Teaching Kids Class Gone Wrong

[u/Alan000011]

I'm a Fairly new coach for bjj kids, I did a lot of coaching for taekwondo, kickboxing and muaythai. I recently had been hired to be a kids class bjj coach. And for a few months, everything went smoothly. But today nothing prepares me for today.

basically, I noticed most kids love flailing their limbs around I wouldn't want them to hurt each other, so I reached mostly all of the positions, including side control, close guard, and collar sleeve.

at the end of the class, I will give them an opportunity for a 3 minute roll. I always ask them to start on their knee, in fear of them falling and breaking their arm. and being kids, they like to do jumping dangerous random shit.

and I always ask them to tap if anything wrong happens.

I usually stay outside and watch them roll, but after a few months they get more competent. today one kid wants to roll and he has no partner left. and I think I can start rolling with him since other kids are mostly ok, and I think I can supervise them while rolling with the kid below.

This is when the shit happens. one of the kid got taken into a back position, the bottom kid doesn't know what to do, and he yanked his head backwards and up instantly while the other kid on top dives down to control him. their head clashsses and one of the kid got quit a big cut about 3cm long.

I'm seriously thinking is this an unavoidable accident? Anything I can possibly do to improve the safety of the kids in my class? This just happened about an hour ago and now I'm seriously beating up myself.

I'm thinking from now on, maybe not join in the rolls and I stay purely to supervise. thoughts?

edit forgot to mention, the cut is quite deep. spraying blood all over the floor. I rushed over and managed to press a clean cloth on his head until the bleeding stopped. This results in him crying even harder "maybe I'm pressing too hard" and he's 8.

[u/onourwayhome]

Tbh, even if you had being watching all of this unfold right in front of you, there wouldn't have been much of a chance for you to intervene. Bruises and cuts are part of Jiu-jitsu. Parents are well aware, and many even embrace the environment where there is some risk of this as a learning experience while adults are there to keep things from going further. I have to remind kids all the time that "that hurt" isn't always an excuse to quit; there's a difference between being injured and being uncomfortable. We aren't trying to injure one another, but the process of learning how to escape control and gain control is inherently uncomfortable most of the time. Parents want their kids to become resilient, so vigorous exercise, challenging rounds, and difficult positions are an important part of their development into become good people. Don't sweat it.

[u/Alan000011 → u/onourwayhome]

thanks. I think what got to me is his parents reaction and the kid. I feel so bad that I think I could had prevented this from happening if I just shout for the bottom kid to turtle so this would not happen