Quiet, Earned Confidence
Children do not have to pretend to feel confident. They build confidence by learning difficult skills, applying them successfully, and seeing their own progress.
Kids No-Gi Jiu-Jitsu in Columbus, Ohio · Ages 6+
Kids Jiu-Jitsu That Builds Confidence Now—and Competition-Ready Skill for What Comes Next
Built for confidence. Trained for competition.
At 10th Planet Columbus, your child learns practical no-gi Jiu-Jitsu in a structured, age-appropriate program led by educator, United States Marine Corps veteran, and 10th Planet black belt Zack Holycross.
Beginners are welcome. Competition is optional. And your child’s first class is free.
No experience needed45-minute weekday classesColumbus / Clintonville
- Ages 6+
- Educator-Led
- Pure No-Gi Training
- First Class Free
Kids Program · Ages 6+
Columbus, OH40.0436° N · 83.0167° W
Why Jiu-Jitsu, Specifically
Your child needs more than
another way to stay busy
Most activities can fill an hour. The right activity can help shape how your child handles pressure, frustration, mistakes, and difficult moments long after class ends.
Jiu-Jitsu gives children a place to practice those skills in real time. They learn to listen when they are excited. Stay composed when a position becomes difficult. Try again after something does not work. Work with partners of different sizes and abilities. And recognize that progress comes from patience — not instant gratification.
That is why a good kids’ Jiu-Jitsu program is not simply exercise. It is structured practice in confidence, discipline, problem-solving, self-control, and resilience.
Focus and Follow-Through
Every technique has a sequence. Children practice listening, remembering details, and completing one step before moving to the next.
Practical Self-Defense — with Restraint
Students learn positioning, control, escapes, awareness, and composure. The objective is not to make children aggressive. It is to help them become harder to intimidate and better able to respond responsibly.
Strength, Coordination, and Body Awareness
Rolling, balancing, framing, escaping, and controlling movement help children develop physical literacy without requiring them to arrive as naturally gifted athletes.
Resilience Without Humiliation
Mistakes are expected on the mat. Children learn that struggling is part of learning — and that improvement comes from staying engaged rather than giving up.
The Mechanism
Not another kids martial-arts class.
A real development system.
Many local programs can teach a child a collection of techniques. 10th Planet Columbus is built to develop a more complete student.
Taught by an Educator
Coach Zack holds an education degree, and that background influences how the children’s program is organized: clear instruction, age-appropriate expectations, structured progression, and an environment where learning remains engaging.
The difference matters. Knowing Jiu-Jitsu is one skill. Knowing how to teach a child is another.
Pure No-Gi Jiu-Jitsu from the Beginning
10th Planet Columbus is dedicated to no-gi Jiu-Jitsu rather than treating it as an occasional addition to a traditional gi curriculum.
Children learn to control movement through positioning, timing, pressure, grips on the body, and technical decision-making — without depending on a uniform. The curriculum is connected to the wider 10th Planet system founded by Eddie Bravo and developed specifically around modern no-gi grappling.
A Path from Beginner to Serious Competitor
Every child begins with fundamentals. Students first learn how to move safely, understand positions, protect themselves, work with a partner, and follow coaching.
As their skill and commitment grow, training can become more demanding. Competition is never required to belong here — but for children who want to test themselves, the program is designed to take that goal seriously.
- Technical precision under pressure
- Composure when a match becomes difficult
- Tactical decision-making
- Consistency and accountability
- The ability to learn from both wins and losses
Coach Zack Holycross
Owner & Head Coach
The coach matters — especially
when the student is your child
Zack Holycross did not discover Jiu-Jitsu as an adult and then decide to teach children. He began training at age 11.
He progressed through the youth ranks, later served in the United States Marine Corps, earned his brown and black belts in the 10th Planet system under Professor Marshall, coached at 10th Planet Redlands, and taught Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at California State University, San Bernardino. He also holds an education degree.
That combination gives Coach Zack a valuable perspective: he remembers what it is like to be a young student, understands the standards required to become a black belt, and has professional training in how people learn. He founded 10th Planet Columbus in 2023 to build a technically serious academy grounded in resilience, discipline, community, and connection.
