Martial arts schools in Tacoma and Pierce County
In Tacoma a few schools charge nothing at all, or only what a student chooses to give. Capoeira Angola is free at Tacoma Capoeira Center through its nonprofit Capoeira Vida program, TenShin Budo Kai Dojo holds free aiki-budo classes twice a week, and Conquest Self Defense asks only for a donation for its Kajukenbo and grappling, with a Bible message in every class.
Kun Khmer, Cambodia's traditional kickboxing, has been taught at South Sound Martial Arts since 1996, Filhos de Palmares is the city's second Capoeira Angola school, and Traditional Hapkiyusul teaches the Korean line of Daitoryu Aikijujutsu to adults. Okinawan Shorin Ryu comes with kobudo weapons at Shinzo Kaizen Dojo, and Seibukan jujutsu adds Enshin Itto-ryu sword classes. Kendo and iaido share Tacoma Kendo and Iaido Club, and Ippon Judo Dojo in Lakewood asks newcomers to watch one full class before they join.
Jiu-jitsu gyms are the most common, then taekwondo schools, and about half of all the schools are in Tacoma itself. The rest spread from Lakewood, Puyallup and University Place out to Gig Harbor, Graham and Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
60 schools in Tacoma and nearby towns are listed here. 15 have a full profile built from their own website; 13 of those run classes for kids.
Japanese and Okinawan arts in Tacoma
Ippon Judo Dojo
LakewoodA nonprofit judo dojo whose stated lineage runs from Jigoro Kano to head instructor Jason Harai. Newcomers watch one full class first, and families train together.
KidsYouth Judo (ages 4-14)Watch a full class first
JudoSeibukan Jujutsu of Washington
TacomaSeibukan Jujutsu under a direct student of its founder, plus Enshin Itto-ryu sword classes. Juniors train apart from teens and adults, and a Saturday class is open to all ages.
KidsSeibukan Jujutsu Juniors · Seibukan Jujutsu class open to all age groupsNo trial published
Jujutsu (Seibukan), Battojutsu (Enshin Itto-ryu)Shinzo Kaizen Dojo
TacomaOkinawan Shorin Ryu karate and kobudo with a stated lineage through Jerry Piddington, O'Shihan. New students start with a free week of classes.
KidsKids karate programFree trial
Karate (Beikoku Tamashii Shorin Ryu), Kobudo (Beikoku Tamashii Kobudo)TenShin Budo Kai Dojo
TacomaFree classes in aiki-budo, an aikido-based system with parts of aiki-jujitsu and hapkido, aimed at self-defense. Class meets Monday and Thursday evenings.
Aikido (TenShin Budo Kai), Aiki-jujitsu, HapkidoTraditional Hapkiyusul
TacomaAn adults-only Tacoma dojang teaching Hapkiyusul (Daitoryu Aikijujutsu) in the line of Kim Yunsang. Newcomers start with a light interview with Master Han.
Aikijujutsu (Hapkiyusul)Washington Karate Lakewood Dojo
LakewoodSensei Charles Sweigart, a 6th-degree black belt and World Karate Federation referee, has led this Lakewood dojo since 1995. New students can start any time.
KidsKinder Karate (4-6 years old)Free trial
Karate
Taekwondo, hapkido and Korean arts in Tacoma
PDK Martial Arts
TacomaA licensed Kombat Taekwondo club in Tacoma that splits its week into traditional and sport taekwondo days. New students start with a free trial class.
KidsKids classesFree trial
Taekwondo (Kombat Taekwondo)Virtue Taekwondo
GrahamA Graham taekwondo school founded in 2001, taught by two instructors certified under World Taekwondo, with classes grouped by age and belt. Newcomers start with a free class.
KidsLittle Warrior (Age 4-7) · Youth Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced classes (Age 6-17) · Family (Age 6+) · Sparring (Level 2+, Level 4+, Level 7+) (Age 6-17)Free trial
Taekwondo
Brazilian jiu-jitsu and grappling in Tacoma
Gracie Barra Tacoma
FircrestGracie Barra jiu-jitsu in Fircrest under head instructor Josh Calvo, in three tiers from GB1 Fundamentals up, plus BANG Muay Thai. The first class is free.
KidsGBK Kids Program · Muay Thai youth programFree trial
Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Muay Thai (BANG Muay Thai)Legend Jiu Jitsu Academy
University PlaceAn Atos jiu jitsu gym that adds judo and wrestling classes built for grapplers. Adult classes run early morning, at noon and in the evening; the first class is free.
KidsKids jiu jitsu (5-10) · Little Legends (3-4)Free trial. Kids from $115 / month
Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Judo, WrestlingLogic Jiu Jitsu Club
TacomaA veteran-owned Brazilian jiu-jitsu academy in Tacoma with gi and no-gi classes, a women's class and a youth competition team. Adults try it free for 3 days.
