Kids love the children’s martial arts programs at BMAI for the action-packed classes. Parents love it for the constant emphasis on life’s more important lessons that are taught here!
A Perfect Mix of Fun and Discipline
A class at BMAI is unlike any experience your child will get anywhere else. Where else are kids allowed to kick and punch at each other, wrestle and throw each other around, and yell as loud as they can; all while keeping their minds focused, their body movements precise, and their spirits humble and polite?
Flexible Schedules
BMAI offers more classes, with a more flexible schedule, than any children’s martial arts program in town. Students may attend any (or all) of the classes available for their age and skill level. If your child can’t make a class at their regular time, you can bring them to any of our other class times. If your child wants to train more, you can just bring him/her to extra classes. As your child advances, there become even more classes to choose from. At BMAI, we have seen the transformative benefits martial arts training has on children, and we want to make it easy for every family to work martial arts classes into their schedule. We believe that if martial arts is going to be a Way of Life for our students, then our class schedule has to allow them to fit it into their family life!
Most children attend 2-3 classes per week, but students may attend as many classes as they want with our unlimited membership. Children earn progress stripes on their belts based on attendance as they work their way toward their next color belt. This reward system helps the children learn at an early age that the more they practice something, the better they get. Parents have found that the more often their children attend practices at BMAI, the more impact the positive philosophy of the martial arts has on their character and personal development.
The instructors at BMAI know that sometimes children who are incredibly excited to join us (and who can really benefit from martial arts classes) lack the confidence to even step onto the mats. Our instructors patiently and compassionately help young students overcome this usually short-lived emotional hurdle. After a few classes the children are training hard, building confidence, having a great time, and have made lots of new friends !
Here’s how to get your child started:
Ask your child if they want to learn a martial art.
Check our schedule for the appropriate class and age group.
We suggest you tell your child, “We’re going to go watch a martial art class and the instructor will let you try it if you want to!” This takes a lot of pressure off kids. They are entering an unfamiliar place and it can be scary!
Have your child wear loose-fitting clothing, just in case they want to try the class.
Arrive at least 15 minutes before the class to meet the teacher and help your child get settled before the class begins.
Fill out a “Free Trial Lesson” form. You can compete an online form here or fill one out when you arrive.
Don’t be surprised if there is an unexpected emotional reaction when you step into the building. Young children react differently to the excitement of a new environment and sometimes the excitement turns into shyness (or defiance). Don’t worry. Our instructors are used to anything when it comes to kids!
We’ll put a name sticker on your child so we can all learn their name.
Your child will need to take their shoes and socks off before stepping on the mats. (Spectators don’t need to take off their shoes.)
Your child can join the class at the beginning, sit and watch the entire class with you, or watch for a while and join when they feel like it.
When the class is over, a teacher will check in with you to answer any questions you have and find out if your child wants to continue learning martial arts. (Be prepared for a very enthusiastic “YES!”)
