Frequently Asked Questions

Book a free trial class online or call (630) 870-9293. We will match you or your child to the right class, and you can come in, meet the instructors and try it with no obligation.

No, everyone can participate! We have seen thousands of students of all backgrounds and abilities successfully achieve the rank of Black Belt. For those with an athletic background, Tae Kwon Do is a great way to keep building a love of physical activity and provides a fun new challenge. For children or adults still developing their athleticism, our classes build skills a piece at a time and layer basic movements into advanced ones as a student progresses. Because the method is so beginner-friendly, Tae Kwon Do is a great way to build a foundation of strength, endurance and flexibility a student carries for years, especially for kids looking for their "niche" activity.

Five. Our Little Tigers program is designed for 5 and 6 year olds. Kids 7–12 train in Kids Martial Arts, and students 13 and up join our Teen & Adult class.

If your child can follow a two-step instruction, separate from you for 30 minutes, take a turn and shows interest, they are ready to try. Sitting still, toughness and coordination are things we teach, not prerequisites. Our guide Is My 5-Year-Old Ready for Martial Arts? walks through the signs and what the first month looks like.

Two 30-minute Little Tigers classes per week is ideal: enough repetition to progress, not so much that it crowds out rest and play. Pick the same two days each week so the routine sticks. See the schedule and our tips for a successful first month.

Comfortable athletic clothing you can move in. Students train barefoot on the mat. Uniforms are provided after enrollment.

Most students attend two classes per week, which is enough to progress steadily without overloading a family calendar. See the schedule for the days each age group trains.

Membership options depend on the program and how many family members are training, so we go over pricing in person after your free trial class. There is no obligation, and we are up front about everything before you commit.

Tae Kwon Do (also written Taekwondo) is the art of self-defense that originated in Korea. It is recognized as one of the oldest forms of martial arts in the world, reaching back over 2,000 years. The name describes the art: Tae (foot), Kwon (hand), Do (art or way). Tae Kwon Do came to the United States in the 1950s, when a handful of pioneering master instructors traveled to America to spread the art, and grew both as a martial art and an international sport. Korea hosted the first Tae Kwon Do World Championships in 1973, the same year the World Taekwondo Federation was founded. Tae Kwon Do appeared as a demonstration sport at the 1988 Seoul Olympics and became a full medal sport at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. It is now the most widely practiced martial art in the world.

Both are excellent martial arts with numerous benefits, and both stress self-discipline and a high code of personal conduct. The main differences: Tae Kwon Do emphasizes kicking techniques while karate focuses on hand strikes; Tae Kwon Do comes from Korea while karate comes from Okinawa, Japan; forms are called poomsae in Tae Kwon Do and kata in karate; Tae Kwon Do is an Olympic sport; and the stances and movements differ significantly. That said, Tae Kwon Do training is well rounded and includes blocks, punches, open-hand strikes, take-downs, throws and joint locks. When choosing a school, the quality of instruction, the facility, the atmosphere, the schedule and the location should matter as much as the style. Visit the schools you are considering; the direct experience of a class tells you more than any website.

The most common styles: Tae Kwon Do (Korean, kicking-focused, Olympic sport), karate (Okinawan/Japanese, striking-focused), judo (Japanese throwing and grappling, Olympic sport), jiu-jitsu (Japanese and Brazilian grappling and joint locks), aikido and hapkido (redirecting an attacker's motion), kung fu (the family of Chinese styles), Muay Thai (Thai striking with eight points of contact), Krav Maga (Israeli combat system), tai chi (slow, internal Chinese art) and MMA (mixed martial arts competition). Tae Kwon Do and judo are the only two martial arts in the Olympic Games.

For children, martial arts training offers benefits far beyond learning to kick and punch. Our curriculum is based on a series of life skills: Focus, Confidence, Respect and Self-Control, which we hope students carry with them for life, on and off the mat. Tae Kwon Do is also a full-body sport that builds coordination, strength, flexibility and endurance. For young children it is a great way to build motor skills and body awareness; for older kids and teens it develops fitness and athleticism whether or not the student is already an athlete.

Our adult students value Tae Kwon Do as an outlet for stress relief on top of the engaging physical activity it provides. Training with full mental focus and intensity is a welcome break from the daily cares of home and work. Many adults start to boost their fitness: Tae Kwon Do builds strength, stamina and flexibility, and for adults who have not been active, consistent training supports weight-loss goals and greater overall health.

Weekdays after school into the evening, plus Saturday mornings. Little Tigers, Kids and Teen & Adult classes each have four sessions per week; see the full class schedule.

At 627 Illinois Route 59, Aurora, IL 60504, in the Fox Valley area right at the Naperville border and minutes from Fox Valley Mall. Parking is on site. Get directions.

Yes. We have a viewing area and parents are welcome to watch every class.

Safety is built into how we teach. Techniques are learned step by step, sparring is introduced gradually with protective gear, multiple instructors are on the floor for every class, and we take pride in a clean, safe facility.

Many of our families come to us for this reason. Our instructors have extensive experience with focus, self-control and anger challenges, and use patience, encouragement and clear expectations to channel energy into something positive. Structured classes, positive repetition and consistent routines help kids build habits that show up at home and school. Read our post on Tae Kwon Do and ADHD.

Yes. Current members use our app to see the schedule and stay up to date. Download the World Class TKD app for iPhone or Android.