A Program for Every Journey
OUR PROGRAMS
We don’t work in school terms.
At DS Team Jiu-Jitsu School, we believe Jiu-Jitsu is far too complex to be learned in eight or ten-week blocks.
Real progress takes consistency, repetition, patience, and time on the mats.
That is why our school operates all year round.
Every program has been carefully designed by Sensei Douglas Santos through almost 40 years of experience on the mats, teaching thousands of students, producing black belts, champions, world champions, and helping people become stronger both on and off the mats.
Our curriculum follows a clear pathway, with every class building on the previous one. Students are taught according to their age, experience, and level, allowing them to develop the right skills at the right time.
Our Kids Program has a minimum commitment of six months because that is the time needed to build the essential foundations every child needs before moving forward.
Our Adult Program follows a structured 12-month curriculum, giving students enough time to experience every major area of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and develop a complete understanding of the art.
We are not interested in teaching shortcuts.
We are interested in building solid foundations.
Because excellence is never built in a school term.
It is built through consistency, repetition, and time on the mats.
KINDER JITSU
(5-7 Years)
Every child develops at a different pace.
Our Kinder Jitsu Program has been designed for children aged 5 to 7 years, focusing on developing the motor skills, coordination, balance, confidence, and independence that every child needs before progressing into more technical Jiu-Jitsu.
Children also learn discipline, respect, resilience, and valuable anti-bullying skills in a safe, positive, and structured environment.
To achieve the best results, we encourage parents to simply check their child in at reception and allow our instructors to take over. Building independence is an important part of every child's development.
Strong foundations create confident children.
MINI NINJAS 7-9 YO
Mini Ninjas is the next step after Kinder Jitsu.
This program gradually introduces children to the fundamentals of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in a fun, structured, and disciplined environment.
As students begin learning real Jiu-Jitsu techniques, they continue developing confidence, discipline, respect, resilience, and valuable anti-bullying skills.
At DS Team Jiu-Jitsu School, we believe strong fundamentals create confident children, and confident children become better students both on and off the mats.
LITTLE SAMURAIS
(9-12 YO)
Little Samurais is where Jiu-Jitsu becomes the main focus.
Building on the foundations developed in our earlier programs, students begin learning Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in a more structured and technical format, similar to our Adult classes while remaining appropriate for their age.
Children are introduced to proper positions, escapes, holds, chokes, leverage, and technique, while continuing to develop discipline, respect, confidence, and resilience.
This program prepares students for the next stage of their journey, giving them the technical foundation and mindset they need before progressing into our Teen Warriors Program.
At DS Team Jiu-Jitsu School, strong fundamentals always come before advanced techniques.
TEEN WARRIORS
(12-15 YO)
Teen Warriors is the final step before joining our Adult Program.
This class follows the same structure and curriculum as our Adult classes, introducing teenagers to a more disciplined and technical training environment.
Students learn advanced Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu techniques, positional sparring, and live rounds while developing the discipline, responsibility, and mindset expected of every adult student.
Our goal is not to prepare teenagers for the Beginner Adult Program.
Our goal is to prepare them to confidently transition into our Mixed Adult Classes.
Teen Warriors is where the next generation of DS Team Jiu-Jitsu School black belts begins their journey.
ADULTS PROGRAM
Whether your goal is fitness, self-defense, stress relief, or competition, our adult classes deliver progressive Jiu-Jitsu instruction in a supportive team environment. All experience levels welcome.
WOMEN EMPOWERMENT WORKSHOP
This workshop was created for women who want to build confidence not only in their body, but also in their mind and spirit — within a safe, supportive, and uplifting environment.
No experience needed.
Just the willingness to show up for yourself.
Over 2 powerful sessions, you will experience:
Breathing techniques to help manage stress and stay calm under pressure
Mobility and movement exercises to improve body awareness and confidence
Practical self-protection and empowerment training
Tools to help strengthen self-esteem, resilience, and inner confidence
A supportive community of women growing stronger together
This is more than self-defence.
It’s about reconnecting with your strength and discovering what you are truly capable of.
PRIVATE CLASSES
Accelerate your progress with personalised instruction tailored entirely to your goals, schedule, and learning pace. Private classes are available for all levels — from absolute beginners to advanced practitioners seeking to refine specific areas.
