Listening and following directions
Stop, start, freeze, go. Little Ninjas practice following one direction at a time from a coach who keeps instructions short and clear. It is the same skill a preschool or kindergarten classroom asks of them.
Ages 3–6 · Thursdays 3:15–4:00 PM · Indio, CA
LITTLE NINJAS
LEARN BY PLAYING.
Little Ninjas at Flow Academy Indio is a once-a-week martial arts movement class for kids ages 3 to 6, every Thursday from 3:15 to 4:00 PM at 42425 Jackson Street, Suite C112, in Indio, CA. Through games and animal walks, children practice listening, coordination, balance, safe falling and confidence, with no fighting and no sparring. It is $120/mo month-to-month, and the first class is free.
Thursdays3:15–4:00 PM
Ages 3–6No experience needed
Since 2007Coachella Valley families
- WhenThursdays · 3:15–4:00 PM
- WhoAges 3–6
- How oftenOnce a week · 45 minutes
- Price$120/mo · month-to-month
- Where42425 Jackson St, Suite C112, Indio
A FIRST STEP
ONTO THE MAT.
Little Ninjas is Flow Academy Indio’s class for our youngest students, ages 3 to 6. It is an early-learning movement class: children practice balance, coordination, body awareness and listening, all through play, games and animal walks, with a coach leading every game.
Martial arts at this age means play and control. There is no fighting and no sparring. Kids take turns, follow one direction at a time, learn to fall safely and get used to being part of a group. That is a big step for a 3-year-old and a real confidence boost for a 6-year-old.
Class meets once a week, on Thursdays from 3:15 to 4:00 PM. Forty-five minutes suits little attention spans: long enough to learn something new, short enough to finish on a high note. Kids are barefoot on the mat in comfortable workout clothes, and parents are welcome to watch.
Age 7 and up: when your child turns 7, the next step is Kids Jiu-Jitsu, at 5:00 PM on Tuesdays (No-Gi) and Thursdays (Gi).
Why Little Ninjas at 3 to 6
WHAT YOUR LITTLE ONE
TAKES HOME.
Ages 3 to 6 are when children are figuring out their bodies, their words and how to be part of a group. A short, playful class once a week gives them a safe place to practice all three.
Here is what Little Ninjas works on, one game at a time.
Coordination and motor skills
Crawling, rolling, hopping and animal walks build the big-movement skills little bodies are still learning. Kids who seem a bit clumsy often get the most out of it.
Balance
Standing on one foot, moving low to the ground and getting back up on their own. Simple balance games teach kids to steady themselves and move with control.
Safe falling
Little kids fall all the time. On the soft mat they learn how to fall safely and pop right back up, a skill that goes with them to the playground, the park and the backyard.
Confidence
Trying something new in front of other kids takes courage at 3. Every game they finish and every high five from a coach builds the confidence to try the next thing.
Self-control
Waiting for the signal, keeping hands safe and stopping when the coach says stop. Little Ninjas practice self-control in a way that feels like a game, because it is one.
Respect and manners
Listening when someone is talking, being gentle with a partner and saying thank you. Small manners, practiced every week, start to show up at home too.
Friendship and taking turns
Waiting for a turn, cheering for a friend and sharing the mat. For some kids, Little Ninjas is their first group activity outside home or school.
Focus in short bursts
Little kids focus in short bursts, so class is built that way: a quick instruction, a game, then another quick instruction. Each round stretches their attention a little further.
A healthy outlet for energy
Little Ninjas gives all that energy somewhere to go on a Thursday afternoon: running, rolling, jumping and laughing with other kids under a coach’s eye.
An early love of movement
The goal at this age is not perfect technique. It is a kid who thinks moving is fun. That is a great start for whatever sport or activity comes next.
A head start for Kids Jiu-Jitsu
Listening, falling safely, taking turns and moving with control are building blocks of Kids Jiu-Jitsu, which starts at age 7. Little Ninjas who move up already know how a class works.
WHAT A LITTLE NINJAS
CLASS LOOKS LIKE.
Little Ninjas follows the same simple rhythm every Thursday, so kids know what comes next. Class is 45 minutes, kids are barefoot on the mat, and there is no fighting and no sparring.
- Arrive
Shoes off, hello to the coach
Kids take their shoes off before stepping onto the mat and say hello to the coach. Parents are welcome to stay and watch.
- Warm up
Animal walks
Moving like different animals turns the warm-up into play: crawling, hopping and rolling across the mat. It feels like a game, not exercise.
- Practice
Balance and coordination games
Simple movement games help little bodies steady themselves, change direction and move with control.
- Learn
Safe falling
Kids practice falling safely on the soft mat, so a tumble becomes something they know how to handle.
