MARTIAL TRADITION MEETS ADOLESCENT DEVELOPMENT KIDS MARTIAL ARTS THAT BUILDS DISCIPLINE, CONFIDENCE & LEADERSHIP
Middle school is a defining chapter in a young martial artist’s journey—where growing bodies, expanding minds, and evolving emotions collide. Our Junior Karate program blends the proven SKILLZ developmental framework with the discipline and precision of traditional Okinawan karate to help students build self-mastery, resilience, confidence, and emerging leadership. Through structured martial training and age-specific coaching, students learn to handle challenge with composure, take responsibility for their actions, and step into the next level of personal growth both inside and outside the dojo.
Ready to explore training at Glens Falls Karate Academy for your family? The first step is simply getting to know each other.
Before scheduling your introductory visit, we’ll show you our program schedule and tuition structure—so when you visit, the experience can speak for itself without the need for a sales pitch.
By submitting this form, you’re requesting access to schedule an introductory visit for your family, offered at no cost and with no obligation to enroll.
By submitting this form, you’re giving Glens Falls Karate Academy permission to contact you with information related to your visit. Message and data rates may apply. You can opt out at any time. You can reply HELP at any time to learn more. You may opt out at any time by replying STOP.
IS YOUR PRE-TEEN READY TO GROW INTO A MORE CAPABLE, CONFIDENT, AND RESPONSIBLE YOUNG LEADER?
Students in our Junior Karate program experience a powerful blend of traditional martial arts and age-specific developmental coaching designed to strengthen their focus, emotional maturity, and emerging leadership skills. This stage challenges them to take greater ownership of their actions, practice resilience under pressure, and refine their ability to make thoughtful decisions — in and outside of the dojo.
Students learn to regulate their emotions, control impulses, and channel their energy with purpose.
Through structured drills and higher expectations, pre-teens develop internal discipline — the ability to do what needs to be done with less prompting, excuses, or shortcuts.
Karate SKILLZ training strengthens cognitive skills like sustained attention, memory, and decision-making, improving their overall executive function.
Students learn to process complex instructions, react strategically, and stay composed in dynamic situations, improving both academic performance and everyday responsibility.
Middle schoolers gain confidence not from praise, but from mastering meaningful challenges.
As techniques grow more advanced and expectations rise, students discover their capacity for perseverance and personal achievement — forming confidence built on real capability.
YOUR PRE-TEEN WILL GROW IN STRENGTH, MATURITY, AND CHARACTER WITH EVERY CLASS
Adolescence is a transformative stage — a time when students begin defining who they are, how they think, and how they respond to challenges. Our Junior Karate program blends age-specific developmental coaching with traditional Okinawan martial arts to help students strengthen their focus, emotional regulation, and self-discipline while advancing their physical skill and technical precision.
Each class challenges students to take ownership of their effort, make thoughtful decisions under pressure, and push through frustration with resilience. As expectations rise, so does their confidence — not from praise, but from mastering meaningful skills through consistent practice. This is where students begin transitioning from simply learning martial arts to truly becoming martial artists.
In our Junior Karate program, your child isn’t just improving their physical abilities; they’re developing the maturity, leadership qualities, and internal discipline that prepare them for success in school, relationships, and life.
WE HELP PRE-TEENS DEVELOP MATURITY, RESPONSIBILITY, AND LEADERSHIP
Middle school is a turning point — a stage where students seek independence, face growing pressures, and begin forming the habits and identity that will follow them into young adulthood. Parents choose our Junior Karate program because it provides the structure, mentorship, and intentional challenge adolescents need to grow into capable, confident, and resilient young leaders.
Our instructors are trained in both martial arts and child/adolescent development, giving pre-teens the coaching they need to navigate this complex stage of growth. Students learn self-discipline, emotional regulation, and accountability in an environment where expectations rise alongside their abilities.
Junior Karate students train in a space built for focused practice, technical advancement, and personal growth. Our blend of traditional Okinawan martial arts and SKILLZ developmental principles provides a level of instruction and structure rarely found in general youth programs.
