Belt & Mat

Parent tool

Find a martial arts class near you

Enter your ZIP code or city and pick a style. We'll open a live map of schools near you, show the official club directories for that style, and give you a checklist for the visit.

How to use the results

Map results list every school that calls itself a martial arts school, good and bad, so treat them as a starting list rather than a recommendation. Shortlist three schools within a drive you can manage twice a week, read the most recent reviews from parents rather than the star rating, and look at each school's own website for a class timetable, prices and the instructors' backgrounds. A school that hides its prices until you visit is common, but one that will not tell you about contracts at all deserves caution.

Official federation directories list only clubs that pay to be members, so they are shorter but tell you the club follows that body's rules on coaching, safety and background checks. Many good schools are not affiliated, so a missing club is not a warning sign on its own.

Official club directories

Run by national governing bodies. Links open their sites.

Your visit checklist

Print it or keep it on your phone. Watch a full kids' class before you sign anything.

Call or message first

  • Is there a free trial class or trial week?
  • Which class fits my child's age and experience?
  • What does it cost each month, and is there a month-to-month option?
  • Are there sign-up, testing or uniform fees on top?

Watch the class

  • Are children busy most of the time, not waiting in lines?
  • Does the instructor know names and correct gently?
  • Is there one adult for every eight to ten young children?
  • Are mats clean and the space big enough?

Ask the instructor

  • What training and certification do you have?
  • Do instructors have background checks and first aid?
  • When does sparring start, and how is it controlled?
  • How long does a belt usually take, and can a child fail?

Before you sign

  • Read the cancellation terms and notice period.
  • Ask what happens if you move or your child gets hurt.
  • Get every price in writing.
  • Never sign a long contract on the first visit.

More help: questions for a trial class, how to choose a school, martial arts contracts and the cost calculator. Not sure which style? Take the 1-minute quiz.