F.A.Q.

Where is the entrance to your school?

Our school is located at the corner of E13th St (aka Argyle Rd) and Avenue H.

The entrance is at 801 E13th St, about halfway down the block.

How young can children start taking martial arts?

We offer Children’s Karate Skills classes for four and five year olds. These classes are shorter and less formal than Children’s Karate, so we can teach young ones basic kicks, punches, stances, and mat behavior.

For younger children we recommend gymnastics or creative movement. Either will help them learn to manage their bodies, and develop self-confidence and self-awareness. Knowing right from left is a big help in martial arts, too!

When do your classes start?

Some classes run for ten week sessions, usually four times a year.

Most of our classes are offered on an ongoing basis. There are enough life events that interfere with our training, without us creating artificial stops and starts. We encourage you to train regularl

What happens if I miss a class?

Classes that you sign up for a session of, like Music for Aardvarks and Juguemos A Cantar, have their own make-up policies.

For our ongoing classes, you only pay for the ones you take. We encourage you to attend regularly to absorb the training better, but understand that life can interfere with our training.

Do I have to sign a contract to take your classes?

No. You (or your child) may take many of our classes on a drop-in basis, just paying by the class after your one free trial class. You can save more money by getting a class card. We do not charge any registration fees.

The exception are specialty classes that are run by other groups, such as Music for Aardvarks and Juguemos A Cantar. Those classes you sign up for with the teacher and pay for the full session in advance.

May I share my class card with someone else?

Yes, siblings may share cards and so may spouses or domestic partners.

Do you have uniforms?

If you or your child are going to take karate on a regular basis you will want to get a uniform. They can be purchased from us individually or, when you buy your first class card (10, 25 or 50), we will include a free uniform ($30 value).

For Sifu Victor Parlati’s Wing Chun Kung Fu and Wrestling class, please discuss the dress code with the teacher.

Do you have any classes for women only?

Yes, we offer Bones for Life, an offshoot of Feldenkrais Method, specifically for women, and taught by a woman. This class is designed to help minimize osteoporosis and osteopenia through movement and natural weight-bearing activity.

We have Nia Technique (Non-Impact-Aerobics) and Belly Dancing for women only.

An all-woman karate class taught by Sensei Alison is now forming. We will schedule 10 week sessions. Please contact us ASAP to join.

We can close the curtains during any of our classes if any of our students are uncomfortable being observed by those other than students and teachers in the classs.

If a group of women are looking for an all-female class we can arrange for female teachers of cardio kick-boxing, conditioning, Feldenkrais, karate, pilates, yoga or yogalates. Please contact us if you wish to form a class.

What should I wear?

For your free trial please wear (or bring – you can change at the school) comfortable clothes you can move in easily. In general, long pants are a better choice than shorts.

Do I need an appointment for my $10 trial class?

No appointment is necessary but we suggest that you contact us to let us know you are coming in the unlikely event that we will not be able to accomodate you. Please also check our schedule to make sure classes are being held as usual. Four times a year we hold karate promotion tests usually during regular class hours. Those days are not appropriate for trial classes.

What do your classes cost?

See our class-rates page.