Martial arts for 5 and 6 year olds who are ready for more
Kindergarten asks a lot of a five year old. Lil' Samurai builds the focus, confidence and follow-through that carry into the classroom, and hands your child their first real belt along the way.
See why parents and students love
Kovar's Lil' Samurai!
Tu
July 6, 2025
Amazing team at this Elk Grove location. My son has been enrolled here for about 2 months and he’s loving it. The style of teaching works for him very well and he’s been learning a lot. He’s 5 years old. Great system of allowing us to attend as many classes a week as we like and it helps the students learn easily. Belt promotions and tip testing are a great system for allowing students to strive for a goal as well. They also have bonus classes such as Harry Potter and various others. Those come at an extra cost though. Still overall a great place to have my son start his martial journey or just a long term commitment. Thank you all at the EG location.
Halley Crandell
January 27, 2025
We absolutely LOVE Kovar’s in Rocklin! The senseis are hands-down the best part of this place. They’re so kind, they know every kid by name, and you can tell they genuinely love what they do. It’s such a warm, welcoming environment that makes every child feel special.
Our 5-year-old has been going for a few months now and is completely hooked. He’s grown so much—not just physically but in confidence too. He looks forward to every class and comes out beaming every time.
What I really love is that Kovar’s isn’t just about learning martial arts. They spend time helping kids with goal-setting and character building too. It’s been such a positive influence on our little one, and honestly, I can’t think of a better place for kids to train.
Hardeep Rehal
October 7, 2024
Jeremy and Amanda took a very shy 4 year old to wanting to come everyday. The team would even sometimes do private lesson with our son. The culture they create not only encourages kids of all ages but, they also go above and beyond by life skills they teach. 🙏🏽
Bernado Boswell
February 4, 2024
Fantastic place. I have trained in BJJ for many years now. Kovars has many locations in the area, and they are legit. I have grappled with Dave Kovar and several of his black belts and was always impressed by how proficient their jiu-jitsu is. And that's just one of many arts they practice. Love this place for their balance between practical self-defense, versatile curriculum and really positive environment. My 4 year old found his home here for sure.
Sanjeet Singh
March 9, 2024
Our 4 year old has been coming here for a couple months and we think it’s great. Very structured and the instructors are enthusiastic and energetic. Even when our son doesn’t feel like going, he ends up having a lot of fun and is in a way better mood after. Highly recommend if you’re looking for a healthy outlet for your toddlers!
Michelle Romero Franco
March 3, 2024
I’m so grateful to have this place in our neighborhood. Everyone working here is so kind and welcoming. And the instructors go above and beyond to support the little ones (and adults too). The classes are so cool and I think the lessons go beyond martial arts and definitely will make a positive life time impacts.
Sheri lynn Gansel - Cortez
August 4, 2020
My 5 year old grand daughter s self esteem has gone up!Unbelievable!She loves earning the star patches. And it helps teaches her to follow the instructions too
Maggie M
November 2, 2020
My 4 year old daughter LOVES this place, and so do I! The instructors are so good with the kids, especially Senpai Hunt! He is so great at keeping the kids focused while making class so much fun! I love the valuable life skills that they teach too..."yes sir", introductions, self defense techniques, etc. My kid enjoys to go to class everyday!
Kate Tolon
July 26, 2023
A place to learn and build character.All the instructors are warm and inviting. My daughter and nephew absolutely love all of them.We are so happy to have found this place and highly recommend it to families with little ones!
Nicholas Wang
May 17, 2017
I've been attending Kovars at the Laguna location for about a decade now; since I was four years old. It has not only taught me how to defend myself and increased my physical strength, but also showed me how to be a better person. Kovars instructors and fellow students have bonds that make us all a family. We are taught core values like peace, optimism, and humility as well as the principles of black belt: modesty, courtesy, integrity, perseverance, courage, and indomitable spirit. Your experience at Kovars will change, challenge, and shape you into an awesome person. It is one of THE BEST parts of my life and his shown me even through the hard bits that I can get back up again and keep fighting.
9+ Locations
Locations
Across The Greater Sacramento Area
50+ highly trained instructors
Highly Trained
Instructors & Program Directors
45+ Years serving the community
Years
Serving The Sacramento Community
Built for the first years of school
At five and six, kids are learning to sit through a lesson, follow a three-step direction, and try something hard in front of other people. Lil' Samurai practices all of it on the mat. Classes are short and structured, drills build in difficulty through the term, and every stripe is earned by showing a skill in class. Your child sees the progress, and so does their teacher.
Your child's first belt starts with a first class
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Where Lil' Samurai leads
Your child moves up as they grow. Same academy, same instructors, no starting over.
Mini Samurai, ages 3 to 4
Have a younger one at home? Mini Samurai is a first activity built for 3 and 4 year olds, now at select academies.
Juniors, ages 7 to 11
Longer classes, sparring, leadership training, and the path toward black belt. Children move up around their seventh birthday.
Martial arts vs.
other workouts
Kovar’s
Martial Arts
Martial Arts
Other
Workouts
Workouts
Improves Physical Fitness
Reduces Stress
Enhances Self-Confidence
Holistic Mind-Body Growth
Teaches Self-Defense Skills
Prevents Bullying
Community and Camaraderie
Curious how martial arts can build your child's confidence?
Sign up for your first class
1
Choose Your Location
Click any blue button on this site to go to the Get Started page. Select your location from the dropdown.
2
Fill Out The Form
Complete the 2-minute form with your family's information.
3
Schedule Your First Class
Once the form is complete, you’ll be redirected to our scheduling page to book your first class.
4
Get A Private Orientation
Meet your Program Director, who will share more about Kovar’s and introduce your child to their instructor and classmates.
Looking for an activity that builds focus, not just tires them out?
Frequently asked questions
What age can my child start Lil' Samurai?
Lil' Samurai is for 5 and 6 year olds. Children who are 3 or 4 start in Mini Samurai at select academies, and children turning 7 move into Juniors. Your Program Director will place your child based on age and readiness.
How long is a Lil' Samurai class?
Classes are 30 minutes long.
How often does my child come?
Membership includes unlimited classes at any Kovar's academy. Most Lil' Samurai families come two or three times a week.
Do Lil' Samurai students earn real belts?
Yes. Lil' Samurai runs on Kovar's standard belt track. Every stripe and belt is earned by demonstrating a skill in class.
My child has never done an activity before. Is that a problem?
No. Many Lil' Samurai students are starting their first activity. Instructors expect some nerves in the first class or two and know how to bring a hesitant child onto the mat without pushing.
Can we try a class before enrolling?
Yes. Schedule a first class, meet your Program Director, and watch your child train. No pressure to enroll on the spot.
How much does Lil' Samurai cost?
Kovar's full membership pricing starts at $229 per month for unlimited classes at any of our nine Sacramento area academies. For more information, visit our pricing page.
Start with a trial class first, then your Program Director will walk you through the options that fit your family.
What happens when my child turns 7?
Your child moves into Juniors at the same academy with the same instructors. Belt rank carries over and there is no restarting.
When are classes held?
Every academy runs Lil' Samurai classes on weekday afternoons and Saturday mornings, with multiple slots each week. See your academy's page for the full schedule.