Kids Classes

Goju Karate offers a full-range of kids classes that are age-specific, and held at a variety of convenient times during the week and on Saturday morning.

Our dojo is committed to ensuring all kids receive effective, age-specific training. Training in karatedo isn’t similar to after-school activities like soccer or art classes. Rather, it’s an important part of the education and development of children, and we treat our kids program with an appropriate level of dedication and professionalism.

All instructors have quite literally decades of experience teaching kids, are members of the U.S. Olympic National Karate Federation, have been SafeSport-certified, and are ranked blackbelts.

Karatedo for kids is as much about philosophical education as it is about physical development. All general classes for kids in all age groups include training in self-improvement, responsibility, and all other aspects of karatedo.

Goju Karate, as a member-dojo of the US Olympic Committee, also offers a specific Olympic Program for kids. Read more about that program here.

Classes are grouped by age. (See the Schedule for times of specific classes).

Kids Classes
Teens (Ages 12+)
Youth (Ages 7-11)
Juniors (Ages 4-6)
Pre-Karate (Pre-K) (Ages 3.5 to 4.5)

Teens [Ages 12+]
These classes are 60 Minutes. Typically they include about five minutes of stretching, about twenty minutes of basic techniques and strength exercises, twenty minutes of fast-paced combination techniques, and fifteen minutes of advanced topics including kata (kata are combinations of movements which can be very complex).

Teen classes are the closest thing to adult General Classes, and provide an intense physical workout combined with advance-level instruction in karatedo topics, including complex philosophy, self-defense, kata, and kumite.

As an example of the level of training teens receive, all teen students are required to complete a written portion of examination during rank testing, unlike younger students in other age groups, who have no written examination during testing.

Youth [Ages 7-11]
These classes are 45 Minutes. Typically they include about five minutes of stretching, about fifteen minutes of basic techniques and strength exercises, fifteen minutes of fast-paced combination techniques, and ten minutes of advanced topics including kata (kata are combinations of movements which can be very complex) and karate-related games.

Youth classes are designed to communicate more complex concepts that kids in the age 7 to age 11 range can learn. Classes are fun, fast-paced, and provide an excellent platform for physical development; however, Youth classes also teach and expand on fundamental truths of karatedo, such as constant improvement and strong spirit. In addition, advanced ideas such as responsibility and duty, high achievement, and the importance of defining and refining a greater purpose in life are taught.

Juniors [Ages 4-6]
These classes are 40 Minutes. Typically they include about five minutes of stretching, about ten minutes of basic techniques and strength exercises, fifteen minutes of fast-paced combination techniques, and ten minutes of advanced topics including simple kata (kata are combinations of movements which can be very complex) and games.

Teaching kids at this age group is very challenging, and Goju Karate instructors are very experienced in making sure that our Juniors program truly teaches: it’s not just a “kick and punch” program.

At this age range, we teach the basics of karatedo, including fundamental concepts such as constant improvement. The whole process of karate class is designed to give structure and a feeling of repettion to kids who are just exploring the world and learning about it. And the classes help encourage and sharpen important physical skills such as balance, flexibility, and coordination.

Pre-Karate: The Pre-K Program [Ages 3.5-4.5]
These classes are 30 Minutes. Typically they include about five minutes of stretching, about five minutes of basic techniques and strength exercises, ten minutes of various karate-related topics and techniques, and ten minutes of karate-related games.

The Pre-K program is an innovative approach to teaching martial arts to very young karateka, and is designed to prepare them for the Junior program when it is appropriate for their maturity and level of development. The Pre-K class is taught in a supportive and fun environment, and is very approachable for most kids that are 3 ¹⁄₂ years old.

Instructors carefully evaluate potential students for the Pre-K program and will give parents honest and accurate advice based on their experience in teaching kids this age as to whether the class is appropriate for a child.

Goju Karate is committed to introducing the wonderfully positive advantages of karatedo to kids of all ages, and we want to make sure that the classes we teach are welcoming and appropriate for all potential students: we feel a special responsibility, and a special excitement at bringing karate to pre-k kids.

Kumite Class (Kids)
Kumite Classes are 30 minutes long, and focus only on kumite (sparring). Kids Kumite classes are always held with safety as the top priority – only “point-style” sparring is allowed – there is no semi-contact or full-contact sparring permitted. Kids Kumite classes are only available to Green Belt (4th Kyu) and above for Teen and Youth students (ages 7+) – students must apply to take this program and will be evaluated for maturity and readiness before taking this class.

Ready to get started? Click here to register for a Free Intro Session, meet with Sensei, and learn more about our dojo.