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Karate Classes in Kentucky
43 Karate dojos across 21 cities in Kentucky — including 9 with a free trial, 10 beginner-friendly, and 29 with kids' classes. Pick a city for full listings with member reviews, live open-now hours, and the classes each dojo runs — or browse the map.
Karate travelled from Okinawa and Japan to every corner of America, and Kentucky now has dojos for every reason people train: a nervous first class, a serious workout, self-defense, kids' and women's programs, belt progression, or the competition team. You don't need to be fit or experienced to walk in — all ages and levels are welcome, and a good dojo meets you where you are.
Cities in Kentucky
Featured karate dojos in Kentucky
Ranked by what members say — Google rating weighted by review count. See the full best-of-Kentucky ranking →
Somerset Martial Arts: Jiu Jitsu, Karate, Kick Boxing, Wrestling, Boxing, & Fitness
5 ★★★★★ 69 reviews
Marty Eubanks World Champion Karate Academy
4.5 ★★★★★ 37 reviews
Shaolin Kempo School of Martial Arts
4.8 ★★★★★ 33 reviews
Martial arts school offering karate, Kung Fu, Jiu Jitsu & kickboxing classes for kids & adults.
Sin Thé Karate School
4.4 ★★★★☆ 29 reviews
Thomas Karate Academy
5 ★★★★★ 23 reviews
🥋 Free trial / intro class — check their site
Kentuckiana Shotokan Karate Do (KSKD)
5 ★★★★★ 23 reviews
More ways to train in Kentucky
- Best karate dojos in Kentucky — the state-wide ranking
- Karate for beginners — 10 beginner-friendly dojos in Kentucky, ready for your first class
- Kids & teen karate — 29 dojos in Kentucky with youth programs
- Free trial classes — 9 dojos in Kentucky offer a free trial or intro class
- Women's karate — 1 dojo in Kentucky with women's classes
- Browse karate class types — beginners, kids, teens, women's, kata, kumite, weapons/kobudo, private lessons and more
- Kenpo / Kempo Karate locations in Kentucky
- Shotokan Karate (JKA) locations in Kentucky
- Premier Martial Arts locations in Kentucky
Karate programs in Kentucky
Find the class that fits — whether you're starting from zero, bringing the kids, or chasing your first competition.
Other martial arts trained in Kentucky
Most karate dojos are multi-art. Here's what else Kentucky dojos teach under the same roof.
Karate in Kentucky: common questions
- How many karate dojos are in Kentucky?
- Our directory lists 43 karate dojos across 21 cities in Kentucky. The cities with the most are Lexington (9), Louisville (6), Richmond (4).
- How much does karate cost a month in Kentucky?
- Most Kentucky dojos don't post prices online. Across karate dojos in our directory that do list a rate, monthly memberships run about $50–$150 (median around $89). Karate is usually sold as a monthly membership, and rates vary by dojo and style. Many offer a free or discounted first class — see our cost guide for typical ranges.
- Are free trial classes available in Kentucky?
- Yes — 9 dojos in Kentucky advertise a free trial, free first class, or intro week. It's the low-pressure way to try a class before you commit; confirm the current offer on the dojo's site.
- Can beginners and kids train karate in Kentucky?
- Absolutely — karate welcomes all ages and levels. 10 Kentucky dojos are highlighted by members as beginner-friendly, and 29 run kids' or youth programs. You don't need to be fit or have any experience to start, and no reputable dojo pushes beginners into hard sparring before they're ready.
- Do I need to be in shape or spar to start karate?
- No. You can start with zero fitness base and no experience — the training itself gets you in shape. Beginners spend their time on the basics (kihon), forms (kata), and controlled partner drills; sparring (kumite) is introduced gradually, kept light, and closely supervised, and a good dojo never throws newcomers into it. You learn at your own pace, and every black belt in the room started as a white belt.