Set Your Child Up for Success with Kids Karate!
We’ve worked with a lot of great kids and their parents since JMAC opened in 2006. Usually the kids want to know if classes are fun, and how long until they are actual ninjas? But as a parent, your concerns are probably a bit different. Some of the questions we’ve been asked are things like this:
Is it safe?
Will my son learn social skills?
Will my daughter learn to defend herself?
And sometimes, How long will it take my kid to get a black-belt?
Karate is Amazing for Kids!
One thing we’ve learned … karate can be transformative for young bodies and minds. But too much emphasis on stern discipline and hard-core training can take the fun out of it for kids. If you could stop in and watch a kids karate class, you’d see how we balance fun for the students with learning and teaching. Sometimes it’s obvious, sometimes it’s hidden inside games or activities.
Changing for the Better … from Shy or Awkward to Confident and Comfortable
Would it be helpful to know that kids who have trained with us have transformed, again and again? Many shy kids become more outgoing. Kids who struggle with coordination get more athletic and comfortable. And this happens not only with “regular” kids, but also with a lot of kids who come to karate with mild learning or developmental disabilities. It’s not magic, of course, but karate is amazing for kids, and you can see many of our success stories on the mat when you come watch!
Give Your Kid a Leg Up for His or Her Entire Life!
You’ve probably heard about all the benefits of a good martial arts program: greater confidence, improved mental focus, an understanding of some aspects of other cultures, and the ability to defend yourself. Think about what an extraordinary gift it would be to set your child up for a life of physical and mental balance. Why wouldn’t you want them to experience confidence and joy, and to be able to move through life with power and grace?
Why is JMAC a Good Choice for Kids Karate in Ann Arbor?
Our entire kids curriculum is carefully crafted to balance the wants of the kids with the needs of lifetime fitness and focus. Since each kid comes to us with a different range of abilities, there’s no “one size fits all” approach at JMAC. We pay attention to what they do well, assist them at improving those aspects they find more difficult, and gently guide them about what you they can do outside the dojo to improve their mental and physical fitness. We don’t tolerate bullying among our students. Our mission is to create an atmosphere of mutual cooperation and development. Our standards are high, but we’re here to help kids achieve them!
Be Sure You Know What You’re Getting Your Child Into
You’ll start out at JMAC by watching a kids karate class with your child. If the class looks like fun and it works with your calendar, we then work with you to schedule two private intro lessons for your child, with no cost or obligation. In those lessons, we’ll teach them some basic etiquette and a few fundamentals of kids karate. After they’ve completed those lessons, we’ll explain what it takes to get them started. There will be no pressure - we want kids at JMAC who truly want to be here and whose parents are seriously interested in seeing their kids get focused and healthy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the age ranges in kids karate?
We allow kids from age 8 to 12 in our kids karate program. There’s a great mix of younger and older kids. Between 5-7, kids attend our “Little Dragons” class. When they reach more advanced ranks and hit the 13-14 year age range, many kids will graduate to our adult karate classes.
Will my kid get hurt?
Unlikely! We work very hard to train safely and systematically. Our safety record is very, very good. Of course there’s are scrapes and an occasional bruise, and there is risk of injury in every activity, so we can’t promise that your child will never get hurt. But we can say that we’ve never had a serious injury in our kids karate class, and we do everything in our power to keep it that way.
Will I get locked into a long contract when my child starts?
No! After your child’s intro lessons, we’ll ask you to sign them up for a membership. The membership is for one year, but you can opt out any time within the first 60 days. That 60-day period gives you time to make sure training at JMAC is what you and your child are hoping for. It also gives us a chance to assess your child and let you know whether our program will be a good fit for them. Once a student has been with us for a year, the training is month-to-month (no contract). We’ve had students who joined in 2006 and are still training at JMAC today!
The First Step to Take if You’re Considering Kids Karate
If you think you might like to get your child involved in karate, we’d love to have you watch a class with them. Email is the best way to contact us. You can reach JMAC at info@japanesemartialartscenter.com(or use the contact box in the upper right corner of this page). If you’re more comfortable on the phone, call (734) 720-0330 to arrange a time to visit or get your questions answered.
We can’t wait to meet you and your child!