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National Karate

4.8 ★★★★★ 20 Google reviews · Karate dojo in St Cloud, Minnesota

Karate dojo Free trial Beginners welcome Kids & teens Competition team

Long-standing chain providing martial arts training for all ages & skill levels.

Plan your first class

  • Free trial / intro class most dojos welcome new students with a free trial or intro class — check their site or give them a call to book your first session
  • Beginner-friendly all levels welcome, including total beginners — you don't need to be fit or have any experience to start
  • Kids & youth classes kids and youth Karate classes (ages 4–18) — built around discipline, focus, and confidence
  • Adult classes adult Karate classes — training built for grown-ups, from fitness and fundamentals to kumite (sparring) at your own pace
  • Competition team a competition team for students who want to test themselves at kumite tournaments
  • Today see hours ·
  • Website & schedule nationalkarate.com — book classes and see the live schedule
  • Phone +1 320-251-4020

Hours

Monday 4–8 pm
Tuesday 4–8 pm
Wednesday 4–8 pm
Thursday 4–8 pm
Friday 4–8 pm
Saturday 8 am–1 pm
Sunday Closed

Hours shift for holidays, belt tests, and seminars — worth a quick check before a special trip.

The classes they run

Karate classes on the schedule at National Karate, confirmed in students' own reviews and the dojo's own info — not guessed from the sign out front.

🧒 Kids Karate 15 mentions

“The instructors are great teachers and my son and I enjoy classes, the instruction, and the great exercise.”

All dojos that run kids karate →

🛡️ Self-Defense 2 mentions

“We have been going for over 7 years and couldn’t ask for a better place for our kids to learn karate and self-defense.”

All dojos that run self-defense →

Other martial arts here

Karate dojos are usually multi-discipline. Here's what else students mention training under the same roof at National Karate — mined from their reviews and the dojo's own info.

🛡️ Self-Defense 2 mentions

“We have been going for over 7 years and couldn’t ask for a better place for our kids to learn karate and self-defense.”

Other dojos that also teach self-defense →

Disciplines are mined from reviews and the dojo's own info — they show what students have trained, not a formal class guarantee. If you specifically want taekwondo, jiu-jitsu, or kickboxing alongside your Karate, confirm the current schedule with the dojo.

What students say

The things reviewers bring up again and again across 20 Google reviews — in their own words.

builds confidence, discipline & respect 2 mentions

“The teachers are great with the kids, they teach discipline and respect and the kids learn so fast.”

From the reviews

Thank you everyone at Saint Cloud National Karate. My son and I have absolutely no complaints. From the first day everyone there the entire staff were very helpful and friendly and kind, especially Becky.

★★★★★ — Tammy, Aug 2017

National Karate has been great for my kids. The teachers are phenomenal! They have two sites in the St.Cloud area that allow for families to have flexibility in getting the kids to their classes. We have been going for over 7 years and couldn’t ask for a better place for our kids to learn karate and self-defense.

★★★★★ — Nat, Dec 2024

Thank you to Becky for coming to Rapids Alterations and teaching us a bit about self defense. The class was great, the instructor fabulous and the defense information and techniques priceless. Thank you for helping us be safer.

★★★★★ — Cindy, Mar 2017

We love national karate! The teachers are great with the kids, they teach discipline and respect and the kids learn so fast. My daughter is always looking forward to her next class.

★★★★★ — Jessica, Dec 2025

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 20 reviews →

New to Karate? Start at National Karate

National Karate comes up as a beginner-friendly dojo — noted on their own site. If you've never thrown a punch or set foot in a dojo, that's exactly who a good beginners program is for. A few things worth knowing before your first week. First, you don't need to be fit or flexible to start — you get in shape by training, not before it, and the sensei scales the intensity to you. Second, you won't be thrown into hard sparring — reputable dojos build fundamentals (stances, blocks, punches, and kicks) for weeks, and kumite (sparring) eases in gradually, with pads and control. Third, all levels and ages really are welcome — ask about a dedicated beginners or fundamentals class time so your first session is alongside others who are also starting out. Most dojos are happy to let you watch or try a class first, so reach out before you commit.

See their beginner class info

Your first Karate class at National Karate

Nervous about walking into a Karate dojo for the first time? Almost everyone is, and a good sensei expects beginners to come through the door. Here's what to know. What to expect: a typical first class is a warm-up, then drilling basic stances, blocks, punches, and kicks — not hard sparring. Step to the side whenever you need to; no one will bat an eye. What to wear: athletic wear you can move in (or a gi if you have one); you'll train barefoot. What to bring: water, and a mouthguard if you have one — many dojos lend a loaner gi for a first class, so it's worth asking when you call. As you keep training you'll add your own gi and the belt your dojo awards you. Kumite (sparring) eases in gradually, once your fundamentals are solid. Arrive 10–15 minutes early to sign a waiver and meet the sensei. It gets easier fast — most people feel far more at home by their third class.

Karate is a contact sport. Ease in, train within your limits, listen to your instructors, and if you have any injuries or health concerns, mention them before class and check with a doctor if you're unsure.

Where to find National Karate

2835 W St Germain St #650, St Cloud, MN56301

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Listing verified July 2026 from public business records and member reviews. Something out of date? Report a correction. Own this dojo? Claim your listing — it's free.