Dragons, Lancaster, Ages 4-7
Dragons Classes in Lancaster
Our youngest martial arts class. Game-led, beginner-friendly, gently structured. First class free.
For four to seven year olds taking their first class. No experience needed. No idea what they're doing? That's fine, that's exactly what the class is for.
See the timetable →First class free · Free uniform when you join
Is this the right class?
Is Dragons right for your child?
Four to seven year olds. No prior experience. Curious to try.
For the child who's just old enough to follow instructions in a group but still needs games, movement, and short attention spans built into the class. The energetic one who needs an outlet. The shy one who needs gentle structure. Most kids who start Dragons have never been to a martial arts class. The whole class is built around that.
Book a Dragons trial →Under 4?
We sometimes take younger children if they're ready for the class. Get in touch and we'll let you know.
Just turned 7 or 8?
Take a look at Cadets (7+) or our Taekwondo class (8+).
The essentials
What you need to know
Where & when
Ages
What to wear
Your first class
Class structure
What a class actually looks like
Short blocks, lots of variety, plenty of movement.
Dragons classes are built around how four to seven year olds actually learn: short attention spans, lots of energy, and a need for things to feel like games. Every class moves through a familiar rhythm so kids know what's coming, with the activities themselves swapped in and out to keep it fresh.
That said, every class has shape.
Lining up and warming up.
Lining up, formal greeting, warm-up. The class starts the same way every time so kids know what's expected. Lines first, then a warm-up game, then a moment of focus before the technique work begins.
Skill games.
Teaching technique through games. Reaction drills, target practice, listening challenges. Real martial arts skills introduced in a way four-year-olds can actually engage with.
Putting it together.
Pad work in pairs. Sequences. Following the leader. The class gets a chance to use what they've practiced, with the coach circulating to keep everyone safe and on task.
Cool-down.
Lining up again. The class ends the same way every time. Belts straightened, bows out, a clear finish. Kids leave the hall settled rather than wound up.
Every class follows the same rhythm but with different activities. Familiar structure, fresh content. That's how four to seven year olds build confidence.
What they'll learn
What your child gets out of it
Six things the class builds. Some are technique. Some are everything else.
Listening and focus
Following instructions in a group. Holding attention for short, clear tasks. Building the habit of focus.
Coordination and balance
Learning where their body is. Building the basic movement vocabulary that every martial art relies on.
First techniques
Front kicks, basic punches, blocks, stances. Real martial arts technique introduced at four-year-old pace.
Confidence
Trying something new in front of other people. Getting better at it. Noticing that they can.
Routine and structure
Knowing what's coming. Knowing what's expected. The class rhythm becomes a small, dependable part of their week.
Having fun moving
Loving exercise before they ever think of it as exercise. That habit lasts.
Belts come along the way as the class learns. The bigger payoff is what kids carry out of the hall with them.
Your progression
Your path through the belts
Monthly gradings. Steady progress. Small, achievable steps.
Dragons follows the same structured belt path as our older classes. Gradings happen monthly, and the syllabus is broken into small steps so even four-year-olds can see what they're working toward and feel the win when they get there.
The first few belts
Finding their feet
The early belts are about learning what a class even is. Listening, following along, attempting techniques. Most Dragons grade at every monthly opportunity in their first year. Small wins build the habit of trying.
Through the middle belts
Gaining technique
As they move up, the syllabus gets more technique-specific. Cleaner kicks, real stances, longer combinations. Kids start to feel like real martial artists. Class minimums creep up slightly as the content deepens.
Dragon black belt
And what comes next
Some Dragons reach their Dragon black belt before they're ready to move up. That's a separate qualification within the Dragons system and a real milestone in its own right. Others move on to Cadets, Taekwondo, or Kickboxing earlier, depending on the kid. Both paths are valid. The Dragons belt journey is its own complete path, not just a stepping stone.
Monthly gradings keep the path visible. Belts are small steps, not big leaps. Kids see the progress every few weeks.
What you're signing up to
Why train here
What you're choosing when you choose Vortex for your child.
Two decades of coaching
Andy started teaching at 15 and has been coaching ever since. Hundreds of students taught by name. Double figures in black belts produced. The method has been refined over nearly twenty years of working out what each student actually needs. Dragons benefits from the same care and attention as every other class.
A class environment built around your child
Every class is supervised, structured, and run to the same coaching standards. New starters aren't thrown into the deep end. Confidence builds before challenge does. Most quiet starters loosen up within a few classes.
Recognised coaching standards
Recognised by the British Martial Arts and Boxing Association (BMABA), an independent UK martial arts governing body. Documented syllabus, grading structure, and coaching standards across every age group.
DBS-checked and first aid trained
Anyone working with Dragons is DBS-checked and first aid trained. Class sizes are kept small enough for proper supervision. The hall is set up with the youngest age group in mind: clear space, age-appropriate equipment, and a layout designed around small bodies.
Before you ask
Common questions
Reviews
What parents say
From a parent who has been with us five years and counting.
“My two sons have both worked their way through Dragons and are now Cadets. Over the five years we've been involved, we're delighted to see how they've grown in confidence, ability and self-discipline. Andy continues to develop his club and is restless in his desire to see everyone have fun and grow at their own pace. A friendly and inclusive martial arts academy for all abilities.”
Jonathan M., parent
Google review
First class.
Free.
One class. No commitment. See if it's for them.
Bring them along. Stay and watch. See how they take to it. If they want to come back, the first uniform is on us. No joining fee. No contracts. No pressure if it turns out it's not for them.