Tiny Tigers (Preschool Martial Arts) in Middletown, CT

Little Ninjas (Preschool Martial Arts)

Embark on a dynamic journey with our Little Ninjas program at 360 Defense Martial Arts. Specially designed for preschoolers, this engaging martial arts experience introduces young ones to discipline, focus, and coordination. Whether your child is a beginner or has previous experience, our program welcomes all, fostering a love for movement and respect. Join us to witness your Ninja's confidence soar as they develop valuable life skills and strengthen their mind and body.

How It Works

At 360 Defense Martial Arts in Middletown, CT, our Little Ninjas program operates as an interactive platform for preschoolers to explore the fundamentals of martial arts in a safe and supportive environment. Expect our expert instructors to guide your child through fun and educational sessions, building strength, agility, and self-esteem. Join us today for an exciting journey towards better health and enhanced cognitive development for your little one!

Your child will start with a one-on-one introductory lesson to make sure 1) they feel comfortable and you can see if we are a good fit for your family and 2) to determine if they are ready for our group classes! When you click "Start Free Trial" just select introductory lessons to schedule their first one!

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360 Defense Early SKILLZ

Preschoolers (all kids really!) love physical activity and anything involving play. They have a rich imagination and strong desire to be less dependent on their usual caregivers. The problem we discovered is that many children this age have a hard time with structure in a group environment like what is commonly found in most Martial Arts schools. The solution we found is to provide them with their own program that targets their stage of development in a manner that keeps them entertained while at the same time building skills that set them up for success. With that said, a structured program introducing early skill-based training in Martial Arts has proven to be very successful.

Here's an overview of the stages of development for our Little Ninjas:

- Physically- they typically have low tone and poor hand-eye-coordination.
- We expect them initially to drop their arms when punching and fall when kicking or jumping. We also expect them to have no concept of spatial awareness, therefore they will drop things that are thrown to them and bump into people and obstacles often.
- The goal for our program is to get them to punch without dropping their arms; kick without falling; jump without falling; and catch objects thrown from various directions and distances.

- Intellectually- they typically have a limited vocabulary therefore learning is normally limited to visual and kinesthetic activities.
- We expect them to initially lose focus when activities are over-complicated. We also expect them to struggle with commands that have more than two instructions.
- The goal for our program is to get them to follow verbal commands with no visual demonstration. Also, our goal is for them to remember rules and commands without being reminded.

- Emotionally- they typically have strong preferences and fears therefore they will normally act out of bounds when their emotions get out of control.
- We expect them to run off the mat when they have anxiety. We also expect them to shut down when something either scares them or doesn't go their way (Coach Kayla's 4 year old son struggles when he doesn't "win!").
- The goal for our program is to help them follow directions and persevere through an activity even if they are initially emotional.

- Socially- they are typically very self-centered. Also, due to their limited vocabulary their common form of communication is mainly physical.
- We expect them to mock each other, such as falling when their classmate falls. We also expect them to crash into things when they are excited.
- The goals for our program are to help them build good social skills such as spatial awareness; not interrupting when others are talking; and taking turns properly.


By understanding the stages of development, we were able to select 8 age appropriate skills that make up the Early SKILLZ Program:
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1. KICKING
2. PUNCHING
3. BLOCKING
4. CRAWLING
5. HOPPING
6. ROLLING
7. RUNNING
8. CATCHING

As you can see we take Martial Arts training to a whole new level! We use early elements of our Krav Maga & Kickboxing curriculums to build skills that are appropriate for preschoolers. This means that your child will learn and grow at a pace that is not too easy, nor too challenging. The best part is the Early SKILLZ program will equip your child with skills that they will utilize in every area of their life!

Join Us Today for Exciting Adventures!

Ready to embark on a transformative experience at 360 Defense Martial Arts in Middletown, CT? Unleash your potential by signing up for our Tiny Tigers program today! Whether you're seeking a new challenge or aiming to enhance your fitness journey, our studio promises inclusivity, personalized attention, and rewarding outcomes. Take the first step towards holistic well-being and self-discovery with us. Your next adventure awaits!