Where North Carolina trains.

An independent guide to 1,316 martial arts schools across North Carolina. Find one near you, then try a class.

Try Boxing in Charlotte · Self Defense in Raleigh · Karate in Wilmington

Which art fits?

The question most parents and first-timers start with. Here's the honest short version.

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Fitness, real self defense, problem solvers Great for kids 327schools

Your first class

Wear a T-shirt and shorts with no zippers. Expect a warm-up, a few techniques, then light rolling if you want it.

Gear

A gi after a few weeks. Mouthguard.

See 327 BJJ schools BJJ near me
Self Defense Practical skills fast, women's programs, seniors Good for kids 309schools

Your first class

Comfortable clothes and sneakers. Awareness, breaking grabs and simple strikes, paced for total beginners.

Gear

Usually none. Some programs use padded suits for scenario drills.

See 309 Self Defense schools Self Defense near me
Karate Discipline, focus, younger kids Great for kids 266schools

Your first class

Barefoot, comfortable clothes. Basics in lines, then partner drills. Very beginner friendly.

Gear

A gi (uniform) once you join, often included.

See 266 Karate schools Karate near me
Taekwondo Flexibility, competition Great for kids 244schools

Your first class

Lots of kicking drills and stretching. Kids classes are often split by age and belt.

Gear

Dobok uniform. Sparring gear later.

See 244 Taekwondo schools Taekwondo near me
Boxing Fitness, confidence Good for kids 210schools

Your first class

Jump rope, bag work and mitts. Most gyms have loaner gloves for a first visit.

Gear

Gloves and hand wraps.

See 210 Boxing schools Boxing near me
MMA Fitness, competitors, all-around skills Teens and up 192schools

Your first class

Athletic clothes. Classes usually split between striking and grappling. Beginners don't spar right away.

Gear

Gloves, shin guards, mouthguard. A rash guard for grappling.

See 192 MMA schools MMA near me
Kickboxing Fitness, stress relief, total beginners Good for kids 180schools

Your first class

Athletic clothes. Warm-up, combinations on the pads, a hard finisher. Most classes don't spar.

Gear

Gloves and hand wraps. Shin guards if you spar.

See 180 Kickboxing schools Kickboxing near me
No-Gi Grappling Fitness, MMA crossover, competitors Good for kids 174schools

Your first class

Shorts with no pockets or zippers and a rash guard or fitted shirt. Drills, then light rolling if you want it.

Gear

Rash guard, grappling shorts, mouthguard.

See 174 No-Gi schools No-Gi near me
Muay Thai Fitness, stress relief, adults Good for kids 121schools

Your first class

Shadowboxing, pad work with a partner, a lot of sweat. No hard sparring on day one.

Gear

Gloves and hand wraps.

See 121 Muay Thai schools Muay Thai near me
Wrestling Strength, toughness, BJJ and MMA crossover Great for kids 91schools

Your first class

T-shirt and shorts with no pockets, wrestling shoes or socks. Stance, motion and drills with a partner.

Gear

Wrestling shoes. Headgear for kids programs.

See 91 Wrestling schools Wrestling near me
Judo Balance, competition Great for kids 76schools

Your first class

Breakfalls first, then throws with a cooperative partner. Kids love it.

Gear

A heavy judo gi.

See 76 Judo schools Judo near me
Kung Fu Flexibility, focus, people who like tradition Great for kids 76schools

Your first class

Loose pants and a T-shirt. Stances, basics and the start of a first form.

Gear

A uniform once you join. Some schools add weapons later.

See 76 Kung Fu schools Kung Fu near me
Krav Maga Self defense, adults, staying calm under pressure Teens and up 69schools

Your first class

Athletic clothes and sneakers. Strikes, escapes from grabs and chokes, and plenty of cardio.

Gear

Gloves and a mouthguard. Many gyms lend gear at first.

See 69 Krav Maga schools Krav Maga near me
Aikido Calm practice, adults of any age, learning to fall Good for kids 40schools

Your first class

Comfortable clothes, barefoot on mats. Lots of rolling and falling practice before any throws.

Gear

A gi once you join. Advanced students add a hakama.

See 40 Aikido schools Aikido near me
Filipino Martial Arts Coordination, weapon awareness, practical self defense Teens and up 39schools

Your first class

Comfortable clothes. Angles of attack with a pair of rattan sticks, slowly, with a partner.

Gear

Rattan sticks and a trainer knife, usually loaned at first.

See 39 FMA schools FMA near me
Kempo Self defense, coordination, steady progress Great for kids 35schools

Your first class

Barefoot, comfortable clothes. Basic strikes and blocks, then simple self-defense combinations.

Gear

A gi once you join. Sparring gear later.

See 35 Kempo schools Kempo near me
Hapkido Self defense, flexibility, adults of any age Good for kids 33schools

Your first class

Barefoot, comfortable clothes. Falling practice, wrist locks and kicks with a partner.

Gear

A dobok (uniform) once you join.

See 33 Hapkido schools Hapkido near me
Tang Soo Do Discipline, families training together, younger kids Great for kids 24schools

Your first class

Barefoot, comfortable clothes. Basics, a few kicks and the start of your first form.

Gear

A dobok (uniform) once you join. Sparring gear later.

See 24 Tang Soo Do schools Tang Soo Do near me
Silat Coordination, practical self defense, curious minds Teens and up 8schools

Your first class

Loose pants and a T-shirt, often barefoot. Footwork patterns, then partner drills.

Gear

A uniform later. Training knives and sticks are usually loaned.

See 8 Silat schools Silat near me
Jeet Kune Do Practical self defense, people who like efficiency Teens and up 4schools

Your first class

Athletic clothes and sneakers. Footwork, straight punches and partner drills.

Gear

Gloves and a mouthguard once you start sparring.

See 4 Jeet Kune Do schools Jeet Kune Do near me
Capoeira Creativity, flexibility, people who like music Great for kids 4schools

Your first class

Loose pants and a T-shirt, barefoot. The ginga (the basic rocking step), a few kicks, and some singing.

Gear

White pants (abadá) and a cord once you join.

See 4 Capoeira schools Capoeira near me
Showing 8 of 21 styles

City guides

The best-reviewed schools in the biggest cities, updated with every data refresh.

Charlotte

107 schools
  1. TOP TIGER TEAM BOXINGBoxing · 5.0 from 484 reviews
  2. Real American GrapplingBJJ, No-Gi · 5.0 from 243 reviews
  3. Charlotte Jiu-Jitsu AcademyBJJ, No-Gi · 5.0 from 184 reviews
All 107

Raleigh

83 schools
  1. Pendergrass Academy of Martial ArtsBJJ, Judo · 5.0 from 369 reviews
  2. The Strength Feed5.0 from 367 reviews
  3. F45 Training Five Points RaleighNo-Gi · 5.0 from 253 reviews
All 83

Wilmington

47 schools
  1. Ethos Jiu Jitsu and FitnessBJJ, MMA · 5.0 from 238 reviews
  2. 9Round Kickboxing FitnessBoxing, Kickboxing · 5.0 from 133 reviews
  3. The Jiu-Jitsu InstituteBJJ · 5.0 from 104 reviews
All 47

Every style

21 styles taught across North Carolina.

14 of 21 shown

Every city

Plus a page for each style in each city.

253 cities

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