Kids and Teen Martial Arts and Self-Defence Classes Brisbane, ages 6 to 17
Every parent who comes to us is carrying a version of the same thought. Would my child know what to do if something happened? Would they stay calm? Would they make the right call? You cannot be there for all of it, and that is what sits with you. At Champions Krav Maga Academy in Holland Park, our kids and teen martial arts classes help students aged 6 to 17 build practical self-defence and the kind of calm confidence that shows up at school, at home, and in the moments you cannot see. Not louder. Not tougher. Calmer, more grounded, and harder to rattle.
What martial arts for kids and teens looks like at CKMA
This is martial arts for kids and teens built on a structured curriculum, not random techniques. They follow a structured curriculum where every skill builds on the last, taught at the level their age can actually use.
The youth Krav Maga program is built on the Gendai Ryu Krav Maga and Jiu-Jitsu system, under the direction of CKMA founder Max McGregor, an Australian Defence Force veteran and 3rd Degree Black Belt.
Practical self-defence
Awareness, boundaries, movement, and simple protective responses. Younger children learn safety habits and how to speak up. Teenagers go further, into de-escalation, decision-making under pressure, and the legal consequences of every choice made in the moment.
Martial arts foundations
Balance, coordination, striking, control, and safe partner work, with age-appropriate elements of boxing, kickboxing, Judo, and Jiu-Jitsu built in progressively. One pathway, not a different activity each week.
Confidence, focus, and self-control
Listening, respect, and trying again when something is hard. Most parents notice the change at home before they see it on the mats.
Youth martial arts Brisbane: choose the right program for your child
A seven year old and a fifteen year old need completely different things from training. So we run two separate programs, not one class stretched to fit everybody.
Kids Krav Maga For Ages 6 to 10
For the child who goes quiet when a situation feels unfair, or who has plenty of energy and needs structure. Children build practical self-defence, focus, listening, and self-control through a consistent, age-appropriate class.
Teen Krav Maga For Ages 11 to 17
For the teenager whose world has expanded faster than their capability. Public transport, parties without adults, conflict that gets filmed. Teens learn self-defence, de-escalation, and the legal realities of what happens before, during, and after an incident.
Not sure which fits? Age is the simplest guide. Children aged 6 to 10 start in Kids. Students aged 11 to 17 start in Teens. If your child sits on the line, the coaching team will place them where they will do best. You can also compare our self-defence classes in Brisbane and martial arts classes in Brisbane across every age group.
How our youth Krav Maga Brisbane pathway works
The two youth martial arts programs are one system. Your child does not restart when they outgrow a class. They keep building.
Kids, ages 6 to 10
Foundations. Movement, listening, self-control, and simple self-defence habits, taught in a room built for young children.
Teens, ages 11 to 17
More detail, more responsibility, more realism.
Adults, at 18
At eighteen, students move into the adult Krav Maga program. A child who starts at seven never has to leave and start again somewhere else.
One system, from childhood into adulthood. That continuity is why the skills compound instead of resetting every few years.
Why parents choose CKMA for kids and teen martial arts
Four things parents tell us gave them the confidence to enrol.
Qualified, checked coaches
Every youth instructor holds a valid Blue Card and MAIA kids martial arts certification, plus a Gendai Ryu qualification and CKMA’s own internal certification.
Coaches developed in house
No one coaches your child without being trained, assessed, and approved by Max first. No externally hired instructors handed a curriculum.
Calm confidence, not aggression
Effort, respect, and good behaviour are the standard. Aggression is never tolerated and never rewarded. That distinction is the whole point.
Structure, not babysitting
A real curriculum with clear progression, so your child is building capability, not just filling an hour after school.
Come and see the difference
What Parents Say About Youth Krav Maga at CKMA
Meet the instructors behind our kids and teen martial arts classes
When you are trusting someone with your child, the coach matters more than anything else on this page.
CKMA was founded by Max McGregor, an Australian Defence Force veteran and 3rd Degree Black Belt and Senior Instructor in Gendai Ryu Krav Maga and Jiu-Jitsu. Max is the Brisbane Representative for the Federation of Israeli Martial Arts, holds a 3rd Degree Black Belt in Dennis Survival Ju-Jitsu, and brings over 12 years of coaching experience. He leads the youth program, sets the curriculum, and trains every coach to the same standard.
Every youth instructor is personally trained, vetted, and developed by Max before stepping onto the mats. They hold valid Blue Cards and MAIA kids martial arts instructor certification. Every one of them coaches with clear instruction, safe partner work, age-appropriate training, and close supervision.
Whether your child starts in Kids or Teens, they are learning inside the same system, coached to the same standard. That means they are not collecting random techniques. They are building capability that carries forward.
FAQ about kids and teen martial arts Brisbane
Which program should my child start in?
Age is the simplest guide to our kids and teen martial arts programs. Children aged 6 to 10 start in Kids Krav Maga. Students aged 11 to 17 start in Teen Krav Maga, which is split again into 11 to 14 and 15 to 17.
What is the difference between the two programs?
Both are kids and teen martial arts programs, coached separately. Kids focuses on confidence, coordination, listening, self-control, and simple self-defence habits. Teens goes further, with more responsibility, realistic self-defence, de-escalation, and the legal framework around what happens before, during, and after an incident.
Is this suitable for a complete beginner?
Yes. Most students in our kids and teen martial arts classes start with no experience at all. Your child does not need to be fit, confident, or coordinated to begin. The training builds all three.
Do they learn martial arts or self-defence?
Both. Practical self-defence is the foundation, and martial arts foundations from boxing, kickboxing, Judo, and Jiu-Jitsu are built on top of it, inside one structured program. That is what makes our martial arts for kids and teens different.
Will the training make my child aggressive?
No. The culture is built on calm confidence, not aggression. Children and teenagers learn to stay aware, set boundaries, de-escalate, and stay in control. Aggression is never rewarded in any class.
Can I watch the class?
Yes. Parents are welcome to observe, and many do, especially in the first few sessions. Most say it removes more doubt than anything else could.
What happens when my child outgrows their program?
They move up. Kids students move into Teens when they are ready, and at eighteen they move into the adult Krav Maga program. One system, from childhood onward.
Where are you located?
Our kids and teen martial arts classes run at 889 Logan Road, Holland Park, Brisbane Southside QLD 4121. We draw families from Greenslopes, Coorparoo, Mount Gravatt, Camp Hill, Carina, and the surrounding southside suburbs.
Ready to get started?
Our kids and teen martial arts classes run every week in Holland Park. Your child does not need experience, fitness, or confidence to start. They just need to show up.