebrating small victories, no matter how minor they may seem, is crucial in helping students feel good about themselves and their journey with us. Our aim is that this will help build courage to integrate in groups of unfamiliar individuals beyond the school. 

3. Improved Social Skills and Communication 

In the realm of SEND sports, students often require extra support in developing social and communication skills. In Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, much of the learning is done in pairs, which provides an ideal opportunity for members to practice teamwork and communication, whilst limiting the potentially overwhelming effects of being in a larger group setting. The shared journey of learning and working together builds positive, appropriate bonds with adults and peers alike, cultivating a sense of camaraderie and respect. Our coaches now work specifically on fostering these social skills by promoting positive interaction and ensuring every member feels valued and supported in their learning environment. 

4. Mental Focus and Emotional Regulation 

It has been shown that physical exertion under controlled conditions is an excellent tool for emotional regulation in itself, but Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu isn’t just a physical practice—it’s also mentally engaging. It builds students up to focus on techniques, solve problems, and manage their emotions simultaneously, which can be especially helpful for individuals with SEND. 'BJJ for mental health' is a well known concept as the sport offers a healthy outlet for members to channel their energy and work on emotional regulation. Having to focus on the task at hand and being in a structured class helps students feel more grounded and in control, which is something that our coaching team is now more mindful of when teaching those with additional needs. 

5. Structure and Routine 

Many children and adults with additional needs thrive in domains with clear structure and routine. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, with its predictable class format, progression through belts, and emphasis on discipline, is the perfect setting for this. At Gracie Barra Neepsend, we aim to ensure that our training sessions are carefully constructed in a way that gives our students a sense of security and consistency. Working through our 16-week spiral curriculums and broadly knowing what to expect in our sessions by sticking to a familiar timeline of activities enhances predictability. This can be especially helpful in reducing anxiety and cognitive load, offering students the confidence to fully engage in their training. 

6. Self-Defence and Personal Safety 

Self-defence is an important skill for everyone, but it can be particularly empowering for individuals with additional needs. An enquiry undertaken by the UK’s Department for Education in 2018 found that, “Young people with disabilities are more likely to report being bullied (36%) than their peers (29%). Similarly, young people with Special Educational Needs are more likely to report being bullied (36%) than their peers (29%)”. In Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, students learn how to protect themselves, escape from holds, and control opponents. This practical knowledge can give members a sense of confidence and security. Additionally, BJJ teaches non-violence and promotes using technique and leverage to stay safe, which aligns well with the values of respect and empathy that we emphasise in our academy. 

Gracie Barra Neepsend: Creating an Inclusive Environment 

At Gracie Barra Neepsend, we are dedicated to providing an inclusive environment where all members feel welcomed, respected, and supported. After consulting with our SEND specialists, we’ve taken concrete steps to ensure that our coaching methods and class structures cater to the specific needs of all our students. We’ve implemented and will continue to optimise tailored strategies for speech, language, communication, lesson adaptation, and emotional support to ensure that everyone can benefit from the life-changing potential of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. 

We are proud of the progress we’ve made in creating a space where children and adults with additional needs can learn, grow, and thrive in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. That said, we know more can be done, particularly for young people who require a high level of support. It is our ambition to be able to offer a dedicated integration programme, where young members can adapt to the routine and learning structure of a class through a carefully considered combination of exploration, play and following simple, broken down instructions. This programme is currently under development as we aim to bring together the right knowledge, skills and people. Needless to say, at this time our devoted coaches want to keep learning and growing themselves when it comes to developing their skills in working with these groups of students, and we look forward to welcoming more individuals from the SEN community to experience the many benefits of BJJ. 

Join Us at Gracie Barra Neepsend 

If you or someone you know has special educational needs and is looking for a supportive environment that prioritises Jiu-Jitsu inclusion and bringing the benefits of BJJ to the world of SEND sports, we invite you to come and see how we can help. Whether you're a parent, guardian, caregiver, industry professional, or adult looking for a positive and rewarding activity, Gracie Barra Neepsend is here to offer the guidance and encouragement you need to succeed. 

To find out more or schedule a trial class, please contact us today. We look forward to welcoming you to our Gracie Barra family!