The lessons learned here extend far beyond kata, sparring, and technique. Students develop communication skills, self-confidence rooted in real competence, and the resilience to push through frustration — qualities that help them thrive in school, friendships, and future leadership roles.
HOW GLENS FALLS KARATE ACADEMY COMPLEMENTS — AND ELEVATES — YOUR CHILD’S GROWTH IN ALL ACTIVITIES
Middle schoolers thrive when their physical, social, and emotional development is supported from multiple angles.
Traditional sports give them teamwork, athleticism, and camaraderie.
Our Junior Karate program strengthens the developmental foundations that help students excel not only in karate, but in school, sports, friendships, and life.
This chart highlights how our program enhances the areas where other activities can’t always provide consistent, individualized support.
Team sports build camaraderie, but coaches must divide attention across many athletes. Personal growth needs can go unnoticed during crucial adolescent years.
Competition teaches valuable lessons, yet can unintentionally tie identity to performance — especially during middle school’s sensitive developmental stage.
Season-based programs create bursts of growth, followed by long gaps where skills like focus, discipline, and self-regulation may slide without consistent structure.
Peer dynamics, team roles, and playing time can influence confidence in ways parents don’t always see. Students benefit from environments where progress is measured individually, not comparatively.
Junior Karate offers individualized coaching that builds core skills—focus, body control, emotional regulation, resilience—that translate directly to improved performance in sports, academics, and leadership.
Rank progression, skill challenges, and consistent mentorship allow students to anchor their confidence in who they’re becoming, not how they compare to others.
Our program provides continuity. The skills students practice weekly—discipline, work ethic, perseverance—reinforce the habits required to excel in school, sports, and personal pursuits.
Karate develops leaders. Students learn how to communicate, collaborate, encourage peers, navigate challenges, and step into responsibility—qualities that make them exceptional teammates and role models in any environment.
LIFELONG CHARACTER THROUGH PURPOSEFUL TRAINING
Middle school students are in one of the most important stages of personal development — forming their identity, navigating new social pressures, and building the habits that will shape who they become as young adults. At Glens Falls Karate Academy, we treat this stage with intention.
Our Junior Karate program blends the discipline and tradition of Okinawan martial arts with evidence-based child development principles to help students develop confidence, emotional regulation, and emerging leadership skills. Through structured training, positive mentorship, and a culture built around respect and accountability, students learn how to make wise decisions, handle challenges with resilience, and take pride in who they are becoming.
As they refine their skills and step into higher responsibilities within the dojo, they begin practicing the mindset, self-control, and leadership behaviors that will support them in school, sports, friendships, and life. This is more than martial arts — it’s a foundation for lifelong character.
PHYSICAL TRAINING THAT BUILDS CAPABILITY AND CONFIDENCE
At the middle school stage, physical development isn’t just about burning energy — it’s about building strength, coordination, and confidence in one’s own body. Our Junior Karate program provides a structured, progressive physical training curriculum that challenges students appropriately while teaching them how to move with control, resilience, and intention.
Through disciplined martial arts conditioning, students learn to push through discomfort, regulate effort, and take pride in measurable improvement. This isn’t random exercise or unstructured play — it’s purposeful physical training that supports athletic development, mental toughness, and lifelong healthy habits.
SELF-DEFENSE ROOTED IN DISCIPLINE & DECISION-MAKING, backed up by skill
At this stage of development, true self-defense is not about fighting — it’s about awareness, confidence, knowing how to respond appropriately under pressure, and which partners to take. Our Junior Karate program teaches students how to recognize unsafe situations, establish boundaries with support, and carry themselves with calm confidence that discourages conflict before it begins.
Through structured martial arts training, students learn when to avoid, when to de-escalate, and when physical action is truly necessary. Equal emphasis is placed on self-control, respect, and responsibility — ensuring that strength is guided by judgment, not impulse.
This approach prepares students to protect themselves if needed, while reinforcing the emotional intelligence and restraint required to navigate real-world challenges safely and responsibly.
FOCUSED, ENERGIZING CLASSES THAT STUDENTS LOOK FORWARD TO
Middle school students grow fastest when they’re challenged, engaged, and actively involved. Our Junior Karate classes are designed to meet that need—combining structure, movement, and progression in a way that keeps students mentally invested and physically engaged.
