---
title: "Gracie Barra Westside Albuquerque: How to enhance a child&#8217;s coordination using basic jiu jitsu movements | Phone: +1 (505) 818-8077"
url: https://gbwestside.com/gracie-barra-westside-albuquerque-how-to-enhance-a-childs-coordination-using-basic-jiu-jitsu-movements-phone-1-505-818-8077/
author: gbadmin02
date: 2026-08-03T13:26:06-07:00
categories: [Gracie Barra Westside Albuquerque: How to enhance a child's coordination using basic jiu jitsu movements | Phone: +1 (505) 818-8077]
tags: [Albuquerque Jiu-Jitsu, BJJ, BJJ community, BJJ for all levels, BJJ for beginners, BJJ in New Mexico, black belt in Jiu-Jitsu, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, character development, competition team, developing leadership through BJJ, discipline in Jiu-Jitsu, Equipe GB, free Jiu-Jitsu class, Gracie Barra athletes, Gracie Barra for women, Gracie Barra legacy, Gracie Barra New Mexico, Gracie Barra philosophy, Gracie Barra training, Gracie Barra training environment, Gracie Barra vision, Gracie Barra Westside, Gracie Barra Westside Albuquerque: How to enhance a child's coordination using basic jiu jitsu movements | Phone: +1 (505) 818-8077, Jiu-Jitsu academy, Jiu-Jitsu classes, Jiu-Jitsu community building, Jiu-Jitsu competition, Jiu-Jitsu culture, Jiu-Jitsu empowerment, Jiu-Jitsu excellence, Jiu-Jitsu family values, Jiu-Jitsu for advanced practitioners, Jiu-Jitsu for fitness, Jiu-Jitsu for kids, Jiu-Jitsu for self-defense, Jiu-Jitsu skills, Jiu-Jitsu strategies, Jiu-Jitsu success, Jiu-Jitsu techniques, Jiu-Jitsu training, martial arts community, Master Carlos Gracie Jr., mental toughness in Jiu-Jitsu, personal development, personal growth in Jiu-Jitsu, physical conditioning, Professor Roberto Tussa, red shield, resilience in Jiu-Jitsu, respect in Jiu-Jitsu, start Jiu-Jitsu journey, strength through Jiu-Jitsu, top-tier instruction, world champion Jiu-Jitsu]
---

# Gracie Barra Westside Albuquerque: How to enhance a child&#8217;s coordination using basic jiu jitsu movements | Phone: +1 (505) 818-8077

When you sit on the benches at [***Gracie*** ***Barra Westside Albuquerque***](https://gbwestside.com/contact/) and watch a brand new class of young kids step onto the mat, the first thing you notice is how disconnected their little bodies can be. One leg goes left while their head leans right, and trying to get them to hop on one foot looks like a wild struggle against gravity.

 Parents often worry when they see this lack of rhythm, but anyone who has spent real time on the mats knows it is completely normal. [***Children***](https://gbwestside.com/contact/) grow in quick bursts, and their brains are constantly trying to catch up with limbs that seem to change length overnight.

 This is where basic Jiu Jitsu drills work absolute magic. Most traditional sports ask a child to track a fast moving ball or execute a kick while standing upright, which requires a refined sense of balance they simply do not possess yet. [***Jiu Jitsu***](https://gbwestside.com/contact/) flips that whole process around by starting ground level.

 Take the hip escape, which everyone on the mat calls the shrimp. To do it, a child lies on their back, plants their feet close to their seat, turns onto their side, and drives their hips backward away from an imaginary training partner. It looks simple when a coach demonstrates it, but for a six year old, it requires a massive amount of cross body signaling. Their feet have to press into the mat while their core engages and their upper body frames for defense. After a few weeks of shrimping up and down the mats at [***Gracie Barra Westside***](https://gbwestside.com/contact/), you start seeing a dramatic shift. The child stops flailing and starts using their feet and hips together as one solid unit.

