Before your first class

Teens join from age 13, and adult classes are for ages 18 and up. Teens train in their own class and in the fundamentals classes.

Yes. Parents of teens and anyone thinking of joining can sit on the bench by the door and watch.

A plain t-shirt and loose pants. Take off jewelry, tie hair back and leave shoes off the mat. We lend gloves and shin guards for sparring steps.

We bow in, warm up at an easy pace, run drills, then do pad work or a partner round at your step, and bow out. Sparring starts with pads and gear.

Sparring is the club's focus, and fundamentals and kata classes are there too. Nobody goes into a round before they are ready, and you can stay at step 1 as long as you like.

No. All fitness levels start here. Warm-ups are at an easy pace and a coach shows you how to scale each drill.

Step 1 is pads only. Step 2 is slow, light contact with a coach calling the round. Step 3 is continuous rounds for adults at green belt and up. Teens spar at steps 1 and 2 only.

A student tests for the next belt when the coaches see the skills, at a belt test. Every student moves at their own pace. The belt path page lists what each color works on.

Tuition is set by the program and the classes a week. Your first term is three months, then membership runs month to month, and you stop by telling us in writing with 30 days' notice. The how tuition works page has the rest.

Come to another class at the same step that week, or tell the front desk if you need to pause for travel, illness or an injury.

Tournaments are optional. Some students enter and many never do, and the coaches talk it through with anyone who wants to.