Underworld BJJ Partners with Friendship Elementary for Bi-Weekly Preschool Field Trips in Washington, DC
- Danielle Gallo
- May 9
- 3 min read
Underworld BJJ is proud to partner with Friendship Public Charter School to host bi-weekly preschool field trips at our gym on H St NE, in the Capitol Hill area of Washington, DC, giving young students a fun, active, and confidence-building experience through Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu-inspired movement and games.
Recently, this partnership was highlighted on ABC News, where Friendship Public Charter School’s incredible preschool teacher, Dominique Foster, was featured for her work creating meaningful experiences for her students, including regular trips to Underworld BJJ.
For us, this partnership represents something bigger than just a field trip.
It’s about giving kids access to movement, structure, confidence, and community in a way that feels exciting and memorable.
Why Preschool Field Trips Matter
Preschoolers learn best by doing.
While classroom learning is essential, off-campus experiences help children develop critical life skills that can’t always be taught sitting at a desk. Field trips expose young learners to new environments, encourage curiosity, and help build social confidence.
At Underworld BJJ, our preschool field trips are designed specifically for ages 3–5 and focus on:
Movement-based games and obstacles
Listening and following directions
Balance, coordination, and body awareness
Teamwork and taking turns
Confidence in a new environment
The foundations of self-defense and a lifelong love of fitness and movement
For many children, this is their first introduction to a martial arts gym, and it quickly becomes a highlight of their week.
Why Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Is Great for Preschoolers
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is often associated with self-defense and competition, but for preschool-aged children, it offers something equally valuable: structured play.
Our field trip curriculum introduces age-appropriate movement concepts through games and guided activities.
Benefits of BJJ-based programming for preschoolers include:
Improved Listening Skills
Children practice following multi-step directions in a fun, engaging setting.
Better Coordination and Motor Development
Activities like crawling, balancing, jumping, and tumbling improve gross motor skills and body control.
Confidence Building
Trying new activities in a supportive environment helps children build independence and resilience.
Social Development
Partner games teach sharing, teamwork, boundaries, and respectful interaction.
Our Partnership with Friendship Public Charter School
We’re honored to welcome Friendship Public Charter preschool students to Underworld BJJ every other week.
This ongoing partnership allows students to consistently engage in physical activity while becoming familiar with a structured extracurricular environment outside of school.
Unlike one-off field trips, recurring visits create routine, comfort, and measurable growth in students’ confidence and participation.
By the second or third visit, we often see major differences:
shy students opening up
improved listening and focus
more willingness to participate in group activities
impressive memory recall on techniques and movements taught in the past, allowing us to build on topics and go deeper with students
That consistency is what makes these field trips especially impactful.
Featured on ABC News
Our preschool partnership recently received recognition on ABC News, where Friendship Public Charter’s teacher, Dominique Foster (recently named Washington DC’s Teacher of the Year!) was featured for the creative ways she supports her students and builds community beyond the classroom.
Dominique Foster’s teaching philosophy is “to create a relaxed, calming, and welcoming space where students have a voice,” and she has created just that by introducing the students to many activities outside of the classroom, and involving them in the community that surrounds them.
About our program, Dominique Foster has said,
“[Underworld’s jiu jitsu program] has truly brought so much joy to my heart. To watch them learning these skills in the studio that I know is worth waaaaay more than you've charged us...forever grateful. You have all have been a wonderful blessing.”
We’re grateful to be included as part of that story and proud to collaborate with educators who understand the importance of movement, enrichment, and social-emotional development in early childhood.
Looking for Preschool Field Trips in Washington, DC?
Underworld BJJ offers customized field trip experiences for:
preschools
elementary schools
middle and high schools
daycare centers
homeschool groups
after-school programs
wrestling teams
Our field trips are designed to be:
fun
safe
structured
as beginner-friendly
No martial arts experience is required.
If your school is looking for preschool field trips in Washington, DC, or a unique enrichment activity for students, we’d love to connect.
Book a School Field Trip with Underworld BJJ
Interested in bringing your students to Underworld BJJ?
Contact us to learn more about:
school partnerships
recurring field trips
after-school enrichment programs
private group visits
Underworld BJJ Washington, DC Kids BJJ • Adult BJJ • School Partnerships • Camps & Field Trips
Comments