Ages 2–3
Pee-Wee
First steps on the mat.
Self-defense for kids, as part of Tae Kwon Do class.
Chung TKD teaches kids only, ages 2 to 13, so there are no adult self-defense classes here. For kids, self-defense is part of Tae Kwon Do class, and new families start with two free trial classes.
Part of class, not a separate course
At Chung TKD, self-defense is part of class. Children practice age-appropriate blocks, kicks and awareness in the Tae Kwon Do class for their age, alongside forms, focus and respect.
Encyclopaedia Britannica describes Tae Kwon Do as practiced for sport, self-defense and spiritual development. At Chung TKD it is taught as a method of discipline, character development and personal development, not only self-defense.
Sources: Encyclopaedia Britannica, “Tae kwon do”.
What a parent can expect
For a young child, self-defense starts long before any block or kick. It starts with ideas like these:
- Awareness: noticing what is going on around them
- Distance: keeping space between themselves and someone else
- A loud voice: a clear, strong “No” or “Stop”
- Confidence: standing tall, looking up and speaking clearly
What no class can promise
No class can promise how a child will handle a hard moment, and we don’t. What a class gives is practice: listening, focus and standing tall in front of a group.
The ideas above are general, not a list of drills. Ask at a first class how self-defense shows up at your child’s age.
Three classes, by age
Kids Tae Kwon Do for ages 2 to 13.
Chung TKD teaches kids ages 2 to 13 in three age groups. Children start by age and move up as they grow, through nine belt colors from White to Black.
Ages 4–6
Children
Focus, coordination and the first belts.
Ages 7–13
Youth
Forms, sparring and the road to black belt.
What a first class is like
Your child doesn’t need to know any Tae Kwon Do before the first class. Every new student starts in a White belt class for their age. Some children watch for a few minutes first, plenty jump right in, and many nervous ones soon forget their nerves.
No uniform is needed for a first class. Comfortable clothes that allow kicking are fine, and kids train in bare feet on the mat.
It helps to tell your child what will happen. They will bow, copy the teacher and kick a pad, and you can watch from the bench.
For what to wear and what to tell your child, read Getting ready for your child’s first class.
First step
Start with two free trial classes.
Two details. The school calls you back. No account, no card.
Questions parents ask
Do you have adult classes?
No. Chung TKD teaches kids only, ages 2 to 13, and older kids by placement. Parents are always welcome to watch.
Is self-defense a separate class?
No. At Chung TKD, self-defense is part of class, in the Tae Kwon Do class for your child’s age.
What age can my child start?
At 2. Children from 2 to 3 start in Mommy & Me, where a parent does the class with their child, then move up to the independent Pee-Wee class at 3½. Children’s classes are for ages 4 to 6 and Youth classes for 7 to 13. Older beginners are placed after a first class.
Can I watch?
Yes. Parents are always welcome to watch, from the first class on, and families have a seat at belt tests.