Karate - Any Suggestions...

I don't know what area you live in but my son takes karate at THE CENTER FOR MIXED MARTIAL ARTS for $69 per month and he goes twice a week but it is located inside the Walmart on Princeton and John Young Parkway. You can go on their website and see if they are located anywhere else.

Carefully check out the school. Many are nothing but " belt factories" and as you pay, your children are moved up. That's NOT teaching martial arts, it's a money pit.

Our daughter was privately trained in a private school for about $150 / month at the time ( she's 17 now and was 13 at black belt level)

MOST programs give you a trial period to see if your child is a fit. Check everything out closely.

You don't want a black belt that you bought.... You want you child to have the black belt he/she EARNED.

It is a work in progress for several years. Do it right for the long run. The experience is worth it for far more than simple self defense.

My daughter (now 10) and I have been training in karate for five years. We each pay about $100/per month. This is a typical price. We usually go to class twice per week, but have four days/times to choose from. I am a black belt and she is a brown belt now.

The karate schools I've known have allowed prospective students to view classes, and to do a 2 week free trial. This helps you know if your children will like it. Four is a little young to start, depending on your child. Five is a typical age to start karate.

If you are looking for a once per week and less expensive activity, I would check with local Rec Centers or YMCAs to see if they offer a martial arts program at a less expensive rate. At age 4 & 6, they shouldn't be expected to sign up for a long-term agreement with any sport or activity. My daughter went for two years before we committed her to the entire Black Belt program.

I would go the city or ymca route before committing to a cost or schedule like that. What you are describing is for kids that not only want to do it for fun but also want to compete and work towards their belts. Right now a more recreational program will be your best bet.

Find out what that includes. The school I went to charged extra for belt tests and tournaments plus the cost of driving to the tournaments. My black belt alone was $175 + the two hour drive to get there.

A school near me costs $150/month.

My daughter takes Karate.
She LOVES it.
SHE wanted to take, Karate.
She tried other martial arts. She chose, Karate.
At her Dojo, they start the kids at 5 years old.
And it does not cost as much as what you mentioned. BUT, this is not the usual. Usually, it does cost that much. But discounted for additional siblings.
But the classes you mentioned are 4 times a week at the $100/month per kid. I would say that is not an unusual price.

My daughter's classes are twice a week and each class is 1.5 hours.
It is not easy, but we fit it in. Classes are weekdays. My daughter has TONS of homework and I have a 6 year old son too, who has homework.
But we do it.

It will be hard, to find martial arts classes that are only once a week and only $50-60/month per kid. At least in my city. It is typically more..

Only having martial arts classes once a week, is really not enough.

You could try your area's YMCA. Some do teach martial arts. They do in my city.

MOST martial arts schools, will let a child try it for free, one time, or for a trial period. So ASK if you can do this.

Or try it for 1 month... and then see how your child likes it.
That is what some parents do, at my daughter's Dojo. They try it for 1 month and pay, then tell the Sensei they will decide more firmly, after that if they continue or not. And it is fine.
At my daughter's Dojo, the parents can pay per month... or in 3 months at a time.

My daughter has been taking for 3 years. She is now a Purple belt.
She is dedicated to it very much.
It takes, dedication.
It is not just some play activity. It entails, learning the art and its ethos.
And practicing too.

I think the prices and quality vary widely. My son is 4 1/2 and goes 2 times a week for 65 dollars a month, which I think is a good price. I would shop around and see what kind of deal they would give you for 2 kids. My son loves karate and I have seen positive changes in his confidence in only a month. Most places give a free trial class.

My daughter does Tae Kwon-Do (she used to do karate but after a kid almost got hurt, the instructor decided kids were too much of a liability so we had to find a new school). I pay $350 a month and they pick her up from school, take her to the dojo, do homework for an hour, and then they do the class, so it's an aftercare/martial arts class, hence the high cost. No contracts (this is something you may want to check up on, as kids sometimes lose interest and then you're stuck in a one-year contract, only you know how serious your kids are about passions/hobbies). She was offered a free introductory class (after she had the chance to sit through a few classes to see if she liked it, the instructor, and the kids in it), and she liked it enough that she has been there since about March/April.

I used to join her at the same dojo and do the adult Tae Kwon-Do class later in the evening, which was 3 times a week, at $65 a month, but because I recently became separated, the expense was just too much for me to bear in addition with all the other living expenses that I must shoulder on my own, so I ended up quitting, unfortunately.

Based on the effort and patience that goes with caring for multiple kids, getting them to concentrate and not play, and the fact you had an extra day on top of my 3-day schedule at the price I paid for myself as an adult, I'd say you're getting a great deal, but I would have your kids sit through some classes, as well as asking if they can get a free class or 2. Some dojos offer up to 3 free classes, but most will offer at least 1, especially since everyone knows how kids can change their mind so quickly.

