What children learn
Our Pre-Juniors train on the same Freestyle Martial Arts curriculum as every other class at West Coast, from Juniors right through to Adults. It isn't watered down. It's pitched at the right level for five to eight year olds and the problems they're actually going to face: being pushed, grabbed or picked on at school, or getting into an unsafe situation with someone they don't know.
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Students learn fighting stances, strikes, kicks, boxing combinations, protective falling, basic ground defence and a range of grab and choke escapes. These are drilled repeatedly and then practised under pressure, so they hold up when it counts. We also teach situational awareness, stranger danger and protective behaviours.
Dojo Etiquette Cards
Every Pre-Junior has a Dojo Etiquette Card and can earn a stamp each class. To earn their stamp, they need to:
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be on time
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pay attention and follow instructions
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respect others and be a good training partner
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work hard and give their best
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Stamps count towards eligibility for tip testing and grading. Behaviour is part of progress, not separate from it. Students who stand out also earn merit stickers towards Student of the Term.
Grading
Progress is reflected through our coloured belt system. Belts aren't handed out for turning up. Students are invited to grade by their instructor when they're ready, based on:
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the number of classes they've completed
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how regularly they train
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their technique
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their dojo etiquette and attitude
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time spent at their current belt
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Tip testing is done in class three times a year, in week 12 of each trimester. It rewards students for reaching milestones between belts and lets our instructors assess who is ready to grade. Grading invitations are given during tip testing week. Gradings are held on a Sunday around four weeks later, with set times for each age group. Students must wear full uniform (gi and belt) and arrive before bow-in for both tip testing and grading. All dates are listed on our Important Dates page.
How Our Classes Run
Every class starts with a warm-up that's a genuine workout, designed to test the kids and build fitness, coordination and work ethic from day one. From there we move into the technique component and drilling. Games come at the end of class, once the work has been done.
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Our curriculum runs in three 16-week trimesters each year. Each trimester cycles through our four core areas, striking, wrestling, combatives and ground fighting, four times over. Pre-Juniors learn the same topics as our older students. As students move up through the age groups, the techniques and scenarios step up to suit the situations they're likely to face at that age.
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Classes are capped for quality control. We don't run babysitting sessions and we don't load the mat with kids of all different ages. Pre-Juniors classes are led by an experienced instructor, with up to four student helpers on the mat. Our instructors typically have well over 10 years' experience across multiple martial arts. Keeping numbers controlled and classes age-specific means every child gets the attention they need and no one holds anyone else back.
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All students train a minimum of twice a week. That's what it takes to build real skills and see real progress.
Pathways Beyond Pre-Juniors
Students who show commitment over time have opportunities beyond their regular classes:
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Fight Club is invite and application only, open to students aged 6 and up who have trained with us for a period of time. It includes wrestling training through our affiliation with Gladiator Wrestling.
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Student Leadership is open to students from around 8 years of age. Our student leaders help run Pre-Juniors classes, and it's something younger students can work towards as they progress.