Your Child's First Karate Class: What to Expect

Before you come in

Every prospective student at The Phoenix Way goes through a short interview process. That isn’t a test your child has to pass. It’s a conversation so we can make sure our school is the right fit for your family and for what you want your child to get out of training. I’d rather know your goals before your child ever steps on the mat.

We offer parents a free student-parent conference to see the program for themselves. And your child’s first 30 days are free, so there’s room to try it properly, not just once.

When you call to set it up, ask us what your child should wear and bring. We’ll tell you. Then a few things you can do at home:

• Talk about it calmly. Tell them what you know. There will be other kids, an instructor, and a lot of moving around.

• Name the nerves. If your child is anxious, say so out loud: “It’s normal to feel nervous before something new.” Kids handle fear better when they’re allowed to have it.

• Don’t oversell it. Promise them it’ll be “so much fun” and you set a bar. Promise them you’ll be proud of them for trying, and you can keep that promise every time.

What happens on the mat

Every class is a little different because we use a rotating curriculum. But you can expect a few pieces.

Athletic work. A big part of our Kid Class is functional athletic training. Expect movement drills, balance, and a lot of following directions quickly.

Basics. Stances, blocks, punches, and kicks, taught with short, simple cues. Knee up. Toes in. Hands up. Instructors use images kids already understand. In one of our classes a stomping motion became “squish the bug,” and every kid got it immediately.

Combinations, out loud. Instructors call a combination, the kids throw it, then everyone says it together. A new student isn’t expected to keep up on day one. They’re expected to try.

Mat chats. Instructors talk with the kids on the mat. Parents tell us this is often the part their kids want to talk about at home.

You can see what this looks like in our walk-through of a kids karate class at The Phoenix Way.

Your child will be corrected. That’s a good thing. When a kid throws a hook before the cross, the instructor slows it down and shows them again. No embarrassment, just “let’s go slow.” Kids progress at their own pace here, and every child starts at the beginning.

They may also hear “Osu.” It’s a word you’ll hear a lot in Kyokushin, and if your child comes home asking what it means, we wrote a whole post on what Osu means.

Helping a nervous child

Some kids run straight onto the mat. Others need a minute. A few practical things help:

1. Arrive with a little time to spare. Rushing in late makes nerves worse.

2. Let the instructor take over. Once class starts, step back. Kids often do better when a parent isn’t coaching them.

3. Let them watch for a moment if they need to. Talk to the instructor about it. We’d rather a child join a few minutes late than not at all.

4. Don’t judge the first class. One shaky class tells you very little. The 30 days exist so your child can get past the first-day jitters.

A student once wrote that they were a bit nervous about how their first class would go, that it ended up great, and that they met friends they still talk to every day. It’s worth reading to a nervous child the night before.

After class

The ride home is where you learn the most. Instead of “Did you have fun?”, try:

• “Show me one thing you learned.”

• “What did you talk about in the mat chat?”

• “What was the hardest part?”

Let your child teach you a move in the kitchen. Parents tell us their kids come home wanting to practice what they learned, sometimes with their brothers and sisters, instead of heading for a screen. That’s when you know it’s starting to stick.