Training is dynamic by design. Students move, problem-solve, and work with partners under clear expectations—building focus and discipline while learning how to contribute to a team-driven dojo culture.
Enjoyment isn’t the goal—it’s the result of meaningful training, shared standards, and a community where students learn to lead by example.
Real Experiences from Glens Falls Karate Academy Members
These reviews come directly from students, parents, and families who train at Glens Falls Karate Academy.
While every experience is unique, many members speak to the same core outcomes — growing confidence, stronger focus, personal responsibility, and a training environment built on clear standards and mutual respect.
Taken together, these reviews offer an honest picture of what it’s like to train here week after week, and why so many families choose to stay.
My son has been attending the Glens Falls Karate Academy for almost a year. He loves his lesson and adores Miss Stacey and Sensei. He has matured tremendously. His focus and concentration have soared as well. We are proud members!
GFKA has been absolutely amazing for me and my family!! My son was the first the start and we saw such an amazing improvement in his confidence. My wife joined and then my daughter. I saw the improvements in them as well and decided to join myself after years of sitting on the sideline. I love learning not only the techniques, but the application as well. Renshi (Chris) is an amazing instructor and will take the time to explain any questions you may have!! Highly recommended!!
Can’t say enough positive things about this place! My kids LOVE coming here and I love everything they are learning! Self control, self defense, getting great workouts, discipline, the list goes on. Amazing place and amazing teachers!
A wonderful place for kids to learn discipline and respect- our son has been enjoying classes for years and we plan to continue all the way to black belt! Renshi Chris Murphy is an excellent instructor and it is clear that he cares about the success of his students!
My entire family takes karate at Glens Falls Karate Academy. It all started with my son needing more leadership skills 5-6 years ago. Then I joined 2 years ago then my daughter then just recently my husband. We couldn’t ask for better instruction at all levels of our training. GFKA has given our family the tools we need to be stronger, not only physically and mentally but also as a family.
I joined glens falls karate academy when I was only four, and now at 13 I have been going to school there for 9 years! I spend so much of my time there, I treat our dojo like a second home!! All of the teachers there have taught me things I’ll take with me through the rest of my life, and I thank them for that. I’ve also been given the ability to help teach younger students myself, which is a passion I didn’t even know I had till I tried it. Glens Falls Karate Academy shaped who I am, both physically and mentally. My favorite thing to do now is karate, which is something I wouldn’t have known had I not tried it. If you are considering to send your kids here, I would 100% recommend to try it out. Who knows, maybe your kid will fall in love with it like I did. Glens Falls Karate Academy is filled with people ready to make your kid into the best version of themself, as it has done for me and everybody I know. Thank you GFKA!!!!
We have a high energy, highly spirited five year old who has been attending Karate here for just over a year, as a Little Dragon.
Chris is so patient with the kids and helps them focus on the goals for each class.
Our daughter has been learning not only physical skills, but social ones as well, like being a team player and how to be a good sport.
She is an only child and was so isolated during the pandemic she, like many other kids, lost out on some socialization skills that they are now having to catch up on.
Glens Falls Karate Academy has been so welcoming to our family and so patient with our daughter as she continues to learn to be part of a team. She loves going to class twice a week and we love watching her from the sidelines.
Chris and Kate are so kind and good with the kids and the other parents are also so friendly and easy to get along with. It is a wonderful community to be a part of.
Love love this place, fantastic place for kids/adults
My son, Lucas, has attended the Glens Falls Karate Academy since last spring, and I couldn’t recommend it more highly. Sensei Murphy and Senpai Traina are wonderful instructors, incorporating elements of discipline, integrity, confidence, poise, respect, compassion, athleticism and more into the curriculum. If you’re on the fence, either with respect to yourself, a spouse or your child, don’t hesitate and just get started. You’ll be glad you did.
my triplets have been here a couple of months and the change in thier at home behavior and at school is great. the focus and attention they get here is amazing. I am very happy with thier progress and the staff is wonderful 5 out of 5 stars
My grandson, granddaughter and two daughters study the martial arts here. They not only teach you technique but also focus on building character. I enjoy going to watch them and am amazed by Chris’s patient style of teaching.
