START YOUR MARTIAL ARTS JOURNEY TODAY
It’s never too late to start (or continue) your martial arts journey. If you’re looking for a martial art focused on self-defense and personal development, not competition, you’ve come to the right place. You can trust our instructors to maintain a safe learning environment to help you grow, whether you try it for a little while or set your sights on earning a black belt.
Shaolin Kempo Karate (SKK) is a generalist style of martial arts that combines the four ways of fighting: punching, kicking, grappling and felling. We also study movements of five kung fu animals: tiger, leopard, crane, snake and dragon. This provides a practical and accessible self-defense system that has something for everyone, regardless of your body type or beliefs about your natural abilities. Each class trains your body and mind through meditation, stretching and conditioning, skills practice and partnered self-defense training.
ADULT SKK
Adults can start our weekly drop-in Shaolin Kempo Karate classes at any time. Download our class schedule here.
We recommend beginning with a single trial class.
NOT SURE WHAT TRAINING IS THE BEST FOR YOU?
BUILD YOUR CHILD’S CONFIDENCE WITH MARTIAL ARTS
Our small, individualized classes allow kids and teens to learn at their own pace and grow their confidence. Our highly skilled instructors will ensure your child feels included, welcomed and valued as they are.
We incorporate the elements of empowerment self-defense into our kids and teen classes, encouraging young people to trust their instincts, leave or get help from a trusted adult if they can, and if given no alternative, to yell or physically fight back if needed to keep themselves safe.
If you aspire for your child to earn a black belt, please note that at Underground Self-Defense we have one standard for black belt – the adult standard. A very small number of exceptional young people have achieved this milestone with us at age 13, but it is much more common to expect this in the later years of high school.
KRITTERS SKK (4-7)
Saturdays 9:15-10am
In Kritters SKK we focus on having fun and feeling strong while developing gross motor skills and growth mindset.
Some students may become eligible to test for yellow belt while in this class.
Our instructors work with families to decide when the time is right for a child to transition to Kids SKK (age ranges can be flexible).
KIDS SKK (7-13)
Saturdays 10-11am
In Kids SKK (7-13), we teach self-defense, forms and sparring and encourage students to begin to take more responsibility for their own learning.
Students are invited to test for higher belts as they show readiness.
TEEN SKK (13-17)
Wednesdays 5-6m
Our Teen SKK class provides a developmentally-appropriate bridge to adult classes for our continuing students, and an accessible entry point for middle and high school students wanting to start (or restart) martial arts training.
Teens are welcome to join our Adult SKK classes as well, although we encourage them to participate in the Teen Class as a home base.