Joining
Who can join?
Any child, from any school. Classes are held at Hillel Academy, but you don’t need to be a Hillel student to train with us. Complete beginners are welcome.
Which session should my child register for?
Prep School students train 4:30–5:45 PM and High School students train 6:00–7:15 PM, both on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The Prep School session is for primary-school-age children and the High School session is for teens. If you’re unsure, pick the closer match and Master Clarke will confirm.
Can my child try a class first?
Yes, once Master Clarke confirms. Send a WhatsApp message to 876-784-1808 with your child’s name and session, and he’ll tell you which class to come to.
How do I register?
Complete the online registration — about five minutes, with the waiver signed on the last step. Master Clarke confirms your place and the amount due on WhatsApp, usually within a day.
Do you have classes for adults?
WTK is for school-age students. Teens and adults 13+ can take kickboxing in Mandeville (Mon & Wed 6:30–7:45 PM), and adults 20+ who want taekwondo or private one-to-one coaching can message Master Clarke.
Fees & payments
How much does it cost?
Tuition is billed per school term (three months), with a one-time registration fee and a one-time uniform (dobok) charge. The current amounts are shown in full on the registration form before you submit anything.
How do I pay, and do I get a receipt?
Pay at class or by bank transfer, then tell us on the payment page (choose Hillel Taekwondo Program). Your receipt comes on WhatsApp once the coach confirms it, and your history is in the parent portal.
Is tuition refunded for missed classes?
No — tuition is billed per term and is not refundable for missed classes. Classes also pause when Hillel Academy is closed; see the no-class dates.
Training
What should they wear and bring?
A t-shirt, track pants and a bottle of water. Students train barefoot. The dobok is issued after registration and worn from then on. The parents’ guide has the full list.
Do parents stay during class?
For new white belts, yes — we ask a parent or guardian to stay and stay involved for the first two to three months. It helps young students settle in, follow instructions and progress faster.
Is taekwondo safe for children?
Classes are supervised by a certified master instructor, and contact sparring is introduced gradually with proper protective gear. As with any sport there is some risk of injury, which the registration waiver explains.
What if my child misses classes?
Let us know in advance where you can. After five consecutive unexplained absences the club may release the student’s place. If something is affecting attendance, talk to Master Clarke — solutions are always explored.
Is taekwondo difficult to learn?
No. Everyone starts as a white belt and learns step by step: stances, blocks, punches and kicks first, then forms (poomsae) and sparring. Flexibility and fitness build with regular training, and belt gradings give clear goals along the way.
Belts & gradings
Are the belts recognised elsewhere?
Yes. Ranks follow the Kukkiwon syllabus, so they carry over to any World Taekwondo club in Jamaica or abroad, and black belts are certified directly by the Kukkiwon in Seoul.
How do belt gradings work?
Gradings are held about every three months. Master Clarke selects candidates who are ready, and families confirm on the belt grading registration page. See how gradings work.
What is the Character Development sheet?
A monthly take-home sheet each student completes with a parent — self-discipline acts, a home report card and a parent’s sign-off — handed in during the last week of the month. It counts toward the next belt exam and Student of the Month. Open this month’s sheet.
What is the difference between “Taekwondo” and “Taekwon-Do”?
The spelling usually tells you the style. Taekwondo is the Olympic style governed by World Taekwondo, with ranks certified by the Kukkiwon in Seoul. Taekwon-Do, with a hyphen, is generally used by the International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF), which has its own patterns, rules and gradings. Both are respected martial arts, but only World Taekwondo-style taekwondo is contested at the Olympic Games. See World Taekwondo and ITF side by side.
Which is better, taekwondo or karate?
Neither is better — they are different. Taekwondo is a Korean martial art known for fast, high and spinning kicks, and is an Olympic and Paralympic sport. Karate is a Japanese martial art with more emphasis on hand techniques. Both build fitness, discipline and confidence; the best choice is the one your child enjoys, taught by a qualified instructor.
Competition
Is taekwondo an Olympic sport?
Yes. Taekwondo became a full Olympic sport at Sydney 2000, and Para taekwondo joined the Paralympic Games at Tokyo 2020. WTK students train in the same Olympic style, with a pathway to national-team selection through World Taekwondo Jamaica.
Are there competitions?
Students who are ready can compete in local tournaments — like the Future Leaders Open in Kingston — and, through World Taekwondo Jamaica, international events. Competing is always optional.