Kids karate · Thornbury, Melbourne
Kids karate that builds character, both on and off the mat.
Karate classes for kids aged 4½ to 10, with a Life Skills program co-written by an educator running through every class. Confidence, focus and respect, taught in Thornbury since 1997.
★★★★★Loved by Thornbury families · 4 classes + a karate uniform for $19.95
Karate classes for kids
Two kids karate classes, matched to your child's age.
Children do karate with kids their own age, at a level that suits them, and move up when they're ready.
Ninja Stars
Karate for 4, 5, 6 and 7 year olds. Short, game-based classes building listening, coordination and confidence through kicks, strikes, rolls and safe falling.
Karate for ages 4½ to 7 →
Samurai Warriors
Karate for 8, 9 and 10 year olds. Striking, evasions and ground skills, with real confidence and anti-bullying skills at the centre of every class.
Karate for ages 8 to 10 →What your child gains from karate
What would you love to see more of?
Click to see how kids karate builds it in class, and what parents tell us they notice at home.
Kids karate Life Skills
Designed by an educator. Delivered on the mat.
Written by Dr Warren Guest (PhD, Education), with input from primary school teachers and psychologists along the way. Each class our karate kids sit in a circle to talk through one topic, then put it into practice in training and at home… and that's just the beginning.
- Self control
- Excellent manners
- Real friendship
- Goal setting
- No to bullying
- Mutual respect
- Being honest
- Listening skills
The long game
Why kids stay with karate for years
New belts at their own pace
Each child moves through their grading system as an individual. We don't do mass gradings, everyone progresses at their own pace.
Effort is recognised
Good manners, reading and helping others are noticed and rewarded, not just karate technique.
A clear path to Black Belt
From kids karate to teen karate and Junior Black Belt. This journey begins with a single step… booking in for your first trial lesson.
Family karate
Kids first. Room for the whole family.
Kids karate is what we do best, but the whole family is welcome. Brothers and sisters can train at the same time, and mums and dads can do Fitness Kickboxing while the kids do karate.
Family karate
Siblings side by side, and parents training at the same time.
Train together →02Teen karate (11–15)
For big brothers and sisters, with a self-defence focus.
Teen karate →03Adult karate (16+)
For mums, dads and older teens who want a turn on the mat.
Adult karate →04Fitness Kickboxing (16+)
A 45-minute workout for parents, some at the same time as kids karate.
Fitness Kickboxing →Kids karate near me
Find the right karate class in two taps
Kids karate classes run after school Monday to Thursday and on Saturday mornings in Thornbury.
What parents say
Reviews from our karate families
My son has enjoyed going there since the beginning of the year and we have seen so much improvement in self-regulation both emotionally and physically.
— Lucie V.
Wonderful teachers and ethos. My girl has been here since she was a wee dot: grown from shy 5 year old to tall brown belt.
— Chris R.
We couldn’t be happier with the care and patience that all of the teachers have with our son. Since we started, we have seen a massive improvement in his motor strength, coordination, and perseverance.
— Bohuslava J.
Good to know
Questions parents ask about kids karate
What age can kids start karate?
From 4½. Our Ninja Stars kids karate classes are made for ages 4½ to 7: short, game-based and fun. We don't run karate for toddlers, because children get the most out of it once they can follow simple instructions in a group.
Is karate good for kids?
Yes. Kids karate builds confidence, focus, coordination and respect, and our Life Skills program, written by an educator, runs through every class. Parents often tell us they notice better listening and manners at home.
Will karate make my child more aggressive?
The opposite. Self control and conflict avoidance are core Life Skills, and children learn ways to resolve conflict without a kick or a punch. Confident kids don't feel the need to prove themselves.
Is it real karate?
Our kids karate comes from Koto Ryu, whose traditional name is Koto Ryu Karate Koppojutsu. Children learn karate-style kicks and strikes alongside self defence, safe falling and our Life Skills program.
Is there karate for kids near me?
We're at 272 Dundas St, Thornbury, on the Thornbury–Preston border, an easy drive from Northcote, Reservoir, Ivanhoe, Fairfield and Alphington. There's parking out the front.
Ready to give kids karate a go?
4 classes plus a karate uniform to keep for $19.95. If you join, it comes off your membership.