Our winter term starts Monday, January 5th

KDS Karate for Kids:
KDS Karate is a non-competitive martial art that is suitable for children aged 7 and up that teaches the skills and techniques of karate in a safe and supportive environment. Our classes are structured to balance discipline with fun, learning and fitness. Our students do not participate in tournaments.

Classes typically start with a short warm-up before breaking the class up into groups based upon the level of the students. Each group then works on stances, techniques, and partner practices appropriate to their level; usually linked to the particular kata that their group is learning.

Practice Times & Location:
​Youth Beginners/Intermediate: Mondays & Wednesdays 6:15-6:40
Youth Intermediate/Advanced: Mondays & Wednesdays 6:45-7:30

Our classes take place at Brookhouse School, 15 Christopher Ave., Dartmouth.

Contact:
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 902-233-3066

Cost:
$60 per child per term ($120/term family rate). The terms vary somewhat in length, but are usually around 8-10 weeks long. There are three terms per year (Fall, Winter & Spring).

INSTRUCTORS:

The head instructor of our youth program is Don Dorey is a 2nd degree black belt. Don has been training for 15+ years and has many years of experience of working with youth. He is married with three grown children and is a veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces.

Neil MacInnes is a 1st degree black belt, who originally started in our youth program before returning to the adult class a number of years later. He brings a lot of experience in working with kids from having worked for a number of years at the Halifax Discovery Centre.

Dave Roker is a brown belt. He is self-employed with two sons, one of whom is in our youth program. Dave brings years of experience in working with young people to our group.

Dan Abenhaim is a green belt who has training in our adult class for several years.

Conar is the most recent addition to our volunteer youth instructor group. He started in our children's program at seven years old and now attends the adult class. Conar was recently awarded his junior black belt.

Evan Doiron is a green belt who trained in Shotokan Karate for many years and joined our club last year. He has a son in our youth program.

Junior Instructors:
We are sometimes helped by junior instructors who have demonstrated technical and leadership skills in the youth program. Our current junior instructors are Gavin, Hunter, and Olivia.

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Information for Parents:
We try to provide a program that is supportive, yet provides some structure and discipline. You can help us to provide such an environment by observing the following:

• Please do your best to bring your child to class on time;
• Children do not need a uniform (gi) to start. T-shirt and track/yoga pants are fine for new students. A uniform can be purchased from the club ($50) at a later date. Used ones are fine, but they must be plain white, with no insignia or crests attached. We practice in bare feet so students will have to leave their footwear in the hallway;
• We invite and encourage parents to stay and watch, but we ask that you also remove your shoes in the hallway and be respectful of the class atmosphere.
  

Youth Instructor Group, L-R back row: Sensei Neil, Sempai Conar, Sensei Don, Sempai Gavin, Sempai Evan, Sempai Dan, Sempai Dave. Front row: Sempai Olivia, Sempai Hunter.

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Information for New Students:
Welcome to Karate-do Shotokai - we hope you enjoy it!  Karate is an ancient martial art that originally comes from Okinawa, Japan. It was originally practiced for self-defence, but now we practice also for fun and fitness.

Please arrive on time and ready to practice. Black belts should be addressed as "Sensei" and other instructors as "Sempai".

We expect all students to follow the instructions of all instructors and to do your best.

Gradings:
We hold a testing/grading class at the end of each term.

The belt progression is as follows:

• white (plus 3 or more stripes)
• yellow (plus 3 or more stripes)
• orange (plus 3 or more stripes)
• green (plus 3 or more stripes)
• blue (plus 3 or more stripes)
• brown (plus 5 stripes)
• junior black belt (black belt with a white stripe)

 There are three or more stripes between each belt grading (five between brown and junior black belt). Students will normally progress one stripe each term, although sometimes students will be advanced two stripe levels. As a result it will usually take a year or more to earn a yellow belt. A brown belt signifies many years of dedication.

We grade partially on technical skill level, but we also consider attitude, effort and individual challenges that some students have. Older students will often progress somewhat faster than younger ones in the early stages because of better attention levels and physical maturity.

"Non-competitive karate classes for adults and children".