NESF Youth Jiu-Jitsu
Thank you for taking the time to check out this page! Head instructor Kirik Jenness has taught youth martial arts at 460 West Street in Amherst since 1983. The space opened as a karate studio, and in 1993 formed NESF, a jiu-jitsu and mixed martial arts program. We offer youth classes four days a week, with two sessions per week for each of our age groups (8-11 and 12-14). 15 and up go into the adult program; at present we do not have any classes for youth less than eight years old.
Below is the information parents typically seek before enrolling or coming in to observe a class.
•What We Teach
•Instructors
•Schedule
•Attire
•Pricing
•Register
What We Teach
Our jiu-jitsu classes are designed to instill self-discipline and confidence in a friendly, team-based atmosphere. Each class includes warm-up sessions, technical instruction, and fun jiu-jitsu games related to class concepts. Throughout, we work together to improve our knowledge, physical capabilities, and mental toughness.
The practice of jiu-jitsu imparts the principles of problem-solving, staying calm under pressure, and finding a way out of or through difficulty. These can be applied in everyday life, earning a particular sense of self-confidence that can only be gained from learning a practical martial art.
Jiu-jitsu is a great way for kids to stay fit and active, and also an extraordinarily effective method of self-defense, designed for smaller individuals to stay safe against larger opponents. It’s predominantly a ground-based martial art, using principles of leverage and timing to achieve an escape from a bad position, gain or maintain a better position, and finally perform a non-violent submission.
The focus of the NESF youth program is on “No Gi” jiu-jitsu. No-gi refers to the class participants needing only to wear any comfortable apparel that allows unimpeded movement, rather than a full gi (the loose, typically white, two-piece garment seen in judo and other martial arts). Not requiring a gi allows for a faster, more practical style of play.
One of the keys to maintaining the respected traditions and high quality of jiu-jitsu is “lineage” – the line of instructors awarding black belts, extending from the founder to the present day. This is the lineage at NESF:
•Mitsuyo Maeda
•Carlos Gracie Sr
•Helio Gracie
•Carlos Gracie Jr
•Renzo Gracie
•Ricardo Almeida
•Chad Beatty
•Dave Roy
•Kirik, Stacey, Ruthanne, Robert
•Your Child
NESF Youth Jiu-Jitsu Instructors
Stacey Matarazzo-Rine
Stacey Matarazzo-Rine, PhD, has practiced martial arts for nearly 20 years, with the last 13 devoted to jiu-jitsu, mixed martial arts, and kickboxing. Apart from her love for these disciplines, she also has a deep-seated passion for education. A professor in the STEM department at Holyoke Community College, Stacey has decades of teaching experience, catering to a wide age range of students, from 7 to 70 years old. Dr. Matarazzo-Rine is dedicated to ensuring that the jiu-jitsu instruction she provides for children is not only authentic and practical but also fun and engaging. She employs a variety of teaching methods including skill-set-appropriate calisthenics, training drills, and games designed to suit the unique needs and capabilities of her young learners. On a personal note, she truly loves her life in the Valley, with her husband, Dan, and their two beloved dogs Winnie and Leeloo.
Ruthanne Hassey Paradise
Ruthanne Hassey Paradise, PhD, serves as the Director of Physical, Instrumental, and Analytical Laboratory Instruction for the Chemistry department at UMass Amherst. Encouraging underrepresented groups to pursue STEM careers in all fields is of profound importance to her. To that end, Ruthanne has worked with teenagers, and has started to develop a curriculum for kindergartners. Apart from her academic pursuits, Dr. Paradise is a seasoned athlete who has engaged in a variety of sports throughout her life, including swimming, volleyball, track and field, and weight lifting. In the last four years, she has channeled her athletic prowess into martial arts, focusing her energy on jiu-jitsu, MMA, and kickboxing. When teaching jiu-jitsu to children, Dr. Paradise believes in fostering an environment where young learners can freely try out new things and grow.
