Teen Home Class (ages 13–17)

Our Teen Home Class is built to show up well on college applications while building real skill and character. Students train core Sports Chanbara and Battoudo mechanics in a calm, standards-driven environment that emphasizes emotional self-regulation (SEL), autonomy, accountability, and leadership through teaching. The tone is supportive but focused: clear expectations, consistent feedback, and visible growth week to week.

Three-year black belt pathway for applications. The teen track is structured as a three-year program. Start at the beginning of 9th grade and train weekly, year-round, and you can be ready to test for black belt at the start of senior year. We operate continuously (no summer shutdown), but tuition is modeled on 40 weeks per year, so life can happen—you can miss some weeks and still stay on pace. If you need extra flexibility, we offer a provisional black belt for college applications, with the final exam scheduled at the end of senior year.

Competition matters here. Teens prepare for local and national Sports Chanbara tournaments with planned cycles of drills, controlled sparring, and performance targets. Film review and match debriefs help students translate practice into decisions—reading distance, choosing safe entries, and finishing cleanly under pressure. Most teens pair this class with Adult/Teen Chanbara to sharpen timing against a wider range of partners.

How we coach. Instruction centers on repeatable fundamentals, safety, and respectful contact. Students set personal goals, log progress, and earn leadership opportunities by assisting peers and supporting warm-ups or basics. The result is a clear story of growth—skill, composure, and service—that reads well on applications and feels meaningful in the dojo.

Adult/Teen Chanbara (ages 13+)

Live, coach-supervised sparring that pairs teens and adults on the same floor to accelerate real combat learning. Mixed lineups expose students to wider variations in reach, mass, speed, and style—exactly what raises fight IQ. You learn to read unfamiliar opponents, manage range against bigger bodies, solve pressure with timing, and finish cleanly under tournament-style scoring.

Sessions are structured for safety and skill development, not brawling. Coaches set intensity, match by size/experience, and use short rounds with clear objectives (entries, clean breaks, counter windows) so every bout has a lesson. Contact standards and protective equipment keep rounds controlled and repeatable; feedback between exchanges turns “just sparring” into targeted practice.

The mixed format benefits both groups. Teens gain composure and confidence handling adult pace and reach under supervision—an advantage that carries directly into tournament brackets and looks strong on college applications. Adults pressure-test technique against fast, creative teen game plans while modeling control, sportsmanship, and leadership. The result is a calm, technical room where everyone levels up.

Adult Home Class (18+)

A focused coaching block for adults who want real skill without the chaos. Sessions blend Sports Chanbara and Battōdō fundamentals with calm, technical instruction so you improve fast and stay injury-free. We design each class around clear objectives—footwork that actually holds up under pressure, guards that protect you, entries that score—and we give direct, usable feedback every round.

Built for busy adults. You get a structured hour that respects your time: short activation → targeted technique → controlled application. We match partners by size and experience, set intensity deliberately, and use protective gear and clear contact standards so training stays safe and repeatable.

Skill-first coaching. Expect precise cues on range, timing, and shot selection, plus simple at-home drills to lock in gains between classes. If your goals include fitness, stress management, or getting back into training after a layoff, we’ll pace the work intelligently while keeping the technical bar high.

Apply it live. Most adult students pair Home Class with Adult/Teen Chanbara to pressure-test skills against varied partners. That mixed room accelerates learning—your reads get faster, your entries cleaner, and your confidence steadier.

Adult Independent Practice (Open Mat)

Unstructured mat time for adults who want extra reps on their own terms. Use this block to refine mechanics from Home Class, tighten entries, build conditioning, or run light, situational rounds. It’s a quiet, task-focused room: you set the plan, pace, and partners.

Open Mat is supervised for safety and standards, not taught. Coaches manage etiquette, gear, and contact levels, but there is no formal instruction. If you need targeted coaching, book Private Instruction; otherwise treat this as your personal focus session. Protective equipment and controlled contact are required for any partner work.

To get the most from Open Mat, arrive with a short drill list (footwork patterns, guard transitions, timing drills, entries to clean finishes), use a timer, and—when appropriate—film brief clips for later review. Peer-to-peer learning is welcome: share reps, exchange ideas, keep rounds technical.

Logistics. Space is limited; reserve in advance (walk-ins if space allows). Check in through the Gymdesk app on arrival. The live schedule reflects any overrides for special events or Home Class conflicts. Bring approved gear; follow posted safety rules and contact standards.

Junior Chanbara (ages 6–12)

A fun, structured introduction to Japanese-style sword arts using safe Sports Chanbara equipment—no metal blades and no Tasai/Battōdō for youth. Classes channel energy into clear routines that build coordination, balance, and timing while teaching respect, self-control, and how to train safely with partners. The coaching tone is calm and consistent: simple cues, lots of short reps, and age-appropriate games that reinforce real skills.

Parents tell us they appreciate the balance of play and purpose. Students learn basic guards, footwork, and clean striking patterns, then apply them in carefully controlled mini-bouts where contact standards and protective gear keep things predictable. We keep groups small, match by size/experience, and coach emotional self-regulation—how to breathe, reset, and try again. For families interested in competition, we offer age-appropriate tournament prep as students are ready, focusing on composure, safe entries, and clean scoring rather than “win at all costs.”

The goal is steady, visible progress: kids leave class proud of what they can do, with the attention and habits to keep getting better week to week. Reserve a spot on the schedule; new students are welcomed regularly.

Family Class

Train together as a family in a calm, structured session that blends movement, basic Sports Chanbara skills, and light partner work. The aim is shared practice and fitness—not pressure. We keep things simple and safe: clear cues, short drill blocks, and size-appropriate pairings so younger students can participate confidently alongside parents or older siblings. Expect a steady rhythm—brief warm-up, fundamental patterns, and optional mini-bouts with protective gear and controlled contact.

Family Class is not a rank path and does not include belt advancement. If a student wants promotion and formal testing, they should enroll in the appropriate core class (Junior Chanbara, Teen Home Class, or Adult Home Class). This session works best for families who want to move together, build coordination and attention, and enjoy a low-stakes way to stay connected to training.

Scheduling & logistics. Family Class is scheduled by appointment to ensure the right mix of ages and space. Sessions accommodate up to two adults and as many as four children on a Family Subscription. Bring approved safety gear; coaches will match partners by size/experience and set contact standards. Reserve through the schedule—we’ll confirm the slot and any specifics ahead of time.

Private Instruction

One-on-one coaching for fast, targeted improvement. Private sessions are ideal for sharpening tournament performance, preparing for a black-belt test, correcting a stubborn technical issue, or rebuilding confidence after time away. We keep the tone calm and precise so you leave with clean mechanics and a clear plan—no wasted minutes.

A typical session starts with a quick assessment to isolate the real limiter (range reads, footwork under pressure, guard integrity, entry timing, or finish quality). We then run short, focused drill blocks and controlled scenarios to pressure-test the fix, with immediate feedback between reps. When useful, we film brief clips and review them on the spot so you can see what to change. You’ll leave with specific at-home drills and measurable checkpoints to carry into your next class or Chanbara round.

Rates & booking. $5 per minute, 20-minute minimum. Bring 1–2 clear goals; we’ll structure the work around those and your upcoming needs (tournament bracket, exam timeline, or return-to-training plan). Reserve through the schedule/Gymdesk app; we’ll confirm gear and any session notes in advance.

Private instruction pairs well with Teen or Adult Home Class for skill acquisition and with Adult/Teen Chanbara for live application.