Little Dragons Kids Martial Arts in Damascus, MD

Little Dragons is our martial arts class for children 7 and under. It mixes simple martial arts skills with games, so young kids build focus, respect and confidence while having fun.

What your child will learn

• Listening and following directions. Kids practice responding to a coach's cues, and that habit carries over to home and school.
• Focus and self-control. Short, structured drills help kids pay attention, wait their turn and finish what they start.
• Coordination and safe falling. Kids learn basic kicks, blocks, footwork and how to fall safely, in small steps, so they feel success early.
• Early self-defense. Simple, age-appropriate ways to stay safe, including how to set a firm boundary and say "never do that again."
• Character. Every class includes Character Development. Each two-month block focuses on one trait: Responsibility, Health, Respect, Citizenship, Manners and Caring. A take-home sheet lets parents award points for good behavior at home.

What a class looks like

Class starts with animal warm-ups, then stretching and a short Character Development talk. Most of class is games, and every game teaches a real skill: "Fire Hydrant" teaches the roundhouse kick, "Block Monster" teaches blocking and "Tiger Fall" teaches the front fall. Class ends with stripes and announcements, and kids work toward their next belt as they learn new skills.

We post the topic for every class, and every lesson is pre-recorded, so members can watch it in our app or member site before class for a preview or when reviewing for a test.

You can find Little Dragons class days on our class schedule.

Is it right for us?

Little Dragons is for ages 7 and under. There's no fixed minimum age. Some children start around 2 and a half, once they can follow simple directions. If you're not sure your child is ready, bring them to a free class and see how it goes. We never turn anyone away.

Safety matters to us as much as it does to you. We never leave a student alone with a staff member, there are security cameras throughout the school, and every team member is background-checked.

Little Dragons meets at our school on Main Street in Damascus, MD, a short drive from Clarksburg and Mount Airy.

Try your first class free

Your child's first class is free, and we'll lend them a uniform for it. Have them wear comfortable athletic clothes and take off any jewelry. There's a water fountain at the school. If your family enjoys it, you can start a 10-day trial. We ask for a refundable uniform deposit before a uniform goes home. Memberships start at $159 a month.

In the booking form, pick Free Intro – Little Dragons (7 & under).

Questions parents ask

My child is only 3. Is that too young?

Not necessarily. It depends more on whether your child can follow simple directions than on their age. Try a free class and we'll tell you honestly how it went.

Do I have to join in?

No, but we find it critical for kids that are shy or have trouble following directions. Many parents enjoy it, but your child will do fine if they are comfortable and follow directions.

What happens when my child gets older?

Your child decides what comes next. They can move on to Youth Jiu-Jitsu (from age 7), Family Taekwondo (from age 8), or both. Those ages aren't set in stone either. Sometimes, the student is simply getting bored of the limited details in the Little Dragons class as compared to Youth BJJ or Taekwondo classes. So, they decide when they want to try the "big kids" class. Some of the kids have a hard time deciding between Taekwondo and BJJ that they end up doing both!