Robert Moss
Raised from birth in the Pioneer Valley, Rob graduated from Amherst Regional High School, and then pursued the veterinary technician program at Holyoke Community College, before transitioning to Westfield State University where he earned a BS in Biology. Now, he puts his education and profound love of animals to use as a Certified Veterinary Technician at Animal Eye Care of New England, and through making local house calls. Not wholly fulfilled by team sports at a young age, Rob was drawn to martial arts, and first found his stride in the western martial art of fencing with an épée, under the tutelage of George William Claxton. Later he trained in Taekwondo under the watchful eye of Master Hoon Heo, achieving the rank of red belt. In 2015, he discovered jiu-jitsu at NESF, and has been passionate about it ever since. When he isn’t immersed in his work or training, Rob can be found in Shutesbury, where he resides with his spouse of twelve years and their two dogs. His leisure time is filled with outdoor adventures and the rhythm of music.
Kirik Jenness
Kirik Jenness is the World MMA Awards’ 2022 Lifetime Achievement winner. Significant accomplishments that led to the award include:
•Opened the first MMA gym in Massachusetts (with Dave Roy);
•Serves as the official records and suspension keeper for MMA, as required by the Muhammad Ali Act, a US Federal law;
•Oversees athlete rankings for the UFC (top 15), Bellator MMA (top 10), and BKFC (top 5);
•Runs the content and online community at mixedmartialarts.com;
•Wrote the first book on MMA (with Roy);
•Held the first MMA judge and referee training for Massachusetts and New Hampshire when the sport was first legalized in New England; and,
•Has done television commentary for MMA events in 28 nations.
Kirik believes every child is genuinely different, and makes every effort to meet kids where they are, to help them become happier, kinder, stronger, more confident human beings.
NESF Youth Jiu-Jitsu Class Schedule
Monday & Wednesday 5:00 PM- 6:00 PM (ages 12-14yrs)
Tuesday & Thursday 5:00 PM- 6:00 PM (ages 8-11yrs)
Friday 5:00 PM- 6:00 PM Striking (all ages 8-14yrs)
NESF Youth Jiu-Jitsu Attire
Unlike many youth activities (soccer, hockey, tennis, etc) which require expensive equipment, youth jiu-jitsu classes do not require any extra expenses. As noted, the NESF youth jiu-jitsu classes do not use the gi, or as it is referred to in Brazilian Portuguese, the “kimono”. This is the uniform created by judo founder Jigoro Kano in the early 1900s, typically consisting of a white, heavy, woven cotton top, lighter canvas trousers with a drawstring tie, and cotton belt wrapped twice around the waist.
For a no-gi jiu-jitsu youth class, it’s important to wear clothing that allows for ease of movement. Here are some recommendations for appropriate attire:
•Rashguard or T-shirt: A rashguard is a popular choice for no-gi training as it provides a snug fit and helps prevent mat burn or rashes. If a rashguard is not available, a well-fitting T-shirt without any pockets can also work.
•Shorts: Lightweight and flexible shorts are ideal for no-gi classes. Look for shorts specifically designed for sports or grappling that allow freedom of movement and have a secure waistband, with no pockets or zippers.
•Compression leggings (optional): While not required for youth classes, compression leggings or spats can provide an extra layer of protection for the legs and help prevent mat burn. They are typically worn under shorts.
•Gi pants: Some young grapplers, and for that matter adult grapplers, prefer to wear cotton gi pants. They can be grabbed, so the pants designed for karate or taekwondo may not be sufficiently strong over time. Pants for a judo or jiu-jitsu gi work quite well.
•Bare feet: No-gi classes are typically done barefoot, so there’s no need for specific footwear. In fact, street shoes cannot be worn on the mats.
•No jewelry: To ensure safety during training, it’s important to remove any jewelry, including necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and rings.
•Secure long hair to prevent interference while training with your partner.
•Please keep finger and toe nails trimmed and clean.
NESF Youth Jiu-Jitsu Pricing
$109 per month, one-year contract, recurring payments.
$119 per month, no contract, can be canceled anytime with 30 days’ notice.
$1,188 for a full year paid up front (Comes out to $99 per month).
Family Discount
50% off the second and all subsequent kids in the family (living under the same roof).
How to Register
Go to this link:
https://new-england-submission-fighting.gymdesk.com/signup
•Select Member at the top of the sign-up page.
•Fill out the form with your child’s name (rather than the parent’s name).
•Parents do sign the release from liability.
•Select one of the three (kids only) Youth Membership packages.
•Please contact us here, if you have more than one child to register, so we can manually enter the discount.
Questions?
If you have any further questions or concerns whatsoever about the NESF youth program, or any other relevant subject, please reach out to the New Student Coordinator HERE.