Karate Parent Portal

Curriculum Summary

• New students: Intro program covering fundamentals—stances, strikes, kicks, forms, and self-defense—plus life skills (respect, focus, discipline).
• White & Gold: Foundation work and class habits; emphasis on basics and etiquette.
• Green: Add sparring (marked with * on schedules). Purchase sparring gear through your school. Aim for 1 form + 1 sparring class/week (2+2 ideal).
• Purple: Continue form and sparring; skills typically accelerate with consistency.
• Blue: Begin bo staff in form class (school-purchased equipment). Learn safe, controlled weapon handling.
• Red: Advanced preparation toward Black Belt; refine all fundamentals and add new material (e.g., Zang Do Moon).
• Brown: Train Discovery (bo) and, at some schools, a musical form (e.g., Beethoven); focused Black Belt prep.
• 1st Degree Black: Mastery of basics with expanded curriculum—new weapons, deeper self-defense, performance options.
• 2nd Degree Black: Advanced proficiency and leadership; many assist with teaching.
• 3rd Degree Black: High-level technical skill, coaching, and mentorship.

Quick notes

If you have questions, ask your school director or instructor.

• Sparring gear is purchased through your NK school.
• Bo (Blue Belt), kamas and bokken (Black Belt) are purchased through your school.
• Recommendation: Bring all required gear to every class.
• Clean sparring gear regularly.
• Treat the bo as a weapon—use care and respect.
• No sibling-vs-sibling sparring.
• During the school year, wear full uniform to form classes. For summer and all sparring classes: full uniform or karate pants + belt + tucked NK T-shirt (some schools require the current year's shirt).
• Uniform upgrades (e.g., black-trim jacket with name) vary by school—ask your director. Blue/red-trim options may also be available.

Upcoming Black Belt Screening and Exam Dates

Brown Belts with two black stripes and higher test for Black Belt at a set of screenings and a graduation ceremony/exam. Each set of schools have different dates and locations for the screenings, but all schools send their candidates to the same final exam.

Brown Belts with two black stripes go to three screenings (1-3) as well as the final exam/graduation. First Degree Black Belts and higher go to screenings 2 and 3 as well as the "all-school" screening. This is different at some schools, so make sure to ask your director.

If you have questions, ask your school director or instructor.

April 2026 Black Belt Exam

• Apple Valley and Cottage Grove
• Screening 1: Thursday, January 8th at 7:00 pm @ Apple Valley NK
• Screening 2: Thursday, February 12th at 7:00 @ Cottage Grove NK
• Screening 3: Thursday, March 19th at 7:00 @ Cottage Grove NK
• Albertville, Bloomington, Eden Prairie, Hopkins, Maple Grove, and South Minneapolis
• Screening 1: Friday, January 9th at 6:30? @ Maple Grove NK
• Screening 2: Friday, February ??? at 6:30? @ Maple Grove NK
• Screening 3: Friday, March ??? at 6:30? @ Maple Grove NK
• Andover, Ramsey, and Woodbury
• Screening 1: Friday, January 9th at 6:00 pm @ Ramsey NK
• Screening 2: Friday, February 6th at 6:00 pm @ Ramsey NK
• Screening 3: Friday, March 13th at 6:00 pm @ Ramsey NK
• Advanced All-School Screening: Saturday, March 21st at 1:00 pm @ Eden Prairie NK
• April Black Belt Exam: Saturday, April 18th

Tournaments

NK hosts two tournaments each year: the NK Intramurals/Team events and Diamond Nationals. There are also a handful of other tournaments that are in a circuit called NCKA (this is like the NBA or NFL but for sport karate in MN.) There's also a national circuit called NASKA. Below, I'll post the dates for upcoming NCKA and NASKA events.

• Multiple rings run at once, grouped by age, belt, and gender.
• You'll receive your ring assignment and report time.
• Common divisions (availability varies): Performance Basics/Form (no scores), Competitive Basics/Form, Competitive Weapons, Sparring, and CMX (creative/musical/extreme; typically Black Belt, sometimes Brown for musical).
• Suggested for many students: Competitive Form, Competitive Weapons, and Sparring (when eligible).

2026 dates

• MN State Karate Championships — Sunday, March 15th
• This is an NCKA tournament (local competition).
• Registration - ask your school Director for assistance if needed


• Central States Karate Championships — April (no date yet)
• This is an NCKA tournament (local competition).
• Registration (not open yet) - ask your school Director for assistance if needed


• Twin Cities Rumble — September (no date yet)
• This is an NCKA tournament (local competition).
• Registration (not open yet) - ask your school Director for assistance if needed

Locations

Choose your school, then jump to a belt. Each belt page follows the same structure: Class focus, New concepts, Expectations, Resources (videos), and Testing requirements.