Welcome Families
A fun, positive, and confidence-building place for kids to learn Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, make friends, and grow on and off the mats.
From Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu classes to summer camp, Parents Night Out, and special events, there’s always something exciting happening at Ricardo Almeida BJJ.
We love creating fun and meaningful experiences for kids and families in our community.
Here’s a look at the kinds of events we host at the academy throughout the year.
OUR EVENTS IN LAKEWOOD RANCH
We’d love to welcome your family to the academy.
Start with a free intro class, explore summer camp, or join us for Parents Night Out.
Why Jiu-Jitsu Is Great for Kids
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu teaches much more than physical skills. It helps children learn patience, resilience, problem-solving, body awareness, and how to stay calm under pressure. Many parents choose Jiu-Jitsu because they want their child to become stronger not just physically, but emotionally too.
PAST EVENTS
Testimonials
The best! My son loves it. He gets better each time and his confidence began building right away. He does not fear bullies anymore. Everyone’s kid is always known by name. It is clean, in a beautiful location, and there is a comfortable waiting area for parents to watch their kids without distracting them. They uphold the kids to show respect and discipline, and instill good values. Kids are always redirected appropriately and firmly with kindness and encouragement.
— Jacky
We just went for the first time today and my 9 year old loved it! My husband and I were thinking of taking him for a while and we finally did it and we are so happy we did. The entire staff there was amazing and welcoming and my son loved it so much he said "I want to go everyday!' This made my mama heart happy since he went into it being nervous. Thank you RABJJ you guys are awesome!
— Tanya
I’ve been training under Professor Ricardo for 11 years now, he’s helped me tremendously on and off the mats. The adult program always has top level instruction and awesome training. The kids program is phenomenal at building strong moral values, such as confidence, perseverance and cooperation, that I hope to teach my son as he grows up.  I can not put into words how grateful I am to have stumbled upon the academy all those years ago.
— Ed
We are so lucky to now have a BJJ Legend in our back yard to teach us self defense and the Martial Art of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. He is the real deal! I’m so excited and can’t wait to get into training and learning from him. Professor Ricardo is a former UFC fighter and Pride Middle weight champion. He has trained many UFC legends like Frankie Edgar, Eddie Alvarez and Corey Anderson just to name a few. He is more than qualified to teach any age from young children thru seniors. He is extremely personable and caring on and off the mats. His curriculum is geared to your success and I know he will change your life both physically and mentally. How did we get so lucky to get him in our neighborhood!!!
— Steve
Professor Ricardo and his team are fantastic. Started my 6yr old about 2 months ago and she’s been hooked. Coach and his team have fantastic patience for kids I would highly recommend.
— Talas
Excellent Jiu-Jitsu academy! The environment is always very clean and organized, which makes training even more enjoyable. The service is excellent and the owners are extremely friendly and welcoming. You can see their care and dedication to the space and the people who train there. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a great place to train
— Marcia
Who We Are?
We are a family focused Brazilian Jiu Jitsu academy proudly serving Lakewood Ranch, Sarasota, and Bradenton families. Our mission is to help children and adults grow stronger physically and mentally through the practice of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Founded by Ricardo Almeida, a world-class Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu 5th degree black belt, UFC, PRIDE, and Pancrase veteran, and MMA coach.Our academy provides high-quality instruction in a welcoming and supportive environment where students of all ages can learn, grow, and thrive.
For kids, our classes focus on building confidence, discipline, respect, and resilience while teaching practical self-defense skills and encouraging teamwork and friendship. Parents often tell us they see positive changes not only on the mats but also at home and at school.
Beyond our regular classes, we love bringing families together through summer camps, Parents Night Out events, workshops, and community activities that help kids stay active, make friends, and have fun.
Whether your child is trying martial arts for the first time or looking for a new challenge, we’re excited to welcome your family to the Ricardo Almeida BJJ community in Lakewood Ranch.
2026 Members Exclusive Events
