Kids martial arts Nashville TN Wildside — kids training in Music Valley
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    Kids Program

    Kids Martial Arts in Nashville, TN

    Wildside's Kids Program at Music Valley — three days a week of real martial arts training built specifically for kids. Jiu-Jitsu, Boxing, and Thai Boxing taught by Michael Merriman and his coaching team. Your child's first class is free.

    Three Days A Week

    What Your Kid Will Train Each Week

    Kids Jiu-Jitsu Nashville TN Wildside — children drilling on the mat

    Kids Jiu-Jitsu

    Tuesdays and Thursdays, 5:00–6:00 PM

    Foundational Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu built specifically for kids. Your child learns positions, escapes, sweeps, and submissions through age-appropriate drilling. This is real grappling — the same techniques taught to our adult students, scaled to kids' bodies and attention spans. Kids learn how to control positions on the ground, escape when someone controls them, and think through problems on the mat. Jiu-Jitsu builds calm under pressure, spatial awareness, and problem-solving skills that carry off the mat into school and daily life.

    Kids Boxing Nashville TN Wildside — child working pads with coach

    Kids Boxing

    Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6:00–7:00 PM

    Technical boxing fundamentals for kids — footwork, hand positioning, defensive movement, and pad work. Not fighting for the sake of fighting. Kids learn how to move like a boxer, how to protect themselves, and how boxing builds coordination and focus. Full contact levels are strictly controlled and age-appropriate. Ideal for kids who want structure, discipline, and real athletic skill.

    Kids Thai Boxing Nashville TN Wildside — child throwing a kick on pads

    Kids Thai Boxing

    Sundays, 2:30–3:30 PM

    Introduction to Muay Thai fundamentals for kids. Traditional Thai boxing techniques — kicks, punches, elbows, knees — taught with strict contact limits and heavy emphasis on control and form. Kids learn the eight-point striking system that makes Muay Thai one of the most complete striking arts in combat sports. Sunday sessions run parallel to Adult Open Sparring so parents can train while kids train.

    More Than Techniques

    What Kids Learn Beyond the Techniques

    The techniques matter, but the change most parents care about happens off the mat. Discipline that shows up at home. Focus that carries into school. Respect for coaches and training partners that becomes how your kid treats people. Confidence built through real skill — not participation trophies, but the genuine self-belief that comes from knowing you can handle a hard situation.

    Kids also learn conflict avoidance. A kid who knows how to grapple and box is a kid who doesn't need to prove anything — and that calm is exactly what de-escalates the situations that lead to trouble. Coach oversight runs through every session, and small class sizes mean your child gets individual attention, not lost in a crowd of thirty.

    This is the change most parents notice within the first 30–60 days.

    Who It's For

    Who the Kids Program Is For

    • Kids who are curious about martial arts and want to try something structured and real.
    • Kids who need discipline and focus — this program builds it through action, not lectures.
    • Kids who've been picked on or feel small — grappling and boxing teach control and confidence.
    • Kids who love competition — Wildside supports competition-track training for kids who want to test themselves.

    Age recommendations and readiness are assessed at the first class. Contact us with your child's age and we'll confirm the fit before their first session.

    Questions

    Kids Program FAQ

    What age is the Kids Program for?

    Ages are assessed at the first class. Generally kids as young as 5 can start with age-appropriate drilling, and the program scales up through pre-teens. Contact us with your child's age and we'll confirm the fit before the first class.

    What does my child need to bring to their first class?

    Just comfortable athletic clothing and a water bottle. No gi or equipment needed for the first session — we provide what's needed and let you know what to purchase once your child is enrolled.

    Is Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and boxing safe for kids?

    Both are safer than most people expect. Jiu-Jitsu is one of the safest full-contact martial arts because there's no head impact. Kids Boxing uses strict contact limits and heavy emphasis on defense and form — not sparring for the sake of it. Coach supervision is constant.

    Can my child attend all three days a week?

    Yes — all kids classes are included with the Kids Program membership. Kids who attend all three days progress faster because they see how grappling and striking connect. Attending one or two days a week is also fine — consistency matters more than intensity.

    Pricing

    Kids Program Pricing

    Kids Program pricing available — please contact Michael Merriman at (615) 553-1563 or mike@wildsidegym.com to confirm current rates and family plan options.

    Get Started

    Book Your Child's First Class

    Fill out the form and we'll reach out to confirm your child's first free trial class. Tell us their age and which days work best.

    Which class day(s) is your child interested in?

    Give Your Kid Something Real to Train In

    Three days a week of real martial arts — Jiu-Jitsu, Boxing, and Thai Boxing — taught by a coach who's cornered at the highest level of the sport. Book your child's free trial class today.

    Call NowGet Started