The Best Teen Taekwondo and Karate Classes in Northville, Novi and Plymouth!
Find Your Second Home at the MAT
Taekwondo training is fun and rewarding because it is exceptionally challenging. To become proficient in taekwondo, you have to become physically strong, mentally focused and emotionally confident.
And though taekwondo can take you to the height of athletic achievement (the Olympics), it is accessible by anyone. You practice taekwondo in your way, pushing to become your best – not measuring yourself against other athletes unless you choose to.
Because of this, and because taekwondo is practiced year-round, many teens choose taekwondo as their sport instead of conventional team and school sports. If you feel like you haven’t quite found your athletic niche, taekwondo might be exactly what you’re looking for.
What will you learn?
We teach “Olympic Taekwondo” under the World Taekwondo organization, which is the governing body appointed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to run the sport of taekwondo. Officially we are part of both USA-Taekwondo (USAT) and the Korean Taekwondo Association of America (KTAA.)
Taekwondo is a unique hybrid of traditional martial arts like karate-do and kung-fu, but with a modern sport component like Brazilian jiu-jitsu or mixed martial arts (MMA.) Students learn patterns of movement called “poomse” or “forms,” as well as a dynamic assortment of striking techniques that comprise the “kyroogi” or “sparring” part of taekwondo.
You can see taekwondo put to use in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC,) standing on its own as an Olympic sport, or demonstrated as an art form on stage.
Who will your taekwondo teachers be?
MAT teachers represent a level of expertise you won’t find anywhere else. MAT’s five master instructors have a combined total of more than 135 years of experience and 300+ medals from local tournaments to national and world championships.
In addition to these master instructors, you’ll train with a team of accomplished black belts of all ages and levels. That might be college students training and teaching in their spare time, adult professionals doing them same, personal trainers expanding their resumes or current taekwondo champions around your age.
MAT’s teachers are not only excellent martial artists; they are chosen because they are outstanding people. They receive extensive training in the most effective and safest coaching methods. From the newest junior instructor to Master Rose himself, all MAT instructors are tirelessly dedicated to helping you achieve your very best.
How will you grow?
Taekwondo will help you gain flexibility, agility, cardiovascular endurance, explosive speed and power, body awareness, breath control and mental acuity. Because taekwondo’s challenges are significant, so too is the growth you will experience when you overcome them.
True confidence doesn’t come from undeserved “good jobs” and participation trophies. It comes only through genuine achievement. At MAT you’ll find a supporting environment that pushes you to triumph over your obstacles and never lets you settle for less than your best.
Many of our high-school-aged students proudly put a black belt on their college applications. A MAT black belt takes a minimum of four years to earn and is an achievement that demonstrates your drive, dedication and work ethic. It’s something that will pique the interest of colleges and employers for years to come – and something you will be proud of for a lifetime.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I get hurt?
Don’t be alarmed you’re not getting an immediate “no” to this question. After all, this is martial arts, not bird-watching. We first like to point out the difference between hurt and injured. Injured is bad. That’s where something breaks or tears, and you go to the hospital to get it repaired. Hurt is different. Lots of things hurt: paper cuts, cupboard doors to the head, Legos on the floor in the middle of the night. Hurt hurts, then it’s over. We pretty much guarantee that at some point on your journey you’ll experience hurt. Injuries, however, are infrequent. You’re more likely to be injured playing soccer or basketball than on our mat.
We make every effort to keep you safe. We have the very best equipment, from our 1.5″ Zebra MMA mats (no puzzle mat crap here) to the quality gear we sell. The mat is cleaned at least once a day with an anti-bacterial solution, and strict hygiene rules prevent the spread of infections like staff and ringworm.
Do I have to fight?
No. Your journey may not include sparring. We have many dynamic drills designed to give you some of the benefits of fighting while dramatically decreasing the risk of getting hurt. Most of our sparring is done in separate classes and is optional. Keep in mind, the journey evolves. You may start out sparring and let it go down the road, or you may begin thinking you will never do it and find yourself entering tournaments and chasing medals.
Will I look like an idiot?
You don’t have to worry about looking silly, because we all look silly from time to time. It’s part of why we love each other. Getting over that initial nervousness to put on the pajama-looking gi and get out on the mat is common to all those who start their journey. Start anyway.
Are the ranks accredited somehow?
Yes. Our school is a member of USA Taekwondo, the national arm of World Taekwondo, which is delegated by the International Olympic Committee. We are also members of the Korean Taekwondo Association. Our black belts are officially certified by the Kukkiwon in Seoul, South Korea.