I don't know if your school charges you per belt, but I have been to 3 different martial arts dojos and all of them charged whenever I advanced a belt - it was about $40-$50 extra. You also need to buy uniforms. Some schools throw in a uniform when you enroll, while others charge extra for the uniforms, so that is something else to consider and be prepared for. Tournament registration is another expense, and driving. Most of the tournaments tend to be on the West Coast of Florida (Port Saint Lucie), or even Orlando.

I think martial arts is great, it teaches kids discipline, self-esteem, respect, and of course, self-defense, and it is a good way to stay in shape. My daughter's instructor won't allow the kids to advance belts if their school conduct is low, they misbehave in school, get bad grades in school, or act up at the dojo, so it's not just about how much they know in terms of martial arts, but how much maturity, discipline, and respect they show in their daily lives. Same if the child acts up with his parents and the instructor witnesses this or is told by the parents that the child misbehaved at home. It really is a path to personal growth.

I wish my mom had put me in martial arts as a kid, as I had to fight off perverts and aggressive boys on dates sometimes as an older teen and in my 20s, and I wasn't very good at self-defense. I think it's a great tool, especially for smaller kids who may be picked on or taken advantage of. It will help keep bullying in check, as you're taught to use martial arts as a last resort, while walking away is your first resort.

Great suggestions so far. Yes, $100/m is fairly typical. Many schools OFFER lots of classes per week, and have a minimum number they expect the student to take. They can take more if they want. Most expect 2 per week on average. The charge is the same whether they attend all the classes or none.

At 4 and 6, they may not want to commit to it. But many rec departments or YMCA/YWCA's offer short 6-8 week courses for a flat fee or a fee per class. That might be a place to start to gauge your children's interest.
Most dojos offer trial classes, but one or two free lessons may not be enough to get your child past the "excitement" to tell if they really like it. The "newness" won't have worn off.

We do a Karate class through our rec center. It is run by a large martial arts company but they basically offer "trials" through the rec center, so you can try it out, as martial arts places usually do have larger commitments for both time and money. Our class is twice a week, thursday evenings and saturday mornings for 30 minutes each time and the the cost is $60 for a 6 week session. So 12 lessons for $60 is pretty good I think! I think going through the rec center program our son could probably go up to a yellow or green belt but would then probably need to sign up for a longer term contract through the company. There is another class offered through our rec center that is once a week for 30 minutes, but I am not sure of the cost, and it is run by a different martial arts comany.

So long story even longer, I would try and look at any local rec centers you have and see if they have any introductory karate classes and go from there.

I think our school is rare but we pay 100.00 a month for both kids total....it was like $75 for my son and then added $25.00 when my daughter joined. They can take as many classes a month as they want...we could go everyday Tuesday through Saturday.

Our school also allows a free class or two for a kids to try it out and see if they like it...then they either sign up or not. We signed a six month or year contract when we first joined but have been there so long that we are now just month to month...

Good luck...and don't be afraid to try out a bunch of different studios before you settle on the one you like best...we really looked around to find a good fit.

Where I had my son cost me 133 per month, 2 times a week. If we missed a day we could come more often to make up that lesson. I had to sign a contract for a year. Let me tell you, we were all GLAD when that year was up! He liked it, but I think he is still young for that type of commitment, he is 5.

Your local rec center or YMCA may have something cheaper and with less commitment.

I live in Cape Coral & if you were close I would tell you to try Gulf Coast Kenpo Karate. The little Dragons are children up to 6 years old. My grandson started at 3, at a studio that charged $95 per month for 2 classes. Every 2 months, he was "tested" for the next level for $50. He always passed. They closed & I found GCKK. They are wonderful For beginners, it is $50 for 3 months & a free Gi. By 3 months, you know if they are really into it or not & you are not out alot of $$$. If there is a Kenpo Karate in your area, check it out. He loves it & has learned so much for everyday life. Good luck.

Most places have an introductory month to see if your kids like it. Or the local Y might have something. My son does Tang Soo Doo and loves it. It costs between $100-$125 a month, he needs 24 classes in 3 months to test for the next belt level, we can go as often or as little as we want each week, but overall need to meet the goal of 24 classes in 3 months.
We love his program because it has alot of focus on respectful behavior. It's worth it if your kids like it, but an introductory month is good to see if your kids like it.

We do Hungar Kung Fu and LOVE it. It's $90 or 100 for a month, 2 classes a week. Siblings are 50% off. After achieving their 3rd belt (and being big enough), they can choose to go in for sparring, or other more specialized classes (Chinese version of wrestling which I won't attempt to spell, or weapons, etc). But the basic children's 2 class/week thing is fine until they know they love it.