Karate for Kids

Reaching your Child’s Fullest Potential

Karate for Kids training is designed to be fun and fulfilling for each student. This is because Taekwondo is an individual activity rather than a team sport. Therefore every student is an active and valuable participant in class. They work out with kids their own age and progress at their own pace.

The ATA Karate for Kids program is perfect for parents looking for an activity that is not just great exercise but that also teaches their school age children lessons they will use throughout their life. The way children learn and what motivates them is the reason we offer a program exclusively for children.

Since its introduction in 1986, the Karate for Kids program has helped children all over the world learn Discipline, Self-Esteem and Respect. By combining the Discipline of traditional martial arts, learning Respect through life skill development and the Self-Esteem gained through our unique reward system, your child will advance in the martial arts while reaching their fullest potential.

✔ Encourages Non-Violent Conflict Resolution

Thinking that martial arts instruction promotes violent behavior is justified if your only experience with the activity comes from television or movies. In fact, many defensive styles teach kids peaceful, non-violent conflict resolution skills and emphasize the importance of avoiding a physical altercation.

✔ Boosts Socialization Skills

Kids who don’t always thrive in highly social environments may find it easier to get to know people and make new friends when they’re in a room filled with peers who share a common interest.

✔ Encourages Physical Activity

Enrolling an inactive child in such a physically demanding pastime not only discourages the sedentary lifestyle she’s used to but also gives her an enjoyable activity that inspires her to keep moving.

✔ Learn to Set and Achieve Goals

Most forms of martial arts are based around an accomplishment system of colored belts that signify the wearer’s degree of skill. When your child strives toward each new belt, he’s learning valuable lessons about setting and reaching his goals.

White Belt

“Pure and without the knowledge of Songahm Taekwondo. As with the Pine Tree, the see must now be planted and nourished to develop strong roots.” The student has no knowledge of Songahm Taekwondo and begins with a clean (pure) slate. Purity is often signified by the color White.

Orange Belt

“The sun is beginning to rise. As with the morning’s dawn, only the beauty of the sunrise is seen rather than the immense power.” The beginner student sees the beauty of the art of Taekwondo but has not yet experienced the power of the technique. Orange is found among the many colors of the sunrise.

Yellow Belt

“The seed is beginning to see the sunlight.” The student begins to understand the basics of taekwondo. The sun appears to be Yellow.

Camo Belt

“The sapling is hidden amongst the taller pines and must now fight its way upward.” The student begins to realize his/her place in the world’s largest martial art. The student must now begin to spar in order to promote in rank. Camouflage (greens) is used to hide among the trees in the forest.

Green Belt

“The pine tree is beginning to develop and grow in strength.” The student’s technique is developing power. The components of the basic techniques are beginning to work in unison. As the pine tree develops, it sprouts Green pine needles.

Blue Belt

“The tree reaches for the sky toward new heights.” Having passed the mid-way point, the student focuses his/her energy upward toward black belt. The sky appears as Blue.

Brown Belt

“The tree is firmly rooted in the earth.” At this point the student has mastered the basics and developed deep roots in taekwondo. Brown is known as an earthy color, such as dirt.

Red Belt

“The sun is setting. The first phase of growth has been accomplished.” The first day (the period of time from white belt to red belt) of growth is coming to an end. The physical skill has been developed but lacks control; therefore, physical and mental discipline must now be achieved. Variations of Red are found among the many colors of the sunset.

Red & Black Belt

“The dawn of a new day. The sun breaks through the darkness.” The previous day has ended, giving way to a new dawn. The student must begin a new phase of training; that of being a black belt. The Red is the sun (in a sunrise) as it breaks through the Black of night.

Black Belt

“The tree has reached maturity and has overcome the darkness…it must now plant seeds for the future.” The color black is created when all the colors of the light spectrum have been absorbed into an object. That object has taken control of the colors and retained them. if one color were to escape, the object would no longer be black but would appear as that color. The student has mastered the nine geup (grades) of taekwondo. He/she has absorbed all the knowledge of the color ranks and overcome or mastered that level or training. The colors of the spectrum are bound together and are not reflected off an object, resulting in the absence of color in which we call Black.