Kids FAQs

Q: “Will Karate make my kid violent?”

Absolutely not! We don’t teach kids how to kick and punch so they can go down the street and beat up other kids. We teach kids self-defense as a tool for personal growth and development. Karate begins and ends with courtesy and respect. Kids learn to treat others as they want to be treated. They learn to respect all living things – from their parents to pets.  So no, Karate won’t make your child violent!

Q: “What if my child is not athletic? Will he have a hard time?”

Often children who don’t find success in team sports come to Martial Arts. And they love it. That’s because with Karate you go at your own pace. Team sports actually harm the self-esteem of children who aren’t very athletic. When they don’t perform well, the other kids can be pretty nasty. And this can leave some serious scars on their self-esteem. But with Martial Arts, they can’t let anyone down. Everyone goes at their own pace. Some kids learn quicker than others – but the children who advance quickly are not valued more than the kids who advance slowly. Everyone is encouraged – regardless of his or her athletic level.

Q: Will Karate improve my child’s fitness level?”

Absolutely! We currently have an epidemic in America of Childhood Obesity and juvenile diabetes is growing at an alarming rate. This is due to poor diet (too much junk food and fast food) and a lack of exercise. Many schools have scaled way back on Physical Education programs. When I was in school, we had Phys Ed. every single day, that’s no longer the case. Karate is great exercise and will help your child get in and stay in shape.

Q: “Will my child learn a talent that they can be proud of?”

In a word, “Yes.” There are many challenging moves like spinning kicks and jumping kicks. These take time and practice to master.  Many children find pride in being able to do “cool” things like dancing, juggling, singing, playing an instrument, etc.  And your child will take pride in his abilities to execute cool Karate Kicks!

Q: “What age is appropriate for Karate?”

We have programs for kids starting at 4 years old up to teenagers. And we have programs for adults too. So every age is appropriate. No child is too young or too old, as long as they are at least 4.

Q: “Will my child get hurt?”

Injuries are rare, but as with any sport such as soccer, baseball or football, injury is always possible. Have children gotten injured in Martial Arts classes? Yes, some have.

From proper gear, to step-by- step instruction – we do everything in our power to ensure your child’s safety. I can’t guarantee your child won’t be injured – but very few children receive injuries in our program, because we take your child’s safety seriously.

Q: “Will my child have fun? Will he want to stick with the program?”

Some children will undoubtedly quit. We try to make the program fun, but it can’t be all fun and games or we won’t achieve the other goals that traditional martial arts offer. Things like confidence, focus and self-discipline. The best way to make sure a child sticks it out is to commit them to a one year program, and make sure that they get taken to class at least twice a week no matter what (except for vacation or illness). Usually children stay motivated once they get a new belt rank. It is important that parents encourage their children, and remind them of the ultimate prize, the black belt.

Q: “Is Karate just for boys? Or can my girl take Karate too?”

Girls love Karate and get the same fulfillment out of it as boys do. Also, self-defense is so important for women in this increasingly violent society. 80% of rape victims are between the ages of 16 and 24.  The sooner they prepare for the risks they face in this world the better.  I think we can all agree a 16 year old girl with a black belt has a better chance in a violent encounter than one with no self-defense training.

Don’t worry about your little girl getting hurt, or feeling scared because she’ll be practicing with boys. In fact, it’s important that the girls practice with boys because should they ever need use their self defense skills, it will likely be against a man.