Skip to content
4810 Forest Hills Rd, Loves Park, ILMonday to Thursday, 4 to 8 pm · Saturday, 9 am to noonMonday to Thursday, 4 to 8 pm
Kiai Karate
(815) 555-0103
Try a class
Try a class
CallTry a class

Karate in Loves Park

Karate for kids, teens and adults

Classes by age and belt, taught by four instructors in one bright dojo. Start with a class and see how it works.

Try a classSee the schedule
  • Ages 4 to adult
  • Kids' classes of up to 12
Plain belts from white to black folded in a row on a wooden shelf

Weekly classes

Find a class by day or age

Classes run 30 to 60 minutes. Pick a day, then narrow by age group.

Fall session

Showing 13 of 13

Monday

  • 4:30 pm – 5:00 pm

    Little group

    Karate · Nehemias Roybal · Mat room

    Ages 4 to 6White to yellow beltOpenTry a class

  • 5:15 pm – 6:00 pm

    Kids' class

    Karate · Nehemias Roybal · Mat room

    Ages 7 to 12White to orange beltOpenTry a class

  • 6:15 pm – 7:15 pm

    Teen class

    Karate · Akemi Kikuchi · Mat room

    Teens, 13 to 17All beltsOpenTry a class

Tuesday

  • 4:30 pm – 5:15 pm

    Kids' class

    Karate · Tommie Yancey · Mat room

    Ages 7 to 12Green belt and upWaitlistTry a class

  • 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm

    Adult class

    Karate · Tommie Yancey · Mat room

    AdultsAll beltsOpenTry a class

Wednesday

  • 4:30 pm – 5:00 pm

    Little group

    Karate · Nehemias Roybal · Mat room

    Ages 4 to 6White to yellow beltFull

  • 5:15 pm – 6:00 pm

    Kids' class

    Karate · Akemi Kikuchi · Mat room

    Ages 7 to 12All beltsOpenTry a class

  • 6:15 pm – 7:15 pm

    Teen class

    Karate · Tommie Yancey · Mat room

    Teens, 13 to 17All beltsOpenTry a class

Thursday

  • 4:30 pm – 5:15 pm

    Kids' class

    Karate · Nehemias Roybal · Mat room

    Ages 7 to 12Orange to green beltOpenTry a class

  • 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm

    Adult class

    Karate · Akemi Kikuchi · Mat room

    AdultsAll beltsOpenTry a class

Saturday

  • 9:00 am – 9:30 am

    Little group

    Karate · Nehemias Roybal · Mat room

    Ages 4 to 6White to yellow beltOpenTry a class

  • 9:45 am – 10:30 am

    Kids' class

    Karate · Tommie Yancey · Mat room

    Ages 7 to 12All beltsOpenTry a class

  • 10:45 am – 11:45 am

    Teen and adult class

    Karate · Akemi Kikuchi · Mat room

    Teens and adultsAll beltsOpenTry a class

Sample classes.

Kids' classes have up to 12 students; teen and adult classes up to 16. Times change by session, and the booking page has this week's.

The belt path

Eight belts, white to black

Each color adds a few skills. A student tests when the instructor sees them, and stripes on the belt mark the steps between.

  1. White belt

    Ages 4 and up
    Skills

    • Bowing in and bowing out

    • A basic stance

    • Listening to the instructor and waiting a turn

  2. Yellow belt

    Skills

    • First blocks and first kicks

    • A short form

    • A firm voice and asking for help

    Moving up

    When the instructor sees the skills, at a belt test

  3. Orange belt

    Skills

    • Punch and kick combinations

    • Partner drills on pads

    • A second form

    Moving up

    When the instructor sees the skills, at a belt test

  4. Green belt

    Skills

    • Longer forms

    • Controlled partner work

    • Calling a drill for the line

    Moving up

    When the instructor sees the skills, at a belt test

  5. Blue belt

    Skills

    • Combining techniques

    • Moving at a distance

    • Helping newer students warm up

    Moving up

    When the instructor sees the skills, at a belt test

  6. Purple belt

    Skills

    • Longer combinations

    • Forms with turns and changes of pace

    • Calling the stretch

    Moving up

    When the instructor sees the skills, at a belt test

  7. Brown belt

    Skills

    • Advanced forms

    • Running the warm-up

    • Partner work with a coach beside you

    Moving up

    When the instructor sees the skills, at a belt test

  8. Black belt

    Skills

    • Teaching a drill

    • Setting a goal for the next year of training

    • Forms from every earlier belt

    Moving up

    When the instructor sees the skills, at a belt test

Where to startTry a class

Sample levels.

Every student moves at their own pace.

A look inside

What a class is like

The first five minutes are the same every time, so a new student knows what comes next.

  • A row of children in white uniforms bowing to an instructor at the front of a bright dojo

    Line up, bow in, warm up

    Students line up by belt color, bow in together and warm up. The youngest group starts with a game.

  • A group of children kicking pads held by instructors in a bright training hall

    Drills with a partner and pads

    Techniques are practiced slowly, then with a partner and a pad held by an instructor. Everything is aimed at the pad or the air.

  • Children tying their belts in a row on a bench while a parent watches through the window

    Forms, belts and a bow out

    Each class ends with a form and a bow out. Parents can watch from the bench by the window.

Sample content.

Belt tests and the year

When tests and sessions happen

Belt tests close each session. Parents are welcome to watch.

  • Week 5 of each session

    Event

    Parents' night

    A short class for parents to join the warm-up and see a drill.

  • Early December

    Event

    Fall belt test

    Students test in their own class time; families watch quietly from the bench.

  • Late December

    Closed

    Holiday closure

    The dojo is closed for the holiday week.

  • Early January

    First day

    Winter session starts

    New students start at the beginning of a session or any week with a place open.

  • Late March

    Event

    Spring belt test

    The test for the winter session; the schedule goes up two weeks ahead.

Sample dates.

Dates are set each session and posted on the booking page.

How we run class

Checks, routines and class size

What our instructors have completed, and the routines every class follows.

  • Class size

    Up to 12 children

  • Ages 4 to adult

Staff checks and training

  • Background checks
  • CPR and first aid
  • Mandated reporter training

Safety routines

  • Sign-in and pickup

    Children sign in at the front desk and stay in the dojo until a parent or a named adult comes in for them. We check who is collecting.

  • Mat and gear rules

    Shoes stay off the mat. Jewelry comes off, hair is tied back and nails are short. Pads and gloves are wiped down between classes.

  • Instructors on the mat

    More than one instructor is on the mat in every kids' class, and the bench for parents stays in view of the door.

  • Light contact

    Partner work is slow and on pads. Contact to the head is not part of any kids' class.

Sample details.

Families

What parents and students say

“Classes start on time, the room stays calm and the instructors know every student by name. My daughter asks on Sunday night whether Monday is a karate day.”

Michaela R.Parent of a seven-year-old

“Both of my boys are in the same Wednesday class, and each one moves at his own pace. Nobody bows until the line is straight, and they like that.”

Stephan W.Parent of two students

“I came to the Tuesday adult class with no experience. Nobody expected me to know anything, and the belt path made it clear what came next.”

Mathew L.Adult student

Sample reviews.

Start here

Try a class

Choose a class on the booking page and come in a plain t-shirt and loose pants. We have uniforms to borrow for that first visit.

Try a class
Call or text(815) 555-0103
Visit4810 Forest Hills Rd, Loves Park, IL