Title card: What martial arts classes cost, with real gym prices, fees and contracts

How Much Do Martial Arts Classes Cost? Real Gym Prices

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Last reviewed 6 October 2026 by the Fighting.net editorial team. Sources are linked throughout and listed at the end.

What martial arts classes cost depends on the art, the city and the plan. At the nine independent US gyms we found that publish prices online, an adult membership cost $100 to $225 a month when we checked in October 2026. Monthly kids’ plans at those gyms ran $85 to $160. Community programs cost far less: the YMCA of Lincoln, Nebraska charges its members $26 a month for youth karate.

On top of tuition, budget for a uniform, belt-test fees in arts that use belts, and a federation membership if you compete. Below are the real prices we saw, what they include, the extra costs, and the questions to ask before you sign anything. Prices change, so confirm with the gym before you join.

Published prices we found (October 2026)

Each figure was listed on the gym’s or program’s own website when we checked in October 2026. “Unlimited” means as many classes as the timetable offers.

Art Gym or program (city) Plan Listed price
Taekwondo Cincinnati Taekwondo Center (Cincinnati, OH) 2 classes a week plus family class / unlimited $120 / $135 a month
Taekwondo Denton Taekwondo Academy (Denton, TX) 2-3 classes a week / unlimited $138 / $148 a month, plus $75 enrollment
Taekwondo (kids) Skokie Park District (Skokie, IL) 6-week kids and youth session $100 resident / $125 non-resident
Karate Shotokan Karate Minnesota (Minneapolis, MN) Adult / children or student $100 / $85 a month
Karate (youth) YMCA of Lincoln (Lincoln, NE) Monthly youth classes $26 members / $44 community members a month
Brazilian jiu-jitsu Charlotte Jiu-Jitsu Academy (Charlotte, NC) Twice a week / unlimited $150 / $180 a month
Brazilian jiu-jitsu The Jiu Jitsu Company (Philadelphia, PA) Unlimited on a 12-month plan / month to month $185 / $225 a month
BJJ and Muay Thai New England BJJ Academy (Concord, NH) 2 classes a week / unlimited $125 / $160 a month
Judo Bridgetown Judo (Portland, OR) Adult / kids, judo only $130 / $100 a month
Muay Thai Juniper Muay Thai (Philadelphia, PA) Unlimited $175 a month; $25 drop-in
Boxing Minneapolis Boxing Club (Minneapolis, MN) 8 classes a month / unlimited $129 / $189 a month
BJJ (student club) James Madison University Club BJJ (Harrisonburg, VA) One semester / two semesters $85 / $150
BJJ, Muay Thai and more (UK) London Fight Factory (London) 3 classes a week, 6-month minimum / month pass, no commitment £95 / £160 a month
Muay Thai (Australia) Muay Thai Boxing Sydney, Sitshoothon (Sydney, NSW) Unlimited, 30 days’ notice / unlimited, no notice A$60 / A$80 a week

How much does taekwondo cost?

The two US taekwondo schools we found with published prices charge $120 to $148 a month. Both also list what the extras cost:

  • Cincinnati Taekwondo Center (Ohio): $120 a month for two classes a week plus a family class, or $135 a month unlimited. The first month is $190 (or $205 unlimited) and includes a personal introductory lesson, a uniform and a belt. Belt promotions are $30 each until black belt, and membership of the school’s association (OMAC) is $25 a year. Second, third and further family members get 10%, 20% and 30% off. The page says these prices took effect in February 2024; they were still listed in October 2026.
  • Denton Taekwondo Academy (Texas): $138 a month for two to three classes a week, or $148 unlimited, plus a one-time $75 enrollment fee that comes with a free uniform. Extra family members pay $68 or $78 a month. Belt tests are $40 up to blue belt and $50 at red belt. The school says there are no contracts, deposits or exit fees.
  • Park district classes: the Skokie Park District in Illinois lists a six-week kids’ taekwondo session at $100 for residents and $125 for non-residents, with an optional $35 uniform and belt tests from $35.

Neither school lists a black-belt test fee, so ask for that figure in writing before you start. If you want to compete, USA Taekwondo’s individual athlete membership is $60 a year. Weighing taekwondo against karate? Our taekwondo vs karate comparison covers how the training differs.

Prices for other martial arts

Karate

Shotokan Karate Minnesota charges adults $100 a month and children or students $85. An extra child in the same family pays $40 a month and an extra adult $50. Uniforms can be bought at the dojo, but the price isn’t listed. Karate is also common in community programs: the YMCA of Lincoln charges $26 a month for members ($44 for “community members”), and Skokie Park District’s fall youth and adult karate session (about 14 weeks) is $244 for residents and $305 for non-residents.

Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ)

BJJ adult plans in our sample ran $125 to $225 a month. Charlotte Jiu-Jitsu Academy charges $150 a month for twice-weekly training or $180 unlimited, with no contract, no sign-up fee and two free classes. New England BJJ Academy in Concord, New Hampshire charges $125 or $160, and the uniform is sold separately. The Jiu Jitsu Company in Philadelphia shows what a contract saves: $225 a month month to month, or $185 on a 12-month plan. Its page also lists card processing fees of about 3.5%, a $100 admin fee to change your membership and $25 a month to put it on hold. If you’re still choosing between grappling arts, see judo vs BJJ.

Judo

Bridgetown Judo in Portland, Oregon charges $130 a month for adults and $100 for kids, with each extra family member at $90. The first week is free, and a judo uniform (judogi) from the club costs $60 to $90. Every member must also hold a national federation membership. USA Judo charges $100 a year for adults and $60 for a youth member’s first year, and the fee includes secondary accident medical insurance of up to $25,000 for injuries at sanctioned events or club practices. The United States Judo Federation charges $80 a year, or $9.99 a month. In the UK, British Judo’s senior membership has cost £46 since 1 April 2026.

Muay Thai and kickboxing

Juniper Muay Thai in Philadelphia charges $175 a month for unlimited classes, $150 for its kids’ martial arts membership and $25 for a drop-in class, with no contract or sign-up fee. A second family member gets 20% off and further members 50% off. Some gyms bundle striking with grappling: New England BJJ Academy’s $125 and $160 plans cover both BJJ and Muay Thai. In Sydney, Muay Thai Boxing Sydney lists A$60 a week for unlimited classes with 30 days’ notice to cancel, or A$80 a week to cancel with no notice. To see how the two striking arts differ, read Muay Thai vs kickboxing.

Boxing

Minneapolis Boxing Club charges $189 a month unlimited or $129 for eight classes a month. The first class is free, three intro classes cost $39 and a single class is $25. Open gym alone (no classes) is $79 a month. Payment renews monthly with no contract.

The extra costs to budget for

  • Sign-up fees. Four gyms in our sample say they charge none. Denton Taekwondo Academy charges $75 once.
  • Uniform. Some schools include it: Cincinnati Taekwondo Center puts it in the first month, and Denton gives one with enrollment. Elsewhere we saw a $35 park-district taekwondo uniform and a $60-$90 judogi.
  • Gloves, shin guards and