 [***Start your jiu-jitsu journey today: schedule your free class at Gracie Barra Westside!***](https://gbwestside.com/contact/)

 

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 Another fundamental movement that reshapes motor control is the shoulder roll. Modern life means most kids spend very little time tumbling around outside, which leaves their vestibular system underworked. That internal system controls balance, depth perception, and spatial orientation. During a basic roll drill, coaches show students how to tuck their chin down toward their chest, look at their hip, and roll smoothly over one shoulder rather than crashing straight onto their head or spine. Learning that single pathway builds incredible [***spatial awareness***](https://gbwestside.com/contact/). They figure out where their body is in midair, how to distribute their body weight safely, and how to land back on their feet with control.

 Then there is the technical stand up, which might be the single most [***practical physical movement***](https://gbwestside.com/contact/) a child can learn. To get up off the ground safely while keeping eyes on what is in front of them, a child posts one hand behind them, plants the opposite foot, lifts their hips off the floor, and threads their free leg back under their center of mass. The first time a child tries this, they almost always tangle their own feet and fall back down. But through steady repetition, that cross body movement builds strong pathways between the left and right hemispheres of the brain. Before long, that clumsy scramble turns into a sharp, confident rise.

 What makes this environment so powerful for [***Albuquerque***](https://gbwestside.com/contact/) families is that these physical lessons happen through purposeful movement rather than boring repetition. When coaches lead body weight drills like bear crawls, crab walks, and alligator slithers across the room, the kids assume they are just playing a game. In reality, those movements load the shoulders, wrists, and core in ways that standing exercises never could. The child develops deep joint stability and learns how to shift weight fluidly from hand to hand and foot to foot.

 Building coordination in a child is not about pushing them to perform complex athletic feats right out of the gate. It comes down to giving their nervous system a rich vocabulary of basic floor movements, balance points, and leverage points. Once a young student learns how to control their hips, protect their head, and post their hands with intent, their overall confidence explodes. They move better on the playground, recover their balance when they slip, and carry a grounded [***physical awareness***](https://gbwestside.com/contact/) into everything else they do in life.

 ***Getting Started at Gracie Barra Is Easy:*** [***SCHEDULE YOUR FREE CLASS***](https://gbwestside.com/contact/)***!***

 [***Gracie Barra Westside: discover superior martial arts training in New Mexico Westside!***](https://gbwestside.com/contact/)

 

 

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## ***Gracie Barra Westside: come to the best jiu-jitsu academy in New Mexico!***

 [***Gracie Barra Westside, NM***](https://gbwestside.com/contact/) is not just a school for Brazilian [**Jiu-Jitsu**](https://gbwestside.com/brazilian-jiu-jitsu-as-an-anti-bullying-tool-strengthening-body-mind-and-confidence-in-westside-new-mexico/) ([**BJJ**](https://gbwestside.com/bjj-for-beginners-near-me/)); it’s a thriving community grounded in the values of brotherhood, integrity, and personal development. Founded by Master Carlos Gracie Jr., the legacy of Gracie Barra has become one of the most recognized names in the world of [**Jiu-Jitsu**](https://gbwestside.com/brazilian-jiu-jitsu-as-an-anti-bullying-tool-strengthening-body-mind-and-confidence-in-westside-new-mexico/), with its red shield symbolizing excellence, dedication, and the passing of knowledge from the Gracie family to the next generation of athletes.

 Under the leadership of [***Professor Roberto “Tussa” Alencar***](https://gbwestside.com/contact/), a 4th-degree black belt and a world champion in the sport, Gracie Barra [**Westside**](https://gbwestside.com/experience-top-level-jiu-jitsu-at-gb-westside-albuquerque/) offers top-tier instruction and a welcoming environment for students of all levels. With over 16 years of experience in Brazilian [**Jiu-Jitsu**](https://gbwestside.com/brazilian-jiu-jitsu-as-an-anti-bullying-tool-strengthening-body-mind-and-confidence-in-westside-new-mexico/), Professor Tussa has built a strong following in both California and New Mexico, cultivating a community of dedicated practitioners who strive for excellence on and off the mats.

