Self Defense, Karate, Gracie Jiujitsu in Sarasota, FL

To maximize learning we separate our students based on their age and rank. Our younger kids Karate class includes children between the ages of 4 and 7, and our older kids group includes children between the ages of 8 and 12. Classes are offered daily for each group. Karate Uniforms are required to attend these classes.

Karate classes for kids provides benefits in many areas of your child's life. Here are just a few you may notice as your child continues to attend Karate Classes at Clark's Self Defense in Sarasota, FL:

- Higher physical fitness level
- Self Defense Skills
- Less social media and screen dependence
- Better Focus and Concentration
- More Confidence
- Increased Social Skills

Ages 4 to 12

Our Karate classes for kids offer traditional Kempo Karate training that includes strikes, kicks, blocks, forms, sparring, grappling and Okinawan weapons. We use standard Kempo belt ranking system to help children set and reach their goals. In addition to Kempo Karate, kids learn self defense and how to escape different grabs and holds. We give our students a well rounded Martial Arts and Self Defense education.

Clark's Self Defense Karate classes for kids enhance Respect, build Self Confidence and Self Esteem leading to less Bullying and better behavior at school and at home. With its rigorous curriculum, Kids Karate classes increase the physical fitness level and overall health of children.

Gracie Bullyproof Classes

Studies suggest that bullying may be the leading cause of low self-esteem in children, and according to some surveys, less than 15% of kids actually report acts of bullying. A child’s inability to stand up to a bully is rooted in profound fear for their personal safety. Ironically, the victims know that they must confront the bully and would like nothing more than to stand up to them. But, they simply can't follow through for fear of the physical harm that backs the bully's every action. And, therein lies the challenge – how do you instill in a victim of bullying the confidence to face the tormentor, look them in the eye, and back them down? The answer is simple – teach the victims to defend themselves against physical attack, and the rest will follow.

The Gracie Bullyproof program prepares your child using a three-pronged approach:

Increased Awareness: Harassment comes in many forms. Sometimes, a victim doesn’t take a stand because they can’t differentiate between “joking” and “bullying.” We teach your child to differentiate between harmless play and harmful harassment so they know precisely when and how to act in each circumstance.
Unshakable Confidence: A confident child is a Bullyproof child. Bullies seek “easy targets” – those who will tolerate their abuse. We arm your child with the tools needed to overcome physical, verbal, and psychological harassment, so they are so confident in themselves that no bully will try to harass them.
Total Responsibility: We prepare your child to deal with bullies without turning them into one. We emphasize discipline, responsibility, and respect throughout the course, and teach five “Rules of Engagement” to ensure they never abuse their power.

The Rules of Engagement
Teaching a child jiu-jitsu without teaching them when to use it, is akin to giving someone a gun without teaching them how to use it. Gracie Bullyproof is the only kid’s jiu-jitsu program that actually teaches children precisely when they can, and cannot, use the techniques they are learning. The five "Rules of Engagement" are regularly rehearsed in class so that children will never abuse their power and, equally important, they will not hesitate to take a stand when abused by bullies.

Rule 1: Avoid the fight at all costs.
Rule 2: If physically attacked, defend yourself.
Rule 3: If verbally attacked, follow the Three T-steps (talk, tell, tackle).
Rule 4: Never punch or kick the bully, establish control and negotiate.
Rule 5: When applying submissions use minimal force and negotiate.

Although we discuss the Rules of Engagement in Gracie Bullyproof classes, we strongly encourage you to discuss the Rules at home to assure your child that they have your support in the event that they need to take a stand against bullying.

Learn more about Gracie Bullyproof

Women Empowered is the official Gracie self-defense program for women based on the techniques of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ). In this 10-lesson program, we will teach you how to neutralize the 15 most common attacks ranging from having your hair grabbed to being pinned to the ground by a weapon-bearing assailant. Each one-hour Women Empowered lesson addresses two techniques. You can start the program at any time and participate in any class without previous experience. Unlike most self-defense systems that rely heavily on strength, speed, and coordination, the techniques in the Women Empowered program employ leverage, technique, and timing, so anyone, regardless of age or athletic ability, can make them work against larger opponents. Once you complete the Women Empowered program, you may test for promotion to pink belt!

Brazilian Jiu-jitsu is the perfect self-defense system for women, but only if it is taught correctly. If you’re unsure about learning BJJ for fear of injury, embarrassment, or any other reason, then the Women Empowered program is perfect for you! If you’ve tried BJJ at another school and had a negative experience, give Women Empowered a chance, and we guarantee it will win you back to the mat!

