What are Seven Star Seattle's Try a Class Night and Self Defense Class?

Updated

Seven Star Seattle runs two low-commitment entry points that are easy to confuse: Try a Class Night is a one-evening introduction to the school's Kajukenbo martial arts curriculum, open to trans, nonbinary, gender-expansive individuals and cis-women age 13+; the Community Self Defense Class is a separate session open to all individuals age 13+, regardless of gender. If you want to sample the martial arts program and meet the community, pick Try a Class Night. If you want practical self-defense skills in a single session, pick the Self Defense Class.

Try a Class Night

This is the school's "get a feel for it" option. According to Seven Star, it's a chance to check out their martial arts style, Kajukenbo, and to meet Seven Star students and teachers.

  • What it is: An evening session to experience the curriculum, teaching style, and community before committing to anything.
  • Who it's for: Trans, nonbinary, and gender-expansive individuals, plus cis-women, age 13 and up.
  • Experience needed: None. No prior experience is necessary.
  • Example date: Wednesday, September 2nd, 6:30–8:00pm.

If your goal is to eventually enroll, note that Try a Class Night is not the formal enrollment step — the school's stated first step to becoming a student is the 4-week Beginner's Cycle.

Community Self Defense Class

This is a standalone class rather than a window into the martial arts program.

  • What it is: A self-defense class offered to the general public.
  • Who it's for: Open to all individuals age 13 and up — the gender eligibility is broader here than at Try a Class Night.
  • Example date: Sunday, September 27th, 1pm.

Because it's open to everyone, this is the better fit if you're looking for self-defense specifically, or if you want to attend with someone who wouldn't qualify for the martial arts programming.

Which one should you choose?

Try a Class Night Community Self Defense Class
Purpose Sample Kajukenbo and the Seven Star community Learn self-defense skills
Eligibility Trans, nonbinary, gender-expansive people and cis-women, age 13+ All individuals, age 13+
Prior experience None required Not stated
Format One evening (example: 6:30–8:00pm) One session (example: 1pm)
Path to enrollment Informational; enrollment starts with the Beginner's Cycle Not an enrollment step

Choose Try a Class Night if you're considering joining Seven Star as a student and want to see whether the style and community fit. Choose the Community Self Defense Class if you want a single practical session, or if you don't fall within the Try a Class Night eligibility group.

Practical notes

  • Both sessions have specific dates rather than rolling schedules, so check the school's pages for the current offerings before planning.
  • The dates above (September 2 and September 27) are examples from the site's listings, not a permanent calendar.
  • Age 13+ applies to both, so younger children aren't covered by either option.
  • Seven Star also rents its building for rehearsals, classes, and events, but the site states it is not accepting new rental inquiries at this time.