MN Karate & Fitness
About
Hi, my name is Aaron Pallesen, owner of MN Karate & Fitness in Minneapolis, MN. I want to take a moment to welcome you to our website and to say THANK YOU for considering Martial Arts for your child. I've taught kids martial arts classes for years and as you can imagine, I've seen every kind of personality you can think of in a child. Rambunctious, shy, defiant, complacent...every child is different, with special gifts to give and challenges to overcome, and I've seen Martial Arts classes help every single one of them find their inner strength, peace, and focus.
We've seen ultra-shy kids burst out of their shell, ADD and ADHD kids learn how to control themselves, socially awkward kids learn how to make and keep friends, and even helped special needs children find a place to fit in and feel accepted. So, what I'll do on this page is tell you a little about what our focus is in our classes, and what methods we use to achieve our results. Take a look at what we do, and see if our philosophy on the Martial Arts mat lines up with your goals as a parent, and if what we teach would be beneficial in your child's life. Again, THANK YOU for considering Martial Arts - it was literally the BEST thing that ever happened to me when I was young, and I think it's possible that it could be the same for your child.
Everything!
It's amazing to look back at when a child first signed up, and see the tramsformation in their focus, their confidence, and their ability.
We love working with adults, helping them reach their flexibility goals, fitness levels, and watching how practical self-defense helps with their overall confidence.
No reviews (yet)
Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
All new students start with a free trial class to make sure that we're the best fit for their needs (and to make sure they fit within our community and our expectations).
We offer a full 100% money back guarantee on all trial purchases to help enhance our customer experience, and to make sure new students can "test drive" our classes.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I've experienced both poor quality martial arts instruction and quality instruction. As a child and teen I didn't know there was a difference.
After moving to Minnesota, and experiencing firsthand what happened under a professional instructor, I gave up all my former years of training to pursue a new black belt in something I felt was worth the money.
12 years later, it's that quality and professional approach that I want to bring to the Minneapolis Metro area - why should all the suburbs get the good stuff? :)
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
MN Karate has several different options aimed to fit your budget. During your trial classes, we will do an evaluation to help you decide what option best fits your needs.
How did you get started teaching?
I started teaching for free, just to help pay for my tuition as a broke college student. It was something that I immediately fell in love with, so much so that I would work an overnight security job until 5AM on Saturdays and head straight to the school for a morning workout and to help teach until Saturday afternoon.
What types of students have you worked with?
I have worked with students from all abilities and all walks of life. I've taught classes for Fortune 500 execs, students on the Autism Spectrum, kids and adults with Down Syndrome, and everyone in between.
Describe a recent event you are fond of.
As a competitor and a lifelong martial artist, it's amazing to see how many of our students have seen success at such young ages at local and national tournaments. I can't wait to see how many of these kids stick with it and surpass my own accomplishments someday!
As a child that had little direction, even in martial arts, and low self-esteem and confidence, it's amazing to see a child overcome their anxiety and perform - not because they are forced to, but because they begin to understand what they're real potential is.
Seeing kids learn how to focus, dig in, and try their best on a daily basis is by far the most rewarding thing I can think of.
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
Things I look for when I sign up as a student (to continue my own training)
1. Is the instructor knowledgable or are they trying to wheel and deal just to get me in the door. Is there an ego problem? I know that many of my students view me as their favorite instructor, and many others like other staff members better. That's the purpose of having an awesome team in place, and being OK with not being someone's favorite!
2. Do they break down techniques or teach with a "watch and do" philosophy? There are too many fine details in a round kick, a side kick, or even a basic punch - do they emphasize these things?
3. Are they personable? If someone is genuinely excited when students walk in the door, it shows that they love what they do. If you feel like just another body in the lobby or the classroom, generally the instructor doesn't have their heart in it.
4. Does an instructor call themselves by "Master" or "Grand Master" way too often? If they feel the need to shove their credentials in my face, I'm quick to question whether or not they are actually as good as they say they are. This type of isntructor is generally just trying to market themselves as a "master" without any real knowledge. The true Master Instructors I've met, regardless of their style of martial arts, doesn't feel the need to tell the world they are a master.
5. If I want to try the class out, rather than sign up on the spot, do they instantly add $40+ to the monthly price. I feel like a studio that needs that high pressure sales tactic will not meet my needs as soon as I sign on the dotted line. Example: sign up today at it's $169/month, or take the 30 day free trial, and it's $229/month.
6. Do they participate in tournaments? It doesn't really matter if you want to compete or not. However, if they participate in tournaments (not just within their school or their franchise) it means they feel like they have something of substance and can compete to win. If they don't, or they only participate in intraschool or intramural tournamnets, they probably are afraid of losing students because they know they're not training them properly.
7. How long does it take to get a black belt? This is a common question we get. Our answer: 3.5 - 4+ years depending on the person. I've had students that take 5-6 years to get a black belt because of our emphasis on quality training. If you can get a black belt in 12 or 24 months, it's not a real black belt - or you're extremely talented.
What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?
1. Is this something I'm just looking to try out, or is this something I can see myself (my child) doing longterm.
The benefits of martial arts come from habit forming. Bad habits form because of fear. Fear of rejection, fear of failure, fear of not doing good enough, or fear of letting others down. Good habits take longer to develop and require practice, just like learning how to do a correct punch.