OSU! Kids
Real Karate.
Real Belts.
Real Edmonton Kids.
OSU! Kids is EKKC's structured Kyokushin karate program for children ages 4–9 — 45 minutes of genuine skill, earned progression, and dojo discipline every weeknight, starting at $75/month.
Three things we don't compromise on
Not a play-based fitness program. Not a participation-ribbon system. Kyokushin karate, taught properly.
Real Karate
OSU! Kids follows the official IKO 1 Kyokushin Children's Syllabus — the same international curriculum used by affiliated clubs worldwide. Children learn real stances, blocks, strikes, and kata. Every technique has a name, a purpose, and a standard it must meet.
Real Belts
Children earn stripes on a white belt — Jr.10 (White with Orange stripe) through Jr.01 (White with Black stripe) — each one representing tested, demonstrated skill. No automatic promotions. When a stripe is earned at EKKC, a child knows they earned it.
Real Results
Confidence. Focus. The ability to take direction, try again, and follow through. These aren't marketing claims — they're what parents have been reporting to us since 1983. With 145+ five-star Google reviews and thousands of Edmonton children trained, EKKC's record speaks for itself.
Everything you need to know at a glance
Location: Lakewood Community League · 260 Lakewood Road East, Edmonton AB T6K 4C2
What happens in 45 minutes
OSU! Kids classes run Monday through Thursday at 5:45 PM at Lakewood Community League. That timing is deliberate — early enough for school nights, long enough to get real work done.
Class opens with a structured warm-up: light movement, coordination drills, and breathing that gets children focused before they've realized they're working. Instructors Amy, Alex, and Sora rotate through the week, which means your child gets exposure to different coaching styles and cues — a small thing that makes a meaningful difference in how kids retain technique.
The main portion of class covers one or two elements from the Kyokushin Children's Syllabus for that evening. Depending on where students are in their stripe progression, this might be basic striking combinations, footwork patterns, or kata — the choreographed sequences of technique that form the backbone of Kyokushin training. Children at different stripe levels work on level-appropriate material, so a Jr.10 beginner and a Jr.04 student can train in the same room without one holding the other back.
Class closes with a brief cool-down and the traditional Kyokushin dojo etiquette: lining up, bowing, and the "Osu" acknowledgment that runs through every interaction in the dojo. Most parents tell us this is one of the first places their child genuinely listens and follows through. We're not surprised — it's been that way here for over 40 years.
From first stripe to black belt — nothing resets
A child who starts OSU! Kids at age 5 has a clear, unbroken path to 1st Dan black belt at EKKC. They never age out. They never start over.
Children's Syllabus. Six stripe ranks: Jr.10 (White/Orange) → Jr.01 (White/Black). Mon–Thu, 5:45 PM.
Adult KYU belt system begins. 10th–8th KYU (White → Blue). Mon–Thu, 6:30 PM, 60 minutes.
Blue with Yellow stripe through Yellow with Green stripe. Pinan kata series, Sanchin. Mon + Wed, 7:30 PM.
Green belt and beyond, under Shihan Irek (5th Dan). Gekisai, Tekki, Pinan Ura series. Tue + Thu, 7:30 PM.
Dan
1st Dan Kyokushin black belt — IKO 1 recognized, international standard. A credential carried for life.
The finish line: A child who starts OSU! Kids at age 5 can realistically earn a black belt in their mid-teens. KidStrong ends at age 11. EKKC keeps going.
OSU! Kids vs. the alternatives
Prices in Canadian dollars. KidStrong pricing based on publicly listed rates as of 2025. "Other martial arts" reflects typical Edmonton school ranges.
| OSU! Kids (EKKC) | KidStrong | Other Edmonton Kids Martial Arts | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly — 1 class/week | $75 | $99–129 | $70–110 |
| Monthly — 2 classes/week | $95 | $199 | $100–150 |
| Monthly — unlimited | $120 | Not offered | $120–180 |
| Registration / startup fee | $0 | $50–100 | $25–75 (typical) |
| Free trial class | Yes | Varies by location | Varies |
| Class length | 45 minutes | 45 minutes | 30–60 minutes |
| Curriculum type | IKOKC Kyokushin Children's Syllabus | Proprietary athletic play | Varies by school and art |
| Rank / progression system | Earned stripe ranks (Jr.10 → Jr.01) | Program levels — not belts | Belts, but rigor varies |
| Rank standardization |
International - (IKO 1) |
Proprietary only | Often school-internal |
| Path after age 11 | Continuous — Junior → Intermediate → Advanced → Black belt | Program ends at age 11 | Depends on school |
| Club history | EKKC since 1983 (40+ years) | Founded 2018 | Varies |
| Ownership | Non-for-Profit | National franchise | Typically local |
| International affiliation | IKO 1 (Kyokushin — Mas Oyama lineage) | None | Varies |
| Contracts | No contracts | Varies by location | Varies |
All prices in Canadian dollars. This table is factual, not an endorsement or criticism of any program — every family's right fit is different.
Choose what works for your family
No long-term contracts. No registration fee. Your first trial class is free.
Three coaches. One standard.
Amy, Alex, and Sora rotate through OSU! Kids Monday through Thursday. Your child trains with each of them — and that variety matters.
Amy
OSU! Kids Instructor
Amy brings patience and precision to every class — particularly skilled at helping brand-new students feel calm and capable in their first weeks on the mat. If your child is nervous, Amy is who you want in front of the room.
Alex
OSU! Kids Instructor
Alex runs tight, structured classes where children know exactly what's expected — and consistently rise to meet it. His classes move with purpose, and students leave knowing they did real work.
Sora
OSU! Kids Instructor
Sora has a gift for keeping high-energy children engaged while still covering real technique — not an easy balance with a room full of 5-year-olds on a Tuesday evening. He also leads the Intermediate program for older students.
What parents ask before the first class
Is this safe for young children?
Do they fight each other?
What if my child has never done any structured activity before?
What should my child wear to the trial class?
What's the registration fee?
Can parents watch class?
What's the difference between OSU! Kids and KidStrong?
When will my child earn their first stripe?
145+ five-star Google reviews
Over 40 years of Edmonton families. Here's what parents have told us.
My son has been at EKKC for two years and the growth I've seen — not just in karate but in how he handles himself — is remarkable. The instructors are firm, fair, and genuinely care about each child's progression.
★★★★★ Google Review ▶ PLACEHOLDER — Replace with real Google reviewWe tried two other programs before finding EKKC. The difference in structure and real technique is immediately obvious. My daughter earned her first stripe last month and she has never been more proud of anything. Worth every dollar.
★★★★★ Google Review ▶ PLACEHOLDER — Replace with real Google reviewEKKC is the only place my 6-year-old actually listens. The instructors have a calm authority that the children respect immediately. The 5:45 PM time slot fits our school night perfectly.
★★★★★ Google Review ▶ PLACEHOLDER — Replace with real Google reviewYour child's first class is free.
No registration fee. No commitment. Just 45 minutes on the mat to see if OSU! Kids is the right fit.
Book Your Free Trial Class