- 10th Planet Black Belt
- USMC Veteran
- Education Degree
- 20+ Years on the Mats
- Youth-to-Black-Belt Experience
- Academy & University Teaching Experience
Coaching Philosophy
A children’s coach must know when to challenge a student, when to slow down, when to correct a detail, and when a child simply needs encouragement to try again.
Coach Zack’s role is not only to produce better grapplers. It is to help children become more capable, coachable, composed, and confident through the process of learning Jiu-Jitsu.
Optional Competition Pathway
For kids who want to compete,
the standard rises with the goal
Not every child needs to compete. But every child can benefit from learning how to prepare with purpose.
At 10th Planet Columbus, competition development is progressive. A child is not rushed into an event before they understand the fundamentals. And competition is not presented as a shortcut to confidence. Students build layer by layer.
The goal is not to make exaggerated promises about trophies. The goal is to give committed young athletes professional-level habits and standards — so they know what serious preparation feels like before they step onto a competition mat.
Stage 01
Foundation
Safe movement, positional awareness, escapes, control, listening, and partner responsibility.
Stage 02
Application
Using techniques against realistic resistance while remaining calm and making good decisions.
Stage 03
Athlete Habits
Consistency, coachability, preparation, emotional control, accountability, and recovery after mistakes.
Stage 04
Competition Preparation
For students who are ready and choose to compete: sharper pacing, situational rounds, match awareness, strategic decision-making, and preparation for the pressure of an event.
Side by Side
Why Columbus parents
choose 10th Planet
Primary training format
10P ColumbusDedicated pure no-gi Jiu-Jitsu
Typical youth programOften gi-first, mixed-format, or broader martial arts
Teaching approach
10P ColumbusLed by a black belt with an education degree
Typical youth programTeaching background varies by instructor
Curriculum
10P ColumbusConnected to the globally recognized 10th Planet no-gi system
Typical youth programOften school-specific or divided among several styles
Competition development
10P ColumbusOptional pathway toward high-level preparation
Typical youth programMay be recreational, separate, or undefined
Head coach’s perspective
10P ColumbusBegan Jiu-Jitsu at 11 and developed from youth student to black belt
Typical youth programExperience varies
First step
10P ColumbusComplimentary first class
Typical youth programTrial structure and commitment vary
An honest note
The best academy is not simply the one that makes the biggest claim. It is the one where your child responds to the coaching, feels supported by the culture, and wants to return.
That is why the first class is free. You can see the instruction, meet Coach Zack, and decide from direct experience — without pressure.
Zack’s education background shows up in how he runs class — structured, age-appropriate, and genuinely fun. My son’s confidence has changed completely.
The Free First Class
See the program before
you make a decision
Your child does not need experience, special equipment, or natural athletic ability to begin.
There is no obligation to enroll simply because your child attended the free session.
Step 01
Tell Us About Your Child
A parent or guardian shares the child’s age, experience, goals, and any concerns the coaching team should understand.
Step 02
Meet the Coach
Your child meets the instructor and is introduced to the class environment before being expected to perform.
Step 03
Learn the Fundamentals
The first session includes age-appropriate movement, instruction, and partner work. Coaches guide the pace and help new students understand what to do.
Step 04
Get an Honest Recommendation
After class, the team can explain the appropriate next step based on your child’s age, comfort, and goals.
Submitting the form requests a class. It does not complete an enrollment or require a purchase.
Frequently Asked Questions
What parents ask
before the first class
Still have questions? Call (567) 825-2198 and Coach Zack's team will walk you through the kids program, class times, and what to expect.
The dedicated kids’ Jiu-Jitsu program is for children ages six and older. A parent can use the free-class form to provide the child’s age and confirm the most appropriate class before attending.
One Class. No Pressure.
Give your child one class.
Let the mats show you
the difference.
A website cannot tell you how a coach will interact with your child. A list of benefits cannot show you whether your child will feel comfortable in the room. And no comparison chart can replace watching them finish a class standing a little taller than when they entered.
Claim a free kids’ Jiu-Jitsu class at 10th Planet Columbus. Meet Coach Zack. See the teaching. Experience the culture. Then decide whether it is right for your family.
10th Planet Columbus · 5082–5084 North High St, Suites 203 & 204, Columbus, OH 43214 · (567) 825-2198