What a wonderful place, our family highly recommend you bring your children to Glens Falls Academy sensei’s are unbelievably patient, and truly love and are amazing at what they do, we can’t wait to watch our boy flourish.
My son, George and I have been taking karate for over a year now with Renshi Chris at Glens Falls Karate Academy. Excellent teaching, great atmosphere. Really good martial art instruction and fitness. I recommend to all ages and everyone.
Ready to explore training at Glens Falls Karate Academy for your family? The first step is simply getting to know each other.
Before scheduling your introductory visit, we’ll show you our program schedule and tuition structure—so when you visit, the experience can speak for itself without the need for a sales pitch.
By submitting this form, you’re requesting access to schedule an introductory visit for your family, offered at no cost and with no obligation to enroll.
By submitting this form, you’re giving Glens Falls Karate Academy permission to contact you with information related to your visit. Message and data rates may apply. You can opt out at any time. You can reply HELP at any time to learn more. You may opt out at any time by replying STOP.
FAQs
Martial arts training teaches focus, discipline, self-control, and respect. These traits help children let go of petty grievances and learn to pay attention to the things that are most important to their future success.
No. Martial arts has its roots in self-defense, but we teach children that violence is not the answer to their problems.
No. Our instructors are experienced working with children of all abilities and ages. Your child will learn at a pace that is comfortable for them, and in environment that puts their physical safety first.
Some kids who come to us are resistant at first, but martial arts instruction is both fun and active. Many kids think that martial artists are cool and that can help them stick with it even if it’s hard at first.
Yes. Self-control is essential to the study of martial arts, and our students learn that they must be the masters of their actions and emotions.
Yes. Kids who study martial arts learn that hard and persistent work pays off. Each small success helps children believe in themselves and have faith they can achieve their next goal.
Benefits That Extend Beyond the Dojo
Most parents don’t come to martial arts because they want kicks and punches. They come because they want their child to focus better, handle challenges with confidence, and grow into someone who can manage themselves in an increasingly demanding world.
This is where that growth actually happens.
Many kids struggle not because they lack energy — but because they don’t yet know how to control it. Martial arts training teaches students how to move with purpose, awareness, and restraint. They learn when to apply effort and when to slow themselves down.
Over time, this translates into better posture, coordination, and physical confidence — but more importantly, it helps children feel comfortable in their own bodies.
What parents notice: fewer accidents, better focus, and a calmer physical presence.
In today’s world, kids are often rewarded quickly — and corrected inconsistently. Martial arts flips that script. Progress is visible, earned, and tied directly to personal responsibility.
Students learn that showing up prepared, listening carefully, and applying feedback consistently leads to real improvement. Not instantly — but reliably.
What parents notice: improved follow-through, fewer excuses, and a stronger work ethic at home and school.
Every class presents manageable challenges — physical fatigue, complex instructions, social interaction, and moments of frustration. With guidance, students learn how to stay composed, reset themselves, and keep going instead of shutting down or acting out.
This is not about “toughing kids up.”
It’s about teaching them how to regulate themselves under pressure.
What parents notice: better frustration tolerance, fewer emotional outbursts, and increased confidence handling challenges.
Real confidence doesn’t come from praise alone — it comes from mastery. As students overcome obstacles, learn difficult skills, and see tangible progress, they begin to trust themselves.
That self-trust carries into how they speak, how they make decisions, and how they interact with peers and adults.
What parents notice: a child who believes in themselves because they’ve proven they can grow.
Ready to explore training at Glens Falls Karate Academy for your family? The first step is simply getting to know each other.
Before scheduling your introductory visit, we’ll show you our program schedule and tuition structure—so when you visit, the experience can speak for itself without the need for a sales pitch.
By submitting this form, you’re requesting access to schedule an introductory visit for your family, offered at no cost and with no obligation to enroll.
By submitting this form, you’re giving Glens Falls Karate Academy permission to contact you with information related to your visit. Message and data rates may apply. You can opt out at any time. You can reply HELP at any time to learn more. You may opt out at any time by replying STOP.