Ikigai Kids - Molalla

02/22/2026

02/16/2026

**Reminder** No classes this evening. Students are welcome to come tomorrow night at their regularly scheduled time.

02/05/2026

"Don't give up. Persevere." 🥋

Meet 9-year-old Sempi Nathaniel. He might weigh 80 lbs (I think I am being generous), but in this video, he isn't just breaking a board—that’s a slab of concrete.

Having trained with us for 4.5 years, Nathaniel is the living embodiment of the mindset we cultivate at Ikigai Kids (formerly Molalla Striking Arts). We don't just teach kicks and punches; we teach the internal strength required to face a "concrete" challenge and push through it.

Whether it’s in the dojo or out in the world, our students learn that they are capable of incredible things when they refuse to give up.

Want to see your child build this kind of unstoppable confidence? Click the link below to learn more about our age-specific wholistic child development programs (from ages 4 to 13) and start the White Belt Challenge!

👇 Get Started Here: https://www.ikigaikids.org/white-belt-challenge

02/05/2026

Current Class Schedule

5:00-5:50pm Inspire! (4-6yr old)

6:00-6:50pm Encourage! (7-9yr olds)

7:00-7:50pm Thrive! (10-13yr olds)

Classes are either Monday/Wednesday or Tuesday/Thursday

Coming soon:

8:00-9:00pm Ronin (14-17yr olds)

02/04/2026

A Confession from the "Brains Behind the Operation" 🧠🥋
​
​Mr. Thompson here.
​I have a confession: I am a dreamer. Don't get me wrong, I make no apologies for it. But when I look at things—and at people—I do my damnedest to see potential.

​We've created something really special here at Ikigai Kids. It is still a work in progress, growing and becoming, but here is what I see:

​🏡 A Third Place.
A place where kids can be kids. Where they learn to be kind and respectful of each other, and themselves. Where they learn to stand up for what they believe in, and lift up those around them.

​Modern child development science backed by unequivocal empirical evidence has one view. Interestingly enough, those views align almost directly with what martial arts was always supposed to be—not a way to fight, but a way to live.

​You can take that a step further and look at small-town American values. Call it what you want, but they all say basically the same thing. (Check out the chart below—it proves it.) 👇

​We offer age-specific, comprehensive child development.
We focus on developing good people first, but we make sure those good people have the tools to defend themselves and others if they need to.

​As a dreamer, I envision:

​A world where 5yr olds can have a casual conversation amongst themselves about how to be more respectful.

​A world where a 7yr old understands that responsibility isn't just saying you are sorry when you make a mistake, but actively fixing it.

​A world where teens and pre-teens break the mold. Instead of isolating themselves in screens or drifting into questionable company, they step up as role models. They understand the difference between teaching and mentoring, and they accept the responsibility to help carry the mission forward.

​The funny thing is, it isn't a dream anymore. It isn't perfect, but it is here.

​

12/22/2025