What Happens in Your Child’s First Two Weeks at KarateBuilt

Your child’s first two weeks at KarateBuilt Martial Arts in Cave Creek are free, and they come with a free uniform. You get two full weeks to watch real classes, ask every question you have, and decide with your eyes open before you invest a dollar.

Call or text (602) 737-2098 to book the first class, or stop by 29850 N. Tatum Blvd., Suite 105 & 106, and watch one.

I’ve trained students for nearly four decades and owned schools for over thirty years. The most common thing I hear from parents on day one is some version of “I don’t want to be sold.” Good. Neither do I. The first two weeks exist so your child’s experience does the talking. Here’s exactly what you’ll see.

What happens before the first class?

You call or text the school, we find a class that fits your child’s age, and you pick a day. It’s just that easy.

Classes are split by age because a four-year-old and a nine-year-old learn differently. Preschoolers ages 3 to 6 train in their own program. Kids 7 and up train in a separate one. Teens and adults have their own classes too.

Bring water and a child who’s a little nervous. Nervous is normal, and every black belt in our school walked in nervous once.

When your family walks in, the instructor at the front desk greets your child by name. Your child gets the uniform sized and their white belt tied around their waist for the first time–big moment! The instructor gives you a quick tour of the school, and then we walk your child over to meet the instructor who will be teaching them, so the first face they see on the floor is already a friendly one.

What does the first class look like?

Your child trains in a real class with students who are already enrolled. This isn’t a demo or a sales presentation with a few kicks attached.

The instructors learn your child’s name, show them where to stand, and give them one or two corrections they can act on right away. You’ll see the warm-up, the drills, and the way the class finishes. You’re welcome to watch the whole thing from our parent area.

Sometimes, a first class doesn’t go to plan. For example, just recently we had a six-year-old girl who made it to the edge of the mat, saw twenty kids bow in at once, and froze in tears. Her instructor knelt down and gave her a job: with the help of a more senior student, she was to hold the kicking target for the warm-up line. Holding a target felt safe. By the end of class she asked for a turn to kick it herself, and she hasn’t missed a Tuesday since.

If your child hangs back on day one, that’s totally fine. Some kids need a class or two of watching before they jump in. A good instructor meets the child where they are, and that’s how we teach.

When does the free uniform show up?

The uniform is part of the trial, and it’s given on the first day. The uniform is part of the trial, and it’s your child’s to keep. The two weeks plus the uniform are a $199 value.

That matters more than parents expect. A child who puts on the uniform stops acting like a visitor and starts acting like a student. The posture changes. The listening changes, and you’ll see it.

What do you watch for during week one?

Watch the instructors before you watch your child. Ask yourself three things: 

1. Do the instructors know the students by name?
2. Do the corrections tell a child exactly what to fix (“bring your back foot in line”) instead of just “good job”?
3. How does the instructor handle the student who’s struggling?

That third one tells you the most. Every class has a child having a hard day. How the instructor treats that child is how they’ll treat yours. Does the instructor show compassion? Do they communicate through words and actions that it’s okay to struggle, that everyone has a first day or a bad day, that everyone out on that mat is there to help? Oftentimes, these simple gestures go a long way toward easing a new student’s anxiety.

Next, watch your child at home. Do they talk about class at dinner? Do they practice a kick in the living room? Kids vote with their feet, and the vote usually shows up in week one.

What changes in week two?

By week two, your child knows the warm-up, knows a few names, and knows where to line up. That’s when you see the real kid instead of the nervous one.

In week two, new students start on the first pieces of their belt curriculum: a solid stance, a basic block, a front kick, and the opening moves of their first form. Instructors shift their attention from helping your child feel comfortable to helping them get each move right, so the corrections get more specific. Your child also learns the routines of class, from bowing in to answering “Yes, sir” and “Yes, ma’am.”

This is also the week to ask your questions. Ask how classes progress. Ask how often students test for their next belt and what they have to show to move up. Ask what tuition covers.

What does tuition cover after the trial?

Tuition at KarateBuilt is all-inclusive. It covers uniforms, sparring gear, belts, special events, and Parent Nights Out (these are events that last three to four hours and are built around a particular theme such as Harry Potter Night, Secret Agent Training, and Nerf Wars to name a few). There are no belt testing fees at any rank.

Most martial arts schools charge a fee every time a student tests for a new belt. We don’t. When a test carries no fee, the only question on testing day is whether your child is ready.

We don’t list prices online. We’d rather you see the school and watch your child train first. When the two weeks are up and your child wants to keep going, we sit down and walk you through the program that fits your family. KarateBuilt is also an approved Arizona ESA vendor.

How will you know if it’s the right fit?

By the end of two weeks, you’ll know three things:

1. Whether your child likes the instructors.
2. Whether the class pace fits your child.
3. Whether you see a change at home.

If the answer to all three is yes, you’ve found your school. If it isn’t, you’ve lost nothing, and your child keeps the uniform.

Anaïs Nin wrote, “Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage.” Walking onto the training floor the first time takes courage for a five-year-old. Two weeks is enough time for that courage to turn into a habit. And the magic is there’s no magic. The same habits, repeated class after class, build the confidence you see at home.

Your first two weeks at a glance

2 Weeks Free PLUS a Bonus FREE uniform ($199 value). A real class. That’s the whole offer.

Call or text (602) 737-2098 today to book your child’s first class at KarateBuilt Martial Arts in Cave Creek.

Chief Master Greg Moody, Ph.D. holds a doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction, is a licensed psychotherapist (LAC), and is an 8th Degree Black Belt with over 30 years of experience teaching children. He has been recognized as the nation’s #1 martial arts school owner eight times.