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Potomac Kempo - Carlyle (Old Towne)

5 ★★★★★ 8 Google reviews · Karate dojo in Alexandria, Virginia

Part of Kenpo / Kempo Karate

Karate dojo Free trial Affiliated Kids & teens Competition team

Affiliated dojo — reviews and the dojo's own info point to a recognized Karate style organization or franchise (think Shotokan/JKA, Kyokushin, Goju-Ryu, Isshinryu, Tiger Schulmann's or Villari's). If lineage matters to you, ask which style and organization the dojo belongs to, and under whom the head sensei earned their black belt.

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
  • Kids & youth classes kids and youth Karate classes — 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 potomackempo.com — book classes and see the live schedule
  • Phone +1 571-336-7010

Hours

Monday 3–8 pm
Tuesday 3:30–9 pm
Wednesday 3–8 pm
Thursday 2–8 pm
Friday 2–8 pm
Saturday 8:30 am–2 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 Potomac Kempo - Carlyle (Old Towne), confirmed in students' own reviews and the dojo's own info — not guessed from the sign out front.

🧒 Kids Karate 2 mentions

“Just stop in one day and have a look at Sensei Mark teaching a kid's class and you'll be convinced.”

All dojos that run kids karate →

🛡️ Self-Defense 3 mentions

“The adult classes are very well configured to give you a great workout as well as learning some awesome self-defense skills.”

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 Potomac Kempo - Carlyle (Old Towne) — mined from their reviews and the dojo's own info.

🐉 Kung Fu

“You will lean Shaolin Kempo and a mixture of other very exciting forms.”

Other dojos that also teach kung fu →

🛡️ Self-Defense 3 mentions

“The adult classes are very well configured to give you a great workout as well as learning some awesome self-defense skills.”

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 8 Google reviews — in their own words.

expert instruction from a great sensei 4 mentions

“Sensei Mark is knowledgeable, talented and makes working out an amazingly fun experience!”

🌱 welcoming to beginners 3 mentions

“The community is friendly, welcoming, and always willing to assist.”

friendly, respectful dojo 4 mentions

“The community is friendly, welcoming, and always willing to assist.”

strong technique, kata & fundamentals 2 mentions

“I have always liked a great workout, but a workout that actually teaches you practical techniques, discipline, focus and FUN at the same time?”

great workout & fitness 2 mentions

“I have always liked a great workout, but a workout that actually teaches you practical techniques, discipline, focus and FUN at the same time?”

traditional style & affiliation 8 mentions

“District Courthouse in Alexandria's Carlyle neigborhood, Potomac Kempo-Old Towne is a great place to study martial arts.”

From the reviews

I have been coming here for a couple of years now and I have loved every moment. The instructor is great, very knowledgeable and talented. The community is friendly, welcoming, and always willing to assist. I encourage anyone thinking about martial arts to come over and become a part of the community.

★★★★★ — Marcus, May 2018

I have always liked a great workout, but a workout that actually teaches you practical techniques, discipline, focus and FUN at the same time?? Thats what Kempo is to me. Sensei Mark is knowledgeable, talented and makes working out an amazingly fun experience!!

★★★★★ — Dawn, Nov 2014

Great place to work out and learn! Great instructors, great classmates. I have gotten in better shape, improved flexibility, concentration and manage stress a lot better.

★★★★★ — Laura, Nov 2014

Tucked between the Patent Office and the U.S. District Courthouse in Alexandria's Carlyle neigborhood, Potomac Kempo-Old Towne is a great place to study martial arts. I took a free lesson a year ago at another location, but I wasn't able to begin lessons at that time.

★★★★★ — Sarah, Nov 2014

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 8 reviews →

Your first Karate class at Potomac Kempo - Carlyle (Old Towne)

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 Potomac Kempo - Carlyle (Old Towne)

2050 Ballenger Ave, Alexandria, VA22314

Get directions

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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.