Apex Jiu Jitsu & MMA teaches kids by age band at two Loudoun County academies, with Wolf Pups from age 3 at Sterling, Kids 6 to 9, Youth 10 to 13, and Teens 14 to 17 at both, and wrestling starting at 4 in Ashburn and 5 in Sterling. The first class is free, parents book online in a few minutes, and one coaching standard runs across both academies with two schedules to choose from.
Find the right class by age
Apex Jiu Jitsu & MMA groups children by age so every class moves at a pace that suits the room. There is one coaching standard across both academies, two schedules to choose from, and the same bands at each: Kids 6 to 9, Youth 10 to 13, and Teens 14 to 17, with Wolf Pups for ages 3 to 6 at the Sterling academy. Adult classes are for ages 18 and up everywhere.
The bands are guidance, not walls. They decide which free class a child books first, and from there the coach places each student where they will do best, adjusting for size, maturity, and experience. If your child sits on the edge of a band, book the one that matches their age today and let the coach make the call on the mat.
Find your child's age below to see what each academy runs for that group. Every program listed here offers a free first class.
Ages 3 to 6: Wolf Pups at Sterling
Wolf Pups is the youngest group Apex runs, and it meets at the Sterling academy. It is jiu-jitsu only, taught as a playful introduction to grappling: games and guided movement that build coordination, listening skills, and confidence. Each class lasts 30 minutes, which suits a preschool attention span. For a closer look at that half hour, read what a class for a three-year-old looks like.
Six is the one age that can go either way at Sterling. Children who have never trained jiu-jitsu begin with the Wolf Pups, and those who already have some mat time move into Kids BJJ. The booking form asks that single question so the first class fits.
The Ashburn academy has no class for three-year-olds. Its youngest option is Beginner Wrestling, which takes children from age 4, so four- and five-year-olds near Ashburn start on the wrestling mat. Sterling's Youth Wrestling begins at 5, which gives a five-year-old at Sterling two routes in: Wolf Pups or wrestling.
Ages 6 to 9: Kids
At Sterling, children in this band can choose Kids BJJ, with gi and No-Gi classes each week, Kids MMA, and kickboxing and Muay Thai, which are taught together in the Kids Muay Thai class. Youth Wrestling covers ages 5 to 13 as one program, grouped by size and experience.
At Ashburn, the Kids band has Kids No-Gi BJJ, Kids Muay Thai, and a Saturday Kids Boxing class. Young wrestlers train in Beginner Wrestling, which runs through age 13, and children with a season or more of wrestling behind them can try Advanced Wrestling, with longer sessions, live goes, and competition preparation. Not sure which fits? Pick Beginner, and the coaches move wrestlers up when they are ready.
Most families start with one discipline and add a second later. The parent guide to picking a first program walks through that choice, and the kids wrestling guide for Northern Virginia covers the wrestling side in depth.
Ages 10 to 13: Youth
Youth has its own classes at both academies, and it shares the Kids time slot and mat. The coach splits the room, so ten- to thirteen-year-olds get a pace and partners set for their own age group instead of being matched with a seven-year-old.
At Sterling, that means Youth BJJ in gi and No-Gi, Youth Muay Thai, Youth MMA, and Youth Wrestling. At Ashburn, it means Youth No-Gi BJJ, Youth Muay Thai, Youth Boxing, and the Beginner and Advanced Wrestling tracks. Parents weighing the striking options can start with boxing and Muay Thai for kids.
Ages 14 to 17: Teens
Teens get their own page, because the options widen at 14. See martial arts for teens for the complete set of age-appropriate classes at both academies.
What to expect at the first class
Arrive about ten minutes early. That leaves time for the minor waiver, a quick hello with the coach, and a look at the mat before class begins. Shoes come off at the edge of the mat. The coach will ask whether your child has trained anything before and whether there is anything physical to know about, then bring them into the group.
Classes follow the same shape at both academies: a structured warm-up, technique, drilling with a partner, and live practice, which is always optional for beginners and kids. Children learn how to fall safely and how to look after their partners before anything speeds up. Coaches address rough or disrespectful behavior right away, and every coach who works with youth programs is background-checked.
Dress your child in comfortable athletic clothes with no zippers, buttons, or pockets, and bring a water bottle. For a gi class at Sterling, the academy lends a gi for the trial. Wrestling is barefoot. Parents are welcome to stay and watch the whole class from the viewing area. The parent walkthrough of a child's first class goes through it step by step.
How booking works
Booking happens online and takes a few minutes. Choose the academy whose schedule suits your week. The form asks your child's age first, so it only shows classes that fit, then asks what you hope training does for your child, then takes your child's first name, your contact details, and your consent to receive appointment texts. The last step is picking a class time.
A text confirms the booking. No payment information is required, and the first class is free. If you have a second child, or want to try a second program, the confirmation screen offers Book another trial. A few Saturday youth classes on the Ashburn schedule meet in the Sterling building; when you pick one of those, the booking screens show which building to drive to.
After the class, a coach walks you through the membership options for your family, with no high-pressure sales.
At Apex Jiu Jitsu & MMA Ashburn
Kids 6 to 9
Youth 10 to 13
Beginner Wrestling 4 to 13
Advanced Wrestling 4 to 13
At Apex Jiu Jitsu & MMA Sterling
Wolf Pups 3 to 6
Kids 6 to 9
Youth 10 to 13
Youth 5 to 13
Questions about Kids Martial Arts Classes
How do I know which age group my child belongs in?
Start with your child's age today and book the matching band: Wolf Pups 3 to 6 at Sterling, Kids 6 to 9, Youth 10 to 13, or Teens 14 to 17. The bands guide the first booking, and the coach adjusts placement on the mat for size, maturity, and experience. If your child falls just outside every band, call or text the academy and a coach will talk through the best path forward.
How is Wolf Pups different from Kids BJJ?
Wolf Pups is a 30-minute introduction to grappling for ages 3 to 6, built on games and guided movement that develop coordination, listening, and confidence. Kids BJJ is an hour long for ages 6 to 9 and moves into real technique, partner drilling, and self-defense skills in a structured setting. A six-year-old with no jiu-jitsu yet begins in Wolf Pups, and one with mat time already goes to Kids BJJ.
What does the booking form ask about my child?
Your child's age comes first, because it filters the list down to classes that fit. Then the form asks for a goal, such as confidence, focus and discipline, getting off screens, real self-defense, or competition skills, followed by your child's first name. Your own contact details and consent for appointment texts come next, and the last step is picking a class time. Marketing texts are a separate, optional box.
Can I book trials for two children in one visit?
Yes. When the first booking is done, the confirmation screen offers a Book another trial button, and the form keeps your details in place so you do not type them twice. Use it for a sibling in a different age band or for a second program for the same child. Each booking gets its own text confirmation, so you always know which class each child is in.
Which kids programs include striking?
At Sterling, kickboxing and Muay Thai are taught together in the Kids and Youth Muay Thai classes, and Kids and Youth MMA blend striking with grappling. At Ashburn, Kids and Youth Muay Thai meet on weeknights, and Kids and Youth Boxing meet on Saturdays. Children's striking classes are built on pad work, combinations, and controlled drills, and live sparring stays optional.
Train at either Apex academy
Choose Ashburn or Sterling, and find the schedule that fits your week.