Learn more about Women Empowered

This 15 lesson program is designed specifically with women in mind. Each of the 15 lessons focuses on one of the ten most common ways you as a women can be attacked. The techniques we use do not require you to be an athlete to free yourself from a bigger and stronger attacker. These techniques are not designed to “beat up” or kill the attacker but to free yourself, put some distance between you and the attacker and to give yourself a chance to get to safety. In a real-life situation, your most important goal is to get away. Staying around and trying to hurt the attacker will most likely put you in even more danger.

This course is offered on an ongoing basis and you can take the same lesson multiple times until you feel comfortable with the technique. Lessons do not have to be taken in any specific order, but you should complete each one of the 15 lessons at least once before moving on to Level 2.

These classes are scheduled individually or in small groups during the Private Lesson time slots. Please call Sensei Derrick directly to schedule these lessons.

Level 1

Everyone starts at Level 1. In these lessons women learn specific techniques that can be used to stop an attack or free themselves from the attacker. Each technique is explained in detail and broken down into smaller sections for easier learning. In addition to learning and perfecting specific techniques, women are also taught to be vigilant and aware of their safety. Being able to spot a potentially unsafe situation allows them to move to safety and avoid being attacked.

Level 2

These lessons build on the Level 1 techniques. Women will work on the same techniques as Level 1 but with additional variations and simulated attacks. This is a much more intense course than Level 1 and is designed to prepare women for a real-life situation. Level 2 lessons can be taken multiple times to make sure each student know the techniques well, is comfortable with them and can perform them under stress.

Final Examination

Once you complete Level 1 and Level 2 lessons you will be eligible for the final test. This will be scheduled with your instructor. Upon successful completion of your test you will receive a Certificate of Completion. At this point you should be able to comfortably defend yourself against a larger and stronger opponent.

Our Self Defense for Women Workshops are offered by appointment only. Class size can range from as few as 2 women to about 20 or so. These private workshops can be scheduled at one of our studios or at your location.

The Self Defense for Women is by far our most popular workshop. It is a basic workshop that focuses on simple but effective ways women can protect themselves. During the 1 - 1.5 hour workshop you will learn about the importance of not looking like a victim and ways to deter a possible attack. You will be introduced to self defense techniques that are designed to be quick and effective, with only a few movements. Using these techniques, women have the ability to free themselves and escape after being grabbed or held by an attacker.

This is a great workshop for beginners and younger women. It can be adapted to an intermediate level for those who have some experience in self defense or want a more intense workshop.

We can also customize the workshop to focus on specific self defense needs you and your group has. Simply give us a call so we can discuss your specific needs.

1. You’re done practicing. Now it’s time to play!

In team sports, you spend a lot of time sharpening your skills through drilling and training so that you can perform well when you play a game against another team.

It’s no different in martial arts, except that instead of playing a game, we compete in karate tournaments.

You’ve spent so much time during your karate classes practicing your kicks and punches, working on your flexibility, learning effective sparring combinations and strategies. Why not put that work to use and see how you do in a karate tournament?

2. Improve your skills by going against new competitors

Chances are, you’ve spent so much time sparring with your classmates that you already know all their strengths and weaknesses: this person has a powerful sidekick but a tendency to drop her hands, another person has a great blitz but all you have to do avoid it is change your angle.

You can only improve as much as the best person you compete against. That’s why competing in a karate tournament is so powerful. It exposes you to other martial artists you’ve never worked with before, which forces you to up your game.

4. You’ll bond with your classmates like never before

Even though martial arts is an individual sport, there is a strong sense of teamwork among the Martial Arts students. And something about the setting of a karate tournament enhances that sense of togetherness even more.

In past tournaments we’ve been to, anytime one student was sparring, the entire group would come out and cheer them on. If one of them got hurt, the entire group would rush to comfort and console that person.

It’s being able to experience those ups and downs together as a group that really makes you feel like you’re part of our family.

5. Whether you win or lose, it’ll make you stronger

There’s a famous quote by Gichin Funakoshi, who founded Shotokan karate, that says: “The ultimate aim of Karate lies not in victory or defeat, but in the perfection of the character of its participants.”

That sentiment extends to karate tournaments as well. While you should always go into a tournament with the goal of winning, you should understand that no matter what the eventual outcome, you will learn a great deal from the experience.

We’ve seen talented students who lost in the first round of their first tournament who were so humbled by the experience that they intensified their training and took their skill level even higher. We’ve also seen students initially wracked with self-doubt who walked away with trophies, which gave them the confidence boost they needed to keep improving.