As families prepare for a new school year, the AB Taekwondo Club in Slave Lake is already seeing growing interest in its fall programs, with parents planning ahead and students getting ready to return to the mat this September.

Owner and head coach Alex Briones says inquiries have steadily been coming in as parents organize their children’s extracurricular activities for the school year.

“So far, for the fall session, you can see some parents are planning their whole school year already,” Briones says. “They’ve been messaging us about the programs they’re going to have by fall so they can plan ahead.”

Although registrations typically increase closer to the start of classes, Briones says the club has already welcomed early sign-ups.

“We already have at least 10 people registered,” he says.
The fall session begins on Sept. 8, a week later than usual because of the Labour Day long weekend.

For many returning families, taekwondo has become more than an after-school activity. Briones says parents often tell him they notice positive changes in their children’s behaviour long before they notice improvements in their kicks or punches.

“Parents like the positive changes in their child, especially their focus and how they act at home,” he says. “It’s not just that they exercise and become active. They see that the child’s overall well-being improves.”

The club welcomes students beginning at three years old and offers age-specific classes designed to match each stage of development. While younger children attend once a week, students six years old and above typically train twice weekly. Adults are also welcome, with classes adapted to suit different fitness levels.

Briones says one of his oldest black belt students is 67 years old.

“For the older age group, I know they can’t quite keep up with dynamic movements like jumping, we try to improvise with other movements for them,” he says.

To provide more individualized instruction, class sizes are limited to approximately 24 students. The club also offers a family class, allowing parents and children to train together.

“The reason I offer the family class is because parents enroll in Taekwondo for their kids,” Briones says. While Taekwondo is widely recognized as a competitive sport, Briones says the club’s focus extends far beyond physical techniques.

Briones says that respect is really what they implement to the kids. “Hopefully, even if they no longer do Taekwondo, respect for each and every person remains important. Then discipline comes along with it. Without discipline, you have no respect.”

Watching young children gain confidence remains one of the most rewarding parts of coaching, he says.

“My memorable ones are always the little ones, the three- to four-year-olds, because they are the cutest,” Briones says. “You see their journey from having no balance to good balance, from crying to being excited to go to the Taekwondo gym.”

Briones also says that they just don’t teach kids how to kick. They aslo train them to socialize and not be shy.

As the fall season approaches, Briones says he is particularly looking forward to expanding the family class and continuing to build the club’s recreational program.

For families still considering joining, Briones says the club offers a structured environment where children can develop physically while learning valuable life skills.

“It’s not just teaching them how to kick. It comes along with enjoying time with friends, being engaged and having fun. We have a structured program, and we want every student to feel included.”

The AB Taekwondo Club’s fall session begins Sept. 8, with programs available for children as young as three years old through to adults.

Families interested in registering can contact the club.

Julia Magsombol
Lakeside Leader