Ben Babbington
Founder and Head Instructor
Ben founded ZKS in 1999 and teaches and guides the team across its children’s, teen and adult programmes.
Read Ben’s profileJunior Martial Arts: Year 3 to Year 6
Junior Martial Arts at ZKS is for children in Years 3–6 in Aylesbury, surrounding communities and Watford. In 45-minute classes, children learn striking, grappling and self-defence, with structured belt progression and a choice of local venues. Beginners are welcome: your child does not need to have completed Mini Ninjas.
Create the parent account, add your child and request a suitable class. Wait for ZKS to confirm your place.
Questions before booking? Contact ZKS about your child’s first class.
What students learn
The syllabus includes stance and guard, punches and kicks, safe falling and rolling, throws, ground positions and escapes. Self-defence practice brings these areas together, with an emphasis on control and safe participation.
How learning develops through the year
Training returns to three connected areas, giving students time to practise familiar skills and build on them as they become ready.
- Striking: develop a balanced stance, guard, punches and kicks, then practise linking movements together.
- Throwing and grappling: learn safe falling, positions and escapes through supervised practice with a partner.
- Self-defence: bring movement and techniques together, learning to use skills with control and consideration.
The focus of a lesson follows the current teaching plan; students do not need to know these skills before joining.
What a normal lesson involves
A typical class includes warming up, a demonstration, supervised practice and feedback. Core techniques give everyone a clear starting point, with additional tasks for students who are ready. The aim is steady skill development rather than a guarantee of any belt or result.
New to martial arts? We support newcomers, explain what to do and encourage them to get involved. Tell us before the trial if your child is nervous or needs additional support so we can discuss how to help them settle in.
For the trial, wear jogging bottoms and a T-shirt and bring a water bottle. Training is barefoot unless you wear ZKS MA grip socks. Ordinary socks are not permitted on the mats. Remove jewellery and tie back long hair. Follow any additional instructions in your confirmation.
Meet the people behind ZKS
Get to know our teaching team before your first visit. The instructor leading your session depends on your confirmed class arrangements.
James Stevenson
Watford lead instructor
James developed from assisting with Watford classes to leading the academy at Nascot Wood Junior School.
Read James’s profileWhat ZKS parents say
Short excerpts from parent reviews on our Fairford Leys Google listing.
“Tim is fab with the children and keeps the sessions fun and engaging.”
Google review · Fairford Leys
Read Sarah’s full review (opens in a new tab)
“My children absolutely love their Saturday classes at ZKS Martial Arts!”
Google review · Fairford Leys
Read Saharish’s full review (opens in a new tab)
“I make loads of new friends”
One junior member shares what they enjoy about martial arts: learning self-defence and socialising with other people.
9-second video. Select play to watch with sound; English captions are available.
Read the video transcript
Interviewer: “Tell me why you like martial arts?”
Junior member: “I like martial arts because I know how to do self-defence and I make loads of new friends by socialising with other people.”
Progress and the next stage
Students build skills through practice, feedback and opportunities to celebrate their progress. Our Review guide explains how readiness for the next stage is assessed, and the moving-up guide helps families prepare for their next programme.
Achievement takes different forms: learning a technique, practising with a partner or reaching the next stage. The podium photograph celebrates a past event; the starting point for a new member is a suitable class and time to learn.
Where can I train?
Find Junior MA classes at Haddenham, Watford, Aylesbury HQ, Buckingham Park, Wingrave, Fairford Leys and Princes Risborough. Use the live timetable below to choose a suitable day and venue, then request a confirmed trial.
Live class timetable
Find a class by venue, day and school year. Class times and availability come from the live ZKS timetable.
Select your chosen class by using the dropdowns below.
Loading the current timetable…
| Venue | Class | Day | Start | Finish | Availability |
|---|
Children’s programmes normally follow school year. Adult sessions for under-18s require an invitation and approval. See which class to choose.
A displayed space is not a confirmed booking. Adaptive suitability is considered individually. Only attend after ZKS confirms your place.
Junior MA membership and fees
Choose the number of regular classes your child attends each week.
| Membership | Monthly cost | Regular classes |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | £35 | 1 per week |
| Premium | £45 | 2 per week |
| Elite | £55 | 3 per week |
£60 one-off joining fee. Includes a uniform, white ZKS T-shirt, gloves where applicable and registration. Paid after the free trial as part of your first membership payment. Joining-fee details.
Monthly fees are annualised across 12 equal Direct Debit payments, including scheduled holidays. Places depend on suitable class availability.
Progression costs: Reviews and Belt Promotion involve separate purchases. Check current prices and invitations in the Members Area; see the Review guide and Belt Promotion guide.
Membership cancellation requires 30 days’ notice through the Members Area. Read the notice and final-payment terms.
How to book a free trial
Create a parent account, add your child and request a suitable trial. Wait for ZKS to confirm the place before attending.
For step-by-step instructions, use the Help Centre trial-booking guide. Read how to prepare for the first class and what happens after the trial.
Not sure which class is right for your child? Ask ZKS about choosing a class.
Questions before joining
Will beginners cope, and will experienced students stay challenged?
Beginners start with the core skills and practise with guidance. As students become more confident with the basics, instructors introduce extra challenges such as linking techniques, improving accuracy and making choices during partner practice. Students can work towards their next challenge without everyone having to perform at the same level.
How long is a Junior MA class?
Junior MA classes last 45 minutes. Check your confirmed session’s start and finish times in the live timetable and be ready to collect your child at the finish time.
How many children are in a class?
Class size is based on the staffing available. A class with fewer than 16 members may be led by a single instructor, with a volunteer Leadership Team member helping where possible. At 16 members, an instructor and an assistant instructor are on site. For more than 16 members, we have either two instructors or an instructor and an assistant instructor on site. We aim to have at least one volunteer Leadership Team member assisting in class, but volunteer support is not guaranteed. Contact ZKS to discuss the arrangements for your chosen session.
Can I watch my child’s first class?
ZKS classes have a no-spectator rule. Parents and carers may watch the first lesson, but the instructor may decide not to allow this if they feel it is best for the class. Parents and carers do not stay to watch subsequent lessons. Read the spectator policy.
What if my child is nervous or has never tried martial arts?
Beginners are welcome. We support newcomers, help them understand the activities and encourage them to get involved. Let ZKS know about any worries or support needs before attending so we can discuss a suitable start. See the first-class guide.
What should my child wear and bring?
Wear jogging bottoms and a T-shirt, and bring a water bottle. Training is barefoot unless you wear ZKS MA grip socks. Ordinary socks are not permitted on the mats. Remove jewellery, tie back long hair and follow your booking confirmation. See the first-class checklist.
Is Junior MA karate, and do children work through belts?
Junior MA teaches a broader martial arts syllabus, including striking, kicking, self-defence and grappling, rather than only traditional karate. Students work through a structured belt progression system, with regular practice, instructor feedback and Reviews supporting their development. Read about progression at ZKS.
How often should my child train?
Membership options cover one, two or three regular classes per week. Training expectations increase as students progress through the grades, so the right choice also depends on your child’s stage. See current training and progression guidance.
What if we miss a class or the session is full?
For a missed class, check the temporary class-change guide; alternative sessions depend on availability. If your child is on a waiting list, a displayed class date is not a confirmed place. Wait for confirmation before attending.
Still have a question? Visit our Help Centre.
Your next steps
Explore member progression at ZKS, including technical development, leadership and adult training. For current procedures, use the Help Centre.