We offer 4 free classes, so wear some comfy clothes and come try out with us. No need to buy the karate uniform (gi) until you are ready! We especially recommend that parents wait a month before buying a gi, to be sure their little one is keen before buying something that can't be used in any other sports code.

Never! We have students who have started in their 40s, 50s and 60s! Everyone comes to karate in their own time, and is on their own unique journey. We have a longer article on the subject here. 

We take our work as instructors seriously, and work hard to manage all reasonable risk in the dojo. We are fully insured (though we haven't had to use our liability insurance) and we ensure that students work safely and respectfully when sparring. It is safer for kids to learn to fight in the controlled environment of the dojo, than on the school playground. Bumps and bruises are inevitable, but we work on helping our students become tough (without becoming hard.) 

We love to see the spirit of the tiniest fighters. However, the formal dojo environment just isn't right for them. We would love to see them when they are closer to 5, and able to concentrate in longer bursts. We've written extensively about toddlers in karate as well. 

Karate is for everyone, and every mind! We will always do our best to accommodate neurodivergent kids (and increasingly, neurodivergent adults). ADHD isn't a dirty word in our dojo. We also work with sensory-processing disorder students. Unfortunately, we aren't adequately trained to deal with severe non-verbal cases, but we also offer online classes that might be a more comfortable environment as well. 

For kids, we have three tests a year, and most students will change belt colours once a year. Students 14 and older will test twice a year with more material, and have fewer belts. 

The coveted black belt can take 6 - 8 years. It sounds like a long time, but the years will pass anyway; you might as well have a black belt at the end of it.  

Ah, we are so glad you asked. We can trace our karate lineage back to Sensei Chojun Miyagi, the founder of Goju Ryu. We train under the Ei'chi Miyazato line, under Sensei Kikugawa in Yonabaru, Okinawa. Our gradings are ratified by OGKK (Okinawan Goju Ryu Karate-do Kyokai) and our instructors all have Okinawan-quality grades. 

We are a non-competitive dojo, in the sense that we do not enter competitions outside our federation. We do in-house tournaments so that students can experience the benefits of sports karate, (winning graciously, losing without losing hope) without the cost and admin that comes with regional/provincial tournaments. We believe that karate is about self-improvement, not medals, so it isn't something we actively pursue. 

Sparring and groundwork are part of our syllabus, as karate should involve fighting, but we focus on being our best selves, rather than on who's the best.