HomeMichiganDexter › Rise Martial Arts - Dexter

Rise Martial Arts - Dexter

5 ★★★★★ 87 Google reviews · Karate dojo in Dexter, Michigan

Free trial Beginners welcome Kids & teens Private lessons

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 3–12) — built around discipline, focus, and confidence
  • Private lessons private, one-on-one instruction available — a focused way to start or to work around a busy schedule; ask about availability and rates
  • Today see hours ·
  • Website & schedule martialartsrise.com — book classes and see the live schedule
  • Phone (734) 756-8899

Hours

Monday 4:20–8 PM
Tuesday 4:20–8 PM
Wednesday 4:20–8 PM
Thursday 4:20–8 PM
Friday 4:20–8 PM
Saturday Closed
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 Rise Martial Arts - Dexter, confirmed in students' own reviews and the dojo's own info — not guessed from the sign out front.

🧒 Kids Karate 35 mentions

“He has so much fun in class with his peers, his instructor does a great job of allowing the kids to have fun while maintaining the ‘respect’ for the art!”

All dojos that run kids karate →

🌱 Beginners 4 mentions

“He’s never done anything like this before and enjoys the challenge and discipline he gets here.”

All dojos that run beginners →

👤 Private Lessons

“Very good with the kids and making sure to give one on one attention within the group setting.”

All dojos that run private lessons →

🛡️ Self-Defense 3 mentions

“Right from the trial lesson, the class is fun, engaging, practical, age-appropriate, and beneficial in learning “fight” moves - essentially 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 Rise Martial Arts - Dexter — mined from their reviews and the dojo's own info.

🏟️ MMA 3 mentions

“Great MMA program for young children starting out, utilizing: Punching, kicking and grappling techniques.”

Other dojos that also teach mma →

🛡️ Self-Defense 3 mentions

“Right from the trial lesson, the class is fun, engaging, practical, age-appropriate, and beneficial in learning “fight” moves - essentially 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 87 Google reviews — in their own words.

expert instruction from a great sensei 2 mentions

“He has so much fun in class with his peers, his instructor does a great job of allowing the kids to have fun while maintaining the ‘respect’ for the art!”

🌱 welcoming to beginners 7 mentions

“The coaches are great and it’s a supportive and encouraging environment for all levels.”

friendly, respectful dojo 4 mentions

“The coaches are great and it’s a supportive and encouraging environment for all levels.”

🧒 strong kids program 4 mentions

“I think my daughter is getting good exercise. My daughter loved breaking a board with her foot and getting her white belt.”

clean, welcoming dojo 6 mentions

“Thank you Josh and Team for creating a great space for children to be strong and confident.”

💵 good value / fair pricing 3 mentions

“Thru teaching and training they have learned a great deal of discipline and character traits as part of class in addition to the traditional martial art skills you would expect.”

From the reviews

We enrolled our 6 year old daughter in RISE to help boost her confidence and learn some defense skills. After the free trial class we were hooked! Within a few weeks of starting she’s really progressing well and having a lot of fun.

★★★★★ — Stephanie, Mar 2024

This is exactly the type of influence that my son needs. Ran by 3 young adult men that exude confidence, discipline and sound morality. That's the best part for me - they're teaching values and emotionally intelligent critical thinking. The teachers are men that I want my son to look up to and be influenced by.

★★★★★ — Courtney, Jan 2025

Rise Martial Arts is amazing! We attended a free trial session and I immediately signed my two sons aged 8 and 11 up for weekly classes. The instructors hold the children to a high standard, and are also fun and approachable.

★★★★★ — Christine, Oct 2024

This new mixed martial arts school in Dexter is fantastic. For decades, I have tried to find a martial arts or karate place that doesn’t burden the student by having to learn a new language, and having to do repetitive moves where it’s difficult to see how all the small moves add up to something that can be applied in…

★★★★★ — Dog, May 2023

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 87 reviews →

New to Karate? Start at Rise Martial Arts - Dexter

Rise Martial Arts - Dexter comes up as a beginner-friendly dojo, going by their listing and students’ reviews. 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.

Check beginner classes on their site

Your first Karate class at Rise Martial Arts - Dexter

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 Rise Martial Arts - Dexter

7069 Dexter Ann Arbor Rd, Dexter, MI48130

Get directions

More Karate dojos near Dexter

Keith Hafner's Karate

5 ★★★★★ 37 reviews

214 S Main St, Ann Arbor, MI

Karate dojo Kids & teens Affiliated expert instruction from a great senseiwelcoming to beginnersfriendly, respectful dojo

7.1 miles away

Shorinji Kempo

5 ★★★★★ 2 reviews

323 E Hoover Ave, Ann Arbor, MI

Karate dojo Affiliated

7.5 miles away

Wright's Isshinryu Karate

5 ★★★★★ 33 reviews

4597 Platt Rd, Ann Arbor, MI

Karate dojo Kids & teens Private lessons Competition team Affiliated expert instruction from a great senseifriendly, respectful dojogreat workout & fitness

11.4 miles away

All Karate dojos in Dexter, MI →

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.