Little Dragons: The FUNdamentals of Martial Arts
Will martial arts keep my kid’s attention?
Is it safe?
What types of skills will my kid develop?
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? Almost nothing does that like martial arts!
Why is JMAC a Good Choice for Kids Martial Arts in Ann Arbor?
We work on the FUNdamentals of judo and karate (stances, punches, falling safely) while recognizing that our smallest students have to enjoy, engage, and connect with what they’re doing. We strive to make the class fun and high-energy, making sure each student has a chance for one-on-one time with the instructors while they learn AWESOME judo and karate moves.
We make time to develop listening skills, focus, determination, self-awareness and confidence. We have brief lessons on words like “respect,” “trust,” and “courage.” We even work on critical thinking skills – Why do we do something a certain way?
We pay attention to what they do well, assist them at improving those aspects they find more difficult, and gently guide them about what they can do outside the dojo to improve their mental and physical fitness. We don’t tolerate bullying. 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 by bringing your child in to try out one class. If the class seems like fun and it works with your calendar, we’ll explain what it takes to get started. There will be no pressure - we want kids at JMAC who truly want to be here and whose parents are interested in seeing their kids get focused and healthy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the age ranges in Little Dragons?
From age 5-7, kids attend our “Little Dragons” class. We allow kids from age 8 to 12 in our kids karate and judo programs. There’s a great mix of younger and older kids. When they reach more advanced ranks and hit the 13-14 year age range, many kids 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 Little Dragons, kids karate, or kids judo classes, 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 tries out a class, 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 Little Dragons
If you think you might like to get your child involved in Little Dragons, we’d love to have you watch a class while they participate. 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!