After school they swap their school clothes for white uniforms, head to the dojo and stand to attention in front of their instructor.
Johanna Martensson is the instructor of the Arrowtown Shukokai Karate Club, which meets in the Arrowtown School hall - or dojo, meaning place of training.
Peewees are first up at 4.30pm on Mondays, then juniors an hour later. Seniors round off the day's instruction at 6.30.
Ms Martensson said all instructors were trained by international chief instructors, who were themselves trained by the chief instructor from Japan. She took over the instruction of the club this year.
While the children enjoy learning high kicks and fast moves, what they might not realise is they're also learning about how to focus, aspects of self-defence, discipline and respect.
''I have children who come in who can't focus for two seconds and they learn,'' said.
''For adults the same thing - it's building confidence, strength and the means to defend yourself.''
Most people would be aware the black belt was the highest colour belt achievable by a karate student, but Ms Martensson says a black belt means training has just begun. At the Arrowtown Shukokai Karate Club, belt gradings were held three times a year, she said. Students start their training with a white belt.
''For an adult, it takes about five years to get a to a black belt. For kids it takes longer because you don't give black belts to under 14s and then it's only a junior black belt.''
This was because a young karate student with a black belt would not necessarily have the ability to fight a full-grown adult at black-belt level.
The style of Shukokai karate meant anyone was able to participate, Ms Martensson said.
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