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True Strength Martial Arts
4.9 ★★★★★ 10 Google reviews · Karate dojo in Fort Smith, Arkansas
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
- 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
- Weapons / kobudo traditional weapons (kobudo) classes — kata with the bo, sai, and nunchaku, taught with control and discipline
- 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 truestrengthmartialarts.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone (479) 739-4647
Hours
| Monday | 5:45–9 PM |
| Tuesday | Closed |
| Wednesday | Closed |
| Thursday | Closed |
| Friday | Closed |
| Saturday | 9:45 AM–1:30 PM |
| Sunday | Closed |
The classes they run
“This is a place for kids/adults that builds strength, character and confidence.”
Other martial arts here
What students say
“This school has helped with my confidence and is welcoming like a family.”
“This is a place for kids/adults that builds strength, character and confidence.”
From the reviews
My child has taken karate classes here for a little over a year now. The instructors are so attentive to the individual and group as a whole and truly care about the kids' achievements and even include life skills teaching (stranger safety, discipline, goals, empathy, etc) during the end of the class.
This is a place for kids/adults that builds strength, character and confidence. The instructors are amazing. The cost is the cheapest around. My son has blossomed since we've been coming for 2 years now. Definitely recommend
This school has helped with my confidence and is welcoming like a family. I have grown into a confident woman and able to teach others.
New to Karate? Start at True Strength Martial Arts
True Strength Martial Arts 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.
Your first Karate class at True Strength Martial Arts
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.