COMPETITION TEAM
For athletes who want to test their skills on the biggest stages. DS Team's competition program provides structured periodisation, tournament preparation, drilling sessions, and mental conditioning to help you peak when it counts.
BEGINNERS PROGRAM
Never trained before? Perfect. Our Beginners Program is the ideal entry point — a structured introduction to the fundamentals of Jiu-Jitsu in a relaxed, no-pressure environment. You'll build technique, confidence, and friendships from day one.
Every Child Develops at Their Own Pace
One of the most common questions we receive from parents is about moving children to the next class or promoting them to the next belt.
After almost 40 years of teaching, we have learned that every child develops differently.
Some children progress quickly. Others simply need more time. Neither is right or wrong.
At DS Team Jiu-Jitsu School, we never compare children. We assess every student individually, considering their physical development, emotional maturity, confidence, discipline, technical ability, and overall readiness.
Our responsibility is not to move children through the system as quickly as possible.
Our responsibility is to move them at the right time.
When parents trust our process, children develop stronger foundations, greater confidence, and enjoy a much more successful Jiu-Jitsu journey.
Every child has their own path.
Our job is to guide them through it.
Faq
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the next term start?
DS Team does not operate on school terms.
Our Jiu-Jitsu programs run all year round, independently of the New Zealand school-term calendar.
Students can start at any time during the year, provided there is space available in the appropriate class.
Should I wait until the next school term to sign up?
No — there is no need to wait.
Our programs run continuously throughout the year and do not follow NZ school terms.
Jiu-Jitsu is a progressive martial arts journey. Confidence, discipline, coordination and technical skills are developed through consistent training over time rather than in short school-term blocks.
If you are interested in joining, the best first step is to book a complimentary trial class.
How much does it cost to train at DS Team?
Our membership options depend on the program and how often you train.
Kids memberships are $241.50 per month, which includes two classes per week.
Adult memberships start from $273 per month, with different options available depending on how many classes you would like to attend each week.
If your schedule only allows you to train once per week, our minimum membership is $200 per month.
Family discounts and different payment arrangements may also be available.
We recommend starting with a complimentary trial class so you can experience our school, meet our team and decide whether DS Team is the right environment for you or your child.
Where can I get the uniform?
DS Team is a traditional Gi Jiu-Jitsu school, and regular students are required to wear the official DS Team white Gi.
You do not need to purchase a Gi before your complimentary trial class. We will organise what you need for your first experience.
If you decide to join, our team will help you purchase the correct official uniform and select the appropriate size.
Our uniform standard is an important part of DS Team culture and helps maintain equality, discipline and a professional environment on the mats.
My child is 3½ or 4 years old. Can they join?
Our minimum starting age is 5 years old.
Our youngest program, Kinder Jitsu, is specifically designed for children aged 5–7 years.
We believe children should begin when they are developmentally ready to follow instructions, participate safely in a structured class and benefit fully from the program.
If your child is not yet 5, we would be happy to welcome them for a trial once they reach the minimum age.
Which class is right for my child?
Our children's programs are organised by age:
Kinder Jitsu: 5–7 years
Mini-Ninjas: 7–9 years
Little Samurais: 9–12 years
Teen Warriors: 12–15 years
Adults: 15 years and over
If your child is close to moving between age groups, our instructors will recommend the most appropriate class after meeting them.
Adults do not need any previous Jiu-Jitsu, martial arts or fitness experience to begin.
Can we try a class before joining?
Absolutely.
We offer a complimentary trial class so you or your child can experience DS Team before deciding whether to join.
For your first class, please arrive 10–15 minutes early, wear comfortable clothing without zips, buttons or metal pieces, remove jewellery and bring a water bottle.
We will organise everything else you need.
Trial spaces are limited so our instructors can give new students the attention they deserve, therefore booking in advance is essential.
How many times per week should I or my child train?
For children, our programs are structured around two classes per week. This provides the consistency and repetition needed to develop technique, coordination, confidence and discipline.
For adults, training frequency depends on your goals and availability. We offer different membership options to suit different schedules.
At DS Team, we believe consistency creates progress. Jiu-Jitsu is not about attending for a few weeks or one school term — it is a long-term journey of learning and personal development.
Ready to Start Your Jiu-Jitsu Journey?
Your first class is free. No experience needed, no commitment required — just show up and train with us. DS Team Jiu-Jitsu School is ready to welcome you.