 At [***Gracie Barra Westside***](https://gbwestside.com/contact/), students not only learn the techniques and strategies that define Brazilian [**Jiu-Jitsu**](https://gbwestside.com/brazilian-jiu-jitsu-as-an-anti-bullying-tool-strengthening-body-mind-and-confidence-in-westside-new-mexico/) but also develop valuable life skills such as discipline, respect, and resilience. Whether you are a beginner or an advanced practitioner, the focus is always on personal growth, teamwork, and the pursuit of excellence. The Gracie Barra competition team, known as Equipe GB, fosters athletic development and builds pride within the community, offering students the opportunity to compete and excel at the highest levels.

 [***Start your jiu-jitsu journey today: schedule your free class at Gracie Barra Westside!***](https://gbwestside.com/contact/)

 Gracie Barra is not just about teaching [**Jiu-Jitsu**](https://gbwestside.com/brazilian-jiu-jitsu-as-an-anti-bullying-tool-strengthening-body-mind-and-confidence-in-westside-new-mexico/); it’s about transforming lives through the practice of the art. With a comprehensive approach that includes physical conditioning, mental toughness, and character development, [***Gracie Barra Westside***](https://gbwestside.com/contact/) provides a supportive environment where students are encouraged to reach their full potential.

 If you’re looking to get started with [***Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu***](https://gbwestside.com/contact/), Gracie Barra [**Westside**](https://gbwestside.com/experience-top-level-jiu-jitsu-at-gb-westside-albuquerque/) New Mexico is the place for you. Schedule your free class today and experience the Gracie Barra legacy firsthand. The journey to better health, improved self-defense skills, and personal empowerment starts here at Gracie Barra [**Westside**](https://gbwestside.com/experience-top-level-jiu-jitsu-at-gb-westside-albuquerque/) New Mexico, located at 3200 La Orilla Rd NW, [**Albuquerque**](https://gbwestside.com/train-brazilian-jiu-jitsu-at-gracie-barra-westside-albuquerque/), NM 87120.

 ***Getting Started at Gracie Barra Is Easy:*** [***SCHEDULE YOUR FREE CLASS***](https://gbwestside.com/contact/)***!***

 [***Gracie Barra Westside: discover superior martial arts training in New Mexico Westside!***](https://gbwestside.com/contact/)

 

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# ***Gracie Barra Westside Albuquerque: How to enhance a child’s coordination using basic jiu jitsu movements*** ***| Phone: +1 (505) 818-8077***

 

 [![Getting Started At Gracie Barra Is Easy SCHEDULE YOUR FREE CLASS And Intro Session Absolutely FREE! Experience a new beginning on your Jiu-Jitsu journey](https://gbwestside.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Getting-Started-At-Gracie-Barra-Is-Easy-SCHEDULE-YOUR-FREE-CLASS-And-Intro-Session-Absolutely-FREE-Experience-a-new-beginning-on-your-Jiu-Jitsu-journey.png)](https://gbwestside.com/contact/)[***Getting Started At Gracie Barra Is Easy SCHEDULE YOUR FREE CLASS And Intro Session Absolutely FREE! Experience a new beginning on your Jiu-Jitsu journey***](https://gbwestside.com/contact/) 

 

 

 

 

- [Gracie Barra Jiu-Jitsu West Side Albuquerque in New Mexico](https://gbwestside.com/)

 

### Gracie Barra Jiu-Jitsu West Side Albuquerque in New Mexico

![Gracie Barra Jiu-Jitsu West Side Albuquerque New Mexico](https://gbwestside.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/GB-West-Side.jpeg)3200 La Orilla Rd NW [**Albuquerque**](https://gbwestside.com/train-brazilian-jiu-jitsu-at-gracie-barra-westside-albuquerque/), New Mexico 87120 United States (US)Phone: [+1 505 818-8077](tel:+15058188077)  
Secondary phone: [+1 505 818-8077](tel:+15058188077)  
URL: [https://gbwestside.com/](https://gbwestside.com/)  
 

| Thursday | 6:00 AM - 9:30 PM |
| --- | --- |
| Friday | 6:00 AM - 5:00 PM |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |
| Monday | 6:00 AM - 9:30 PM |
| Tuesday | 6:00 AM - 9:30 PM |
| Wednesday | 6:00 AM - 9:30 PM |