Kid's Karate Classes - Rank, promotion and Testing

Kenpo Karate is a great recreational activity for children.  It provides good exercise and self-discipline, builds confidence, and establishes achievable goals.  Our Kid's Karate classes incorporate the 3-Steps to a Great Kid™ program, which is a character development curriculum specifically designed to fit within a martial arts program.  Emphasis on respect - respecting the instructors, respecting the school, respecting fellow students - develops virtue of character that is lifelong. 

The Black Belt is the universally recognized symbol of proficiency in the martial arts, but this is a relatively modern event.  A plain white belt was worn by everyone up until the late 1800’s, until Jigoro Kano the founder of Judo, first used a Black Belt (dan ranks) to distinguish those students that had attained a basic level of proficiency from those that had not (kyu ranks).  He later added a brown belt between the white and black belts and subsequent instructors have been adding colored belts in between ever since. 

Today, most systems of martial arts have adopted the dan/kyu belt system and use around ten colored belts below Black Belt and then ten grades within Black Belt.  In keeping with this tradition, our system of martial arts, Gasan Ryu Kenpo, continues to use the different colored belts to signify proficiency, time in grade and personal development.  See the belts here.

   For children and adults alike, the belts represent a series of realistic goals that can be attained through hard work and dedication.  The older the student, the more demanding the requirements for promotion to the next level.

Promotional Testing for Children ages 4-6:  For our youngest students, promotion to their next belt level is based on completion of their 3 Steps to a Great Kid™worksheet each month and calendar time (they just need to show up for class).  The home worksheet demonstrates their ability to take their training “off the mat” as well as listing the month’s character virtue and safety topic.  During the first week of each month, the instructor has the students demonstrate their understanding of their martial arts skills and the 3 Steps to a Great Kid™ topics.  More information is contained in the 3 Steps to a Great Kid™ overview materials.

Promotional Testing for Children ages 7-10 and 11-14:  For our older children, promotion to their next belt level is proficiency based, in conjunction with the time in grade requirement of 32 classes (about 4 months) between belts.  The material each child needs for their next belt is broken down into stripe categories.  Completion of each of these areas of knowledge is recognized by a colored stripe on their belt.  When the student has attained all of the required skills/knowledge (stripes) they are eligible to attend promotional testing at the headquarters dojo.  Testing is conducted every month, on the last Friday evening of the month from 6:30pm-7:45pm.  But don’t just show up!  The decision to test your child is made by their karate instructor in conjunction with you the parent, and their school teacher.  Eligibility to attend the test is based on both home and school performance, in addition to their karate skills and knowledge.  Your instructor will have a sign-up sheet for the test and will post the names of the eligible students.  Check with your instructor for a list of things to bring to the test.

With dedicated training, your child will be prepared to test about 2-3 times a year, with the goal of attaining junior Black Belt by the age of 14 years old.

Consistency:  As your children get older, the motivators and rewards that they respond to will change.  In addition, the kids take their training more seriously and so do our instructors.  Much like any good exercise or academic program, success in our program is based on 2-3 practice or training sessions each week.  This is an important concept, in that it lays the foundation for consistent progress and advancement.  Can you succeed as a recreational martial artist and come just 1 time a week?  Yes, but it takes longer and it is easy for your child to lose focus and motivation, or fall behind the rest of the class.  Keep this in mind when scheduling lots of different activities for your child.  Instead of a “Jack of all trades and master of none” help your child to succeed in the martial arts through consistent training and advancement.  See you on the mat!

View the complete children's Gasan Ryu™ Kenpo Curriculum from white through Black Belt.  The classes  cover all the material on the curriculum on a monthly rotation basis.  The students are usually ready to test for their new belts in 4-6 months after their previous belt promotion.  The written and/or verbal part to the testing is covered during classroom discussion and is available in the picture manuals and also here.

When students have studied the USA Flag Test, they can test after class and get a flag for their Gi!  Once they have the USA flag they can then study and test for the Texas Flag Test.  Both flags go on the left shoulder.

See some of our kids in action on the video clips page!

Kid's Class Schedules:

More information on the Churchill dojo, including maps, photos and directions

More information on the Highland Park dojo, including maps, photos and directions

Tuition:
You can mix and match classes during the week, for example your child could take classes weekdays in Highland Park and then join us at the headquarters school on Saturdays.

Besides regular kids classes, we offer several other programs for children and families, including Pilates, Summer Camps and Parent's Night Out.

Kids Private Karate Carpool Class:

Don't see the schedule or times that are best for you? 
Chamberlain Studios offers a "Private Carpool Class" that may fit your needs better.  Get several families together (10 student minimum, and we can help fill the class if you like) and we will set up a private program and time slot just for you and your group.  We have done this very successfully with other families, who like the flexibility in their schedule and the ease of sharing the driving. 

Private instruction at your home is another convenient option. 
Call us for more information at: 214-351-5367.

As an alternative, you may find that the convenience of private classes in your own home are the best option.
Just call our headquarters school for times and availability at: 214-351-5367.
Then just look for the CSSD Kenpo Kar in your neighborhood!