Signing your child up for martial arts in Gatineau means answering two questions at once: will it do them good, and is it safe. Patenaude MMA & Kickboxing runs a one-of-a-kind MMA and kickboxing program for ages 8 to 12, built on the same sessions as the adults and professional fighters, adapted to their age and level. Here is what that means concretely, for your child and for you.
Which kids it's for
The benefits of this kind of training for children are many, and they do not stay on the mat. The program fits very different profiles:
- The child bursting with energy who needs to let it out in a structured setting
- The shy child who needs to build confidence, one small win at a time
- The child spending too much time on screens and not enough moving
- The child who needs to work on listening, focus and following instructions
- The child who dreams of doing what the big names on TV do, in a safe environment
What your child builds
Self-confidence, fitness, respect, discipline, and better listening and focus. Those are the five benefits the academy puts forward for its kids program, and they are built in very concrete ways: clear instructions, techniques broken down to their size, and wins stacked up week after week.
MMA and kickboxing are genuinely stimulating training: your child burns off energy and lets loose every single session. Many parents notice it is the night of the week when dinner is calmest and bedtime easiest.
The same method as the adults
Training is built on the same sessions as the adults and the professional fighters, adapted to their age and their levels. This is not a daycare with mitts: it is the academy's real program, broken down for bodies and attention spans aged 8 to 12.
That is also what makes the program unique in Gatineau. The academy that produced 2 UFC fighters and more than 30 amateur champions applies the same method, the same teaching lineage, to your child's class. Some of our champions started exactly where your child would.
Safety
Contact is progressive, supervised, and age-appropriate. Kids work technique, movement and conditioning on targets and bags long before any partner work, and always under an instructor's direct supervision.
And the question every parent asks: will they have to compete? No. Competing is possible, but it is never required. The vast majority of kids train for fun, fitness and progress. If your child ever wants more, the path exists. If they never do, nobody will push.
What progress looks like
The first thing most parents notice is not a technique. It is a kid who stands a little straighter, who looks the instructor in the eye when spoken to, and who answers with a louder, clearer voice. Confidence built physically shows up everywhere.
Then come the visible skills: cleaner movement, better balance, combinations that looked impossible in week one done without thinking by month two. In class, progress is marked by clear instructions mastered and harder drills unlocked, so your child always knows what they are working toward next.
And at home, the pattern parents report is consistent: energy spent in the right place, easier evenings, and a kid who talks about their class all week. That is what a sport that fits looks like, and it is the real measure we care about at this age.
The academy has taught since 1975 and has trained young people in Gatineau since 1997. Some of our champions started exactly where your child would.
Confidence, respect, discipline. And a kid who sleeps well.
Book your child's intro · $19.99Their first class
For a child, the first time is easier when the parents know exactly what to expect. Here is how it goes.
- 01
You book an introduction
$19.99, taxes included. Put your child's age in the form, and we call back within 24 business hours to confirm the exact time of the 8-12 block.
- 02
You arrive together, early
Your child changes: shorts or loose pants, t-shirt, water bottle. We provide the equipment, and we train barefoot. The instructor introduces themselves to your child and to you.
- 03
They do a real session, you stay on site
Warm-up, age-appropriate technique, skill games, cool-down. You can stay and watch the whole class: nothing happens behind a closed door.
- 04
You both ask your questions
After class, the instructor debriefs with the two of you: how it went, what the program works on, and straight answers about plans.
- 05
You decide as a family
Nothing signed at the intro, no obligation. If your child walks out smiling with their energy spent, you will know what to do.
Book your child's intro
$19.99 · Taxes included · Payable on site
Kids 8-12 blocks
The 8-12 block times are confirmed when you book. Reserve the intro and we give you the exact times for your child's age.
Parent worries
"My child is shy"
The program is built to grow confidence, one completed instruction at a time. The instructors have seen every temperament, and the group welcomes new kids every month.
"My child is too intense"
Energy is not a problem, it is the raw material. The setting is disciplined, instructions are clear, and respect is part of the curriculum, same as technique.
"I don't want them fighting"
Competition is possible but never required, and contact is progressive and supervised. Most kids never compete: they train, they progress, they have fun.
"Our schedule is already full"
The 8-12 block times are confirmed when you book, and 306 Notre-Dame has parking on site. An activity that is easy to get to is an activity that lasts.
The price
The introduction is $19.99 taxes included, payable on site: one full class with an instructor, all equipment provided. Memberships then run 3, 6 or 12 months with monthly payments, roughly $20 a class on average depending on frequency.
Exact numbers are given in person, after the intro, once your child has tried it and you have seen the class with your own eyes. No pressure sale: this is a family decision, and it gets made at home.
Questions from parents
At what age can my child start martial arts?
The kids program welcomes ages 8 to 12. From 13, teens train with the adult group, in the same academy with the same method. If your child is approaching 8, write to us and we will tell you when the timing is right.
My child has never done a sport. Is that a problem?
Not at all. The program welcomes complete beginners, and everything starts from the basics, at the pace of the group. Fitness is built in the class, it is not a prerequisite.
Can I stay and watch?
Yes, and we encourage it for the intro. You stay on site, watch the whole class, and ask the instructor your questions afterwards. Nothing happens out of your sight.
Is MMA too violent for a child?
As taught here, no. Contact is progressive, supervised and age-appropriate: kids work technique and conditioning on targets long before any partner work. Competing is possible but never required.
What equipment do we need to buy?
Nothing to start. For the intro we provide everything: your child comes in shorts and a t-shirt with a water bottle. If you continue, we advise you on gear at the right moment, without selling you the shop.
How many times a week should they come?
Most kids come once or twice a week. Consistency beats volume: two sessions anchored in the routine deliver more than an ambitious schedule that fizzles.
What should my child eat or drink before class?
Keep it light and simple: a normal snack about an hour before, and a full water bottle for the class itself. Avoid a heavy meal right before training, the same as any sport at this age. After class, a regular supper does the job. Kids burn real energy in these sessions, and most arrive home with a serious appetite. Plan supper accordingly and you will both have a good evening.
What does it change at school and at home?
The five benefits of the program are exactly that: self-confidence, fitness, respect, discipline, and better listening and focus. The energy spent each session helps too: many parents notice it within the first weeks.
Where to find us
The academy is at 306 Notre-Dame Street in Gatineau, with parking on site, minutes from the bridges. The drive is simple from most of Gatineau and from Ottawa, which matters when you are driving a child twice a week.
And at 13, the transition is already in place: your child moves naturally to the 13-and-up group, in the same academy, with the same instructors and the same method.
