Children & teens · Ages 6 and up
Tae Kwon Do, jiu-jitsu and MMA for children, every weekday at 5pm and 6pm. Taught by black belts who have been coaching children in Brownsville since 2003.
No experience needed. Beginner classes every week.
What your child gets
Children come here for lots of reasons — a parent worried about bullying, a child with energy to burn, a family that wants them off a screen two evenings a week. What they leave with is usually the same: they stand differently.
Classes are an hour. Children learn technique, forms and control before anything else, and they earn belts by grading rather than by attendance. Progress is visible enough that a seven-year-old can see it, which is what keeps them coming back.
Tae Kwon Do — Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Kicking, striking, forms and sparring. This is where most children start.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu — Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Grappling and ground control, with a separate teens class. This is the most direct self-defense a child can learn, because it works without striking anybody.
Kids MMA — Tuesday and Thursday at 5pm, combining both.
The youngest age we accept is 6. There is no toddler program, and we would rather tell you that now than sell you something that will not work. If your child is four or five, come back to us — the classes will still be here.
The school is self-defense oriented rather than purely sport-focused. Children are taught what to do with their hands, and also what to do before it gets that far — how to stand, what to say, and when to walk away. Parents tend to notice the confidence before they notice the technique.
Class times
Every weekday at 5pm and 6pm. Children finish before the adult classes start at 7pm.
| Day | Time | Class |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 5:00pm | Kids Tae Kwon Do |
| Monday | 6:00pm | Kids Tae Kwon Do |
| Tuesday | 5:00pm | Kids BJJ & Kids MMA |
| Tuesday | 6:00pm | Kids BJJ & Teens BJJ |
| Wednesday | 5:00pm | Kids Tae Kwon Do |
| Wednesday | 6:00pm | Kids Tae Kwon Do |
| Thursday | 5:00pm | Kids BJJ & Kids MMA |
| Thursday | 6:00pm | Kids BJJ & Teens BJJ |
| Friday | 5:00pm | Kids Advanced Tae Kwon Do |
| Friday | 6:00pm | Kids BJJ & Open Mat |
Common questions
Galvan’s Martial Arts accepts children from age 6. We do not run toddler or pre-school classes, so if your child is younger than 6 we are not the right fit yet — and we would rather say so than take your money for a year and hope.
Most children start in Tae Kwon Do on Monday or Wednesday at 5pm or 6pm. If your child is more interested in grappling, kids jiu-jitsu runs Tuesday and Thursday at the same times. Call (956) 254-3988 and we will tell you which suits them.
No. Children learn technique, forms and control first. Sparring comes later, always in full protective gear — padded helmet, gloves and foot guards — and always supervised by a black-belt instructor.
Beginners train with beginners, not with experienced students. Classes are structured so a nervous six-year-old is doing the same drills as everyone else around them, and instructors are used to children who spend the first few weeks watching more than joining in.
No. Competing is encouraged and the school has a strong competition record — undefeated national Black Belt Team champions for 16 years — but plenty of children train for years without ever entering a tournament.
Comfortable clothes they can move in, and water. A uniform is included in the free first month, so there is nothing to buy before you know whether they like it.
Find us
The front desk is open 5:00pm – 9:00pm, Monday to Friday.
Students train here from across the Rio Grande Valley — Harlingen, San Benito, Los Fresnos, Olmito and Port Isabel.
A free month of beginners classes, a tour and consultation, a private lesson, online access through GMA Coach, and a uniform. Come and watch a class first if you would rather.