- Play
Listening games and taking turns
Stop-and-go and follow-the-coach games build listening, focus and patience. Kids take turns, cheer for friends and try again.
- Finish
Ending on a high note
Class wraps up together with a word from the coach, so every Little Ninja leaves proud of what they tried.
Where Little Ninjas head next: at 7, kids can move up to Kids Jiu-Jitsu. These are Kids No-Gi students on a Tuesday at Flow Academy Indio.
WHO RUNS
THE ROOM.
Little Ninjas is a Flow Academy Indio program, and a coach leads every game. The academy is run by owner and head instructor Professor Carlos Miller, a 4th-degree black belt with 29+ years on the mats. Want to know who is leading Thursday’s class? Call or text (951) 337-3781 and ask.
Professor Carlos Miller
Owner & Head Instructor · 4th-Degree Black Belt
29+ years on the mats (lineage: Rickson Gracie → Aloisio Silva). Teaches Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Gi & No-Gi.
Honest answers
WHAT PARENTS
ASK US FIRST.
My child is shy.
That is okay.
Lots of little ones are quiet on day one. Class is built on games and taking turns, and parents are welcome to watch, so your child can see the room is a friendly place. Some kids watch for a bit before they join in, and that is fine.
Is 3 too young?
Not for this class.
Little Ninjas is made for ages 3 to 6, so a 3-year-old is right in the age range. Class is 45 minutes, once a week, and built on movement and games rather than long explanations.
My child can’t sit still.
Good news: they won’t have to.
Little kids focus in short bursts, and class is built that way: a quick instruction, then a game, then another quick instruction. Nobody is asked to sit and listen for long.
What if my child won’t leave my side?
Stay close. That’s allowed.
Wanting a parent nearby is normal at this age. Parents are welcome to watch, and the first class is free, so there is no pressure. Sometimes a child just needs to see the room once before it feels familiar.
Do we need to buy gear?
Not for the first class.
There is nothing to buy before the first class: just comfortable workout clothes your child can move in. Uniforms are not included in the monthly price, so if your child keeps coming, ask a coach what they will need.
Will this teach my child to fight?
No. It teaches control.
There is no fighting and no sparring in Little Ninjas. Martial arts at this age means play, listening and control: moving with care, keeping hands safe and stopping when the coach says stop.
Still wondering about something? Text us at (951) 337-3781 and a real coach will answer.
SCHEDULE & PRICING.
Little Ninjas
Ages 3–6 · Thursdays 3:15–4:00 PM
- $120/mo — month-to-month, no term contract
- Once a week, on Thursdays
- First class free
- Uniforms not included
Not sure if your child is ready, or want to ask a question first? Call or text (951) 337-3781 and we will help. Every family’s plan is a little different, so ask and we’ll give you a straight answer.
When your child turns 7, the next step is Kids Jiu-Jitsu.
Ask About MembershipPARENT QUESTIONS,
ANSWERED.
What is Little Ninjas?
Little Ninjas is Flow Academy Indio’s martial arts movement class for kids ages 3 to 6. Children practice listening, balance, coordination, safe falling and confidence through games and animal walks. There is no fighting and no sparring.
When is Little Ninjas in Indio?
Thursdays from 3:15 to 4:00 PM, once a week, at 42425 Jackson Street, Suite C112, Indio, CA 92203.
Is 3 too young for martial arts?
Little Ninjas is made for ages 3 to 6, so a 3-year-old is right in the age range. Class is 45 minutes, once a week, and built on games and movement rather than long explanations. The first class is free, which is the easiest way to see how your child does.
What should my child wear to the first class?
Comfortable workout clothes that are easy to move in. Kids are barefoot on the mat. There is nothing to buy before the first class, and the first class is free.
How much does Little Ninjas cost?
Little Ninjas is $120 per month, month-to-month, with no term contract. Uniforms are not included. The first class is free.
What if my child is shy?
That is okay. Little Ninjas is built around games and taking turns, and parents are welcome to watch, so your child can see the room is a friendly place. The first class is free, so there is no pressure to commit.
Can I watch class?
Yes. Parents are welcome to watch.
When does my child move up to Kids Jiu-Jitsu?
Kids Jiu-Jitsu is a separate class that starts at age 7. Little Ninjas covers ages 3 to 6, and when your child turns 7 they can move up to the 5:00 PM Kids class on Tuesdays (No-Gi) and Thursdays (Gi). Ask a coach and we will help with the next step.
Keep exploring
MORE AT
FLOW INDIO.
YOUR CHILD’S FIRST CLASS
IS FREE.
Thursdays 3:15–4:00 PM, ages 3–6, at 42425 Jackson St, Suite C112, Indio. Come watch, meet the coaches and let your child try it.