Questions & answers
Asked and answered
The questions families actually ask — including the awkward money ones. If yours isn't here, ask at the desk or by email; you'll get the same plain answer.
Which program is right for my child?
By age: 4–6 join Little Herons, 7–9 Young Herons, 10–13 Juniors, and teens 14+ train with the adults in Foundations. If your child is on a boundary (just turned 7, small for 10), book the trial in either band and the coach will make a call with you after class — the fit matters more than the birthday.
Do you charge belt-testing fees?
No — $0 at every rank, always. Gradings happen during regular class time each season and the new belt is included. Schools that invoice each promotion (commonly $25–$100, rising with rank) can quietly double a family's real cost; we publish this policy so you can hold us to it.
Are there contracts or enrolment fees?
Neither. Every membership is month-to-month, there is no enrolment or registration fee, and cancelling takes 30 days' notice by email, phone, or in person. You can also pause up to 2 months a year free.
Is martial arts safe for kids?
Our kids programs are built around control: no head contact at any kids level, grappling starts from the knees, and sparring exists only in Juniors — opt-in, padded, after six months of training, and refereed by a coach. Parents watch from the bench beside the mat, every class.
I'm an adult and completely new. Will I have to spar?
No. Adult Foundations contains zero sparring by design, and nobody is ever pushed into contact elsewhere. All-levels kickboxing has no head-contact sparring at all, and BJJ live rounds are split by experience and always by agreement.
How fit do I need to be to start?
Start where you are. Every drill scales, conditioning is calibrated to you rather than the room, and the coaches genuinely prefer teaching beginners. Fitness is a side effect of training here, not an entry requirement.
What should I bring to a first class?
Comfortable clothes, a water bottle, and bare feet. We lend clean loaner gis for karate, Juniors, and BJJ trials, and gloves for kickboxing trials — buy nothing until you know you're staying.
What does a membership actually cost, all-in?
The number on the pricing page is the number: kids $99–139/month, adults $139–169/month, tax included, uniform included at enrolment, belts included forever. The only future costs are replacement uniforms at our cost and optional Juniors sparring gear (~$85) if they choose to spar.
Do you offer family discounts?
Yes — 25% off the second family member, 50% off the third and beyond, and a whole-household cap of $429/month. Two kids plus a parent typically lands around $330/month all-in.
Can I join the Women's Self-Defence cycle midway?
You can join at the start of any week in the six-week cycle — each week stands alone, then builds. If you join late in a cycle, we'll pro-rate and carry you into the next one so you get all six weeks.
What if we miss classes — holidays, sickness, exams?
Kids can make up missed classes in any same-band session the same month. Adults just come to another class on the timetable. Longer gaps: pause your membership, free, up to 2 months a year.
Do your students compete?
Some do, casually — a few local BJJ and karate tournaments a year, always optional, never a status marker in the room. We're a school first. If your goal is a serious competition camp, we'll happily point you to gyms built for that.
Money questions answered in full on the pricing page — and your first class is free to book either way.
The only offer we run
Try a class. Pay nothing. Decide slowly.
Any program, any trial-marked class on the schedule — no card, no contract, and an honest chat with the coach afterwards about whether this is your right room.