KidsBeginner Kids Jiu-Jitsu · Advanced Kids Jiu-JitsuFree trial
Brazilian jiu-jitsuVital Jiu Jitsu - Srisuk Muay Thai
FifeA Marcelo Alonso Brazilian Jiu Jitsu affiliate and Kru Saohin Srisuk's Muay Thai program under one roof in Fife. Fundamentals classes in both arts for beginners.
KidsKids Jiu Jitsu (Ages 5-13) · Kid's Muay Thai (Ages 5-13)Paid trial from $20. Kids from $100 / month
Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Muay Thai
Muay Thai, MMA and striking in Tacoma
Conquest Self Defense
TacomaA donation-only Christian nonprofit in East Tacoma teaching Kajukenbo, Hayastan grappling and youth wrestling. Every class includes a Bible message.
KidsKid's Self-Defense (4-6 yrs) · Junior's Self-Defense (7-12 yrs) · Youth Grappling (5-13 yrs) · Homeschool Session · CSD Wrestling ClubNo trial published
Kajukenbo (Ge Shou Dao), Hayastan grappling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, WrestlingSouth Sound Martial Arts
TacomaFounder Kru Srab Sroeuy has taught Kun Khmer, Cambodia's traditional kickboxing art, at this Tacoma gym since 1996. The first class is free, and gloves and pads are lent.
KidsKids (ages 6 to 12)Free trial
Kun KhmerTacoma Capoeira Center (Capoeira Vida)
TacomaCapoeira Angola in Tacoma, with every class and event free through the nonprofit Capoeira Vida program. Beginners need no experience; kids start at age 6.
KidsYouth Capoeira Classes (6+) · Family classFree trial
Capoeira (Capoeira Angola)
More schools in Tacoma without a profile yet
Their websites couldn't be read when we checked, or they're not in the first set of profiles. Each links to its own site.
- Aikido Tacoma AikikaiTacomaAikido
- Alliance BJJ LakewoodLakewoodBrazilian jiu-jitsu
- Pentjak Silat (Amerindo Pentjak Silat)
- Barners Blue DragonsSpanawayKarate, Blended system
- Bayonet CombativesJoint Base Lewis-McChord
- Certified Martial ArtsUniversity PlaceBrazilian jiu-jitsu
- Danh Okami DojoTacomaKarate (Gōjū-ryū), Karate (Isshin-ryū)
- Dauntless Martial ArtsPuyallupTaekwondo
- Defiance Jiu JitsuTacomaBrazilian jiu-jitsu, Boxing, Kickboxing
- Krav Maga (Krav Maga Street Defense)
- Capoeira (Angola)
- Freedom Martial Arts AcademyEdgewoodTaekwondo, Kung fu (Shaolin)
- Mma
- GRIT CITY BJJTacomaBrazilian jiu-jitsu
- Brazilian jiu-jitsu
- Hidden Lake Kung FuSumnerKung fu
- Hubbard Martial Arts AcademyPuyallupTaekwondo
- Brazilian jiu-jitsu
- Karate EdgeEdgewoodKarate
- Kiai Martial ArtsSouth HillKarate (Jiyugata Shito-Ryu)
- KOA Jiu Jitsu AcademyLakewoodBrazilian jiu-jitsu, Wrestling
- Ludusport Academy & GymTacomaBoxing, Kickboxing, Thaiboxing, Submission wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, MMA
- Taekwondo (World Taekwondo / Kukkiwon), MMA
- Master Shin's TaekwondoPuyallupTaekwondo
- Mythic Martial ArtsTacomaJiu-Jitsu, MMA, Kickboxing
- Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Boxing
- Pinnacle Martial Arts CenterPuyallup
- Q's TaekwondoPuyallupTaekwondo
- Quantum Martial Arts
- Rugged Combat Sports & MMASpanawayBrazilian jiu-jitsu, Muay Thai, Kickboxing, Wrestling, MMA
- Seven Swords AcademyTacoma
- Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Kickboxing, Muay Thai, MMA, Wrestling, Boxing
- Kendo, Iaido
- The Trench Jiu-JitsuTacomaBrazilian jiu-jitsu
- Tiger Kim's World Class Martial ArtsSouth Hill
- Tiger Taekwondo AcademyUniversity PlaceTaekwondo
- Twin Tigers TaekwondoTacomaTaekwondo
- Kickboxing
- Wave Combat SportsTacomaMuay Thai
- Westcoast Martial ArtsTacomaTae Kwon Do
- Wing chun
Run a school in Tacoma that's missing here, or listed without a profile? Send us your details. A listing is free.