Plenty of adults have thought about karate for years. Maybe you trained a little as a kid and stopped. Maybe you've sat on the bench watching your own child's class and wondered what it would feel like out there. Maybe you just want to know you could handle yourself if you had to.
Whatever the reason, the question underneath is usually the same: am I too old to start? At Northside Karate the answer is no. Our teen and adult program is for anyone 13 and up, and it starts in the same place as everyone else.
Everyone starts at white belt
At NSK, kids, teens and adults all start at white belt and bow in the same way. Nobody expects you to know anything on day one. Classes are grouped by level, so as a beginner you train with other students at your rank, not with the black belts.
- No experience needed. Your first class is built for someone who has never thrown a punch.
- You set the pace for your body. Fitness comes from training, not before it. Tell the instructor about any old injuries before class starts.
- Rank is earned one test at a time. White, yellow, orange, green, purple, blue, brown, black. Every belt is proof you did something hard.
“The student must change himself first, and then his rank and belt will be an afterthought. This is the true art.”The North Side Karate Student Handbook
What you'll actually train
Grand Master D.E. Chambers formed the North Side Karate System in 1994 as a mixed style. Tae Kwon Do is the base, and five more styles each add something specific:
- Tae Kwon Do. The basic program, the forms and the kicks.
- Judo. The basis for throws and takedowns.
- Free Style Karate. The sparring and sport karate side of training.
- Shotokan. Deep stances, hard linear strikes and close quarter techniques.
- Wing Chun. Close range fighting with quick, short, circular hand movements.
- Jeet Kune Do. At the highest levels, the practical application of every technique.
Alongside traditional karate, NSK runs classes built for teens and adults: kickboxing fundamentals, submission grappling drawing on wrestling, judo and jiu-jitsu, and advanced striking with elements of boxing, Muay Thai, full contact karate and kickboxing for anyone who wants to compete in the ring or the cage. NSK also holds women-only self-defense seminars through the year.
What a class feels like
If you've only been to a gym, the dojo will feel different in a good way. There is structure, and you'll notice it from the first minute.
- You bow in and bow out. Every NSK class opens and closes with a bow. It marks the hour as yours.
- Commands come in Korean. It comes from the Tae Kwon Do base of the system. You'll pick it up faster than you think.
- Instructors are never called by first name. Respect is one of the Five Virtues, and it applies to grown-ups too.
- The Five Virtues are the rules of the road. Discipline, Respect, Attitude, Self-Assurance, and most of all Honesty. Read how NSK defines each one.
Why adults train at NSK
Some come for self-defense. Some come for the workout. Some want an hour a few nights a week where their phone is in the bag and their whole focus is on the mat. You don't have to pick just one, and you don't have to compete. NSK is an A.O.K. school and the Competition Team travels the tournament circuit, but competing is a choice, never a requirement.
Here is how adult students put it in their own Google reviews:
“The dojo emphasizes both physical fitness and mental discipline, making it an excellent place for personal growth.”Mandel P., NSK student
“Great place. Kids love it. I'm loving my self defense class as well.”Teena, NSK student
“Its a Great environment to Iron Out Weaknesses, and Grow Strong!”Bob C., NSK student
Train as a family
If your child already trains with us, you know the dojo. You've seen the bows, the rank tests and the look on their face when a new belt gets tied on. Kids classes are for ages 5 to 12, and teens and adults train at 13 and up, so a whole family can be on the same belt path at the same time. Practicing forms together in the living room is a lot more fun when you both have homework.
When adult classes run
On the current weekly schedule the Adult Class runs Monday and Wednesday evenings, 6:30 to 7:00 PM. Times can change, so check the class schedule for the latest, or call (832) 969-5584 and ask which class fits you.
Your first class
Getting started takes about a minute. Leave your name and number on our trial class form and pick Teen and Adult Karate. You'll pick a time that works for you, and someone from NSK will be in touch to answer any questions about the programs. Tell us what you're after, whether that's self-defense, fitness or competition, and we'll point you to the right classes.
Then come in, meet the instructors and bow in for the first time. White belt. First class. Make it happen.
Want to know more first? Read about teen and adult karate or the NSK story.