September 2026 Newsletter
Welcome back to a new training year. This month covers classes, Teen MA equipment, Student Reviews, Sunday training and a beginners’ course for parents.
Welcome Back: Classes Restart Tuesday 1 September
School-year groups will update in the Members Area on 1 September.
We are looking forward to welcoming everyone back to the mats. Normal classes restart on Tuesday 1 September 2026. Until then, members will continue to appear in their previous school-year group in the Members Area.
The system will update everyone’s year group on 1 September. Members moving into Years 3, 6 or 11 will not be able to adjust their new class assignment until that update has taken place. Please wait until 1 September, then check the new assignment and make any permitted class change through the Members Area.
The main programme transitions are:
Check the Assigned Class
Please check your child’s assigned class in the Members Area once the year-group update has taken place on 1 September. This will help everyone arrive at the correct session and avoid disappointment.
Need a Different Regular Class?
Parents can use the Members Area’s Change Class function to change their child’s regular class where another appropriate class is shown as available.
Only classes displayed as available through the Change Class or booking function can be booked or attended. Please do not assume your child can attend a different class simply by arriving. If a child arrives for a class they are not assigned to or have not booked, the instructor may need to turn them away because the session may not be suitable or have space available.
To avoid disappointment, please check the updated assignment on 1 September and use the Members Area to make any permitted change before attending.
Moving into Teen MA? You Will Need Shin & Instep Guards
An important part of training safely as kicking practice develops.
Moving into Teen Martial Arts is an exciting step and the training develops with it. Teen MA introduces more detailed kicking work, partner drills and controlled contact, including sparring.
Because of this, we ask all Teen MA students to have their own shin and instep guards. They protect both students when practising kicks and allow instructors to introduce contact safely and progressively.
This is not simply another item of uniform. As the level of kicking practice and controlled contact increases, the guards help everyone take part properly and protect both training partners.
If your child has moved into Teen MA this September and does not already have a pair, please order them through the ZKS shop.
Ordering Your Child’s Coloured ZKS T-Shirt
The shirt colour should match the student’s current belt level.
Order the T-shirt colour that matches the student’s current belt.
As students progress through their grades, their ZKS training T-shirt should match their current belt colour as set out in our uniform policy.
If your child has recently received a new belt and now needs the corresponding coloured T-shirt, our next ordering window will run from Monday 14 September to Saturday 19 September 2026.
We order coloured T-shirts from our supplier in scheduled batches rather than holding every colour and size permanently in stock. Once the September window closes, we will submit the combined order so the shirts can be prepared for collection after the October period.
Please order the colour appropriate to your child’s current belt. This is particularly important for students who have recently been promoted.
Please Help Us Keep Your Child’s Details Up to Date
Accurate information helps us contact you and support your child appropriately.
Please take a few minutes to check the information held for your family. Keeping a clear written record means the right information is available to the staff who may need it, rather than relying on a conversation with one person.
Contact and Emergency Details
Please check your contact information in the Members Area, especially that we hold your correct current mobile number.
Please also add or update any additional key emergency contacts where appropriate.
Medical Information
Has your child’s medical information changed? If anything new needs to be added or existing information needs to be updated, please send us a private message through the Members Area with the relevant details.
Please do not post sensitive medical or support information publicly.
Parents sometimes tell a member of staff verbally that their child has ADHD, ASD, an EHCP or other additional support needs. We value these conversations, but a verbal conversation alone cannot be treated as a confirmed record. If you have not already done so, please send the relevant information through a Members Area message, along with any strategies that may help your child feel comfortable, confident and supported. We are not asking families to provide formal documents.
Unless your child is specifically booked into an Adaptive class, we will assume they are attending the regular class appropriate for their age group. Knowing about a child’s needs or EHCP does not determine their class placement, but it can help us understand what support may be useful, reduce anxiety and, where appropriate, let families know that Adaptive classes are available if they may be a good fit. Any decision to explore or book an Adaptive class remains with the family.
Student Reviews Replace Mini Assessments
A focus on overall development and readiness.
From this training year, Student Reviews replace Mini Assessments. A Student Review considers the bigger picture: attendance, consistency, effort, attitude, technical development and readiness to progress—not performance in a single-day test.
Attendance and Review Eligibility
- Blue, Purple and Purple Stripe Belt students: expected to attend two sessions per week.
- Brown Belt students: expected to attend three sessions per week.
- All other students: should attend a minimum of once per week, although we highly recommend training twice per week wherever possible.
Why Attendance Matters
Regular training allows instructors to see sustained effort, consistency and technical development. These expectations maintain the higher standard required as students progress; they are not an arbitrary barrier.
Your Student Review Journey
The Members Area shows when a Review is ready to book.
Once a student reaches the required progress for their Review, the Review will become available to book through the Members Area. Until it becomes available, parents will not be able to book that Review. If your child’s Review is not showing as available yet, you do not need to do anything — just keep attending their normal classes.
Review and Belt Promotion Opportunities
These specific opportunities are separate from the normal Review cycle.
| Date | Event | Who it is for |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday 5 September |
Academic Year Refresher Review ZKS Martial Arts HQ |
A refresher at the start of the academic year, separate from the normal Student Review cycle. |
| Saturday 12 September, 4:00pm |
Autumn Belt Promotion make-up session ZKS Martial Arts HQ |
Invitation only, for students eligible for July promotion who could not attend. |
Still Waiting to Collect a New Belt?
Please help us make sure an outstanding July belt reaches the correct class.
Some students were unable to attend during our July Belt Promotion Week and still have a new belt waiting to be presented.
Wherever possible, we will arrange for outstanding belts to be available at each student’s currently assigned class so their instructor can present the belt there.
However, some students may change their regular assigned class from 1 September. If you change your child’s assigned class, please send us a message through the Members Area to confirm that your child is still expecting a new belt and tell us which class they have moved to.
Once belts have been allocated to instructors and venues, a class change does not automatically tell us that an outstanding belt also needs to be moved. If we are not informed, the belt may not be available when your child attends the new class. Instructors can only present belts that have been supplied to their session, so please make sure the office knows in advance.
Message us through the Members Area before attending so the belt can be moved to the correct class.
New Sunday Children’s Classes
Three new Sunday morning classes at ZKS Martial Arts HQ start on 6 September.
From Sunday 6 September 2026, we are adding a new morning timetable for Little Dragons, Mini Ninjas and Junior Martial Arts at ZKS HQ.
Welcome Back, Sensei Dylan
We are also very pleased to announce the return of Sensei Dylan, who will lead all three of the new Sunday classes. Dylan has made the decision to return to ZKS on a part-time basis, and we are genuinely delighted to welcome him back to the team and onto the mats.
Sunday Children’s Timetable
These Sunday classes are intended mainly for newer members, but many existing families have asked whether we would ever run Sunday sessions. We hope this new option makes training easier to fit around busy family life and that members and parents can take advantage of having ZKS sessions available every day of the week.
Class places remain subject to availability. Families can check the suitable options and manage their child’s regular class through the Members Area.
Parents: Fancy Finding Out What Training Is Really Like?
Every week we ask our children to step onto the mats, learn something unfamiliar, keep trying when a technique feels difficult and build confidence through practice.
This September, parents have an opportunity to experience some of that for themselves through the Havoc Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Beginners Course at ZKS HQ.
Everyone on the course starts together. You do not need to be fit, flexible or have any martial arts experience before starting. The course begins with movement, safety and the basic positions before gradually building your skills.
- Starts: Wednesday 2 September 2026
- Time: 8:00pm–9:00pm
- Place: ZKS Martial Arts HQ, 111–113 Cambridge Street, Aylesbury
- Who: Adults and teens aged 16+
- Experience: None required
- Group: Maximum 12 beginners
- Included: Training Gi
- August price: £150 — a £100 saving
It might also give you a completely new appreciation for some of the things we ask your children to do every week!
Please Check Your Members Area
The main place for classes, bookings and individual enquiries.
- Your child’s assigned class.
- The correct school-year and age group.
- That you can access your account.
- Your notifications so you do not miss important member and event updates.
- If your child changes class and is still waiting for a belt, message us so the belt can be moved to the correct class.
Need Help?
Use the Help Centre for general guidance. For a question about your child, class or invitation, message us through the Members Area.
Welcome Back
Thank you to all our families for your continued support.
The biggest thing I’d ask from students this year is simply to train consistently, work hard and enjoy their martial arts. Don’t worry about rushing towards the next belt. If the training and development are there, the progression will follow.
We look forward to welcoming everyone back to the mats on 1 September.
Kind regards,
Sensei Ben Babbington
Head Instructor
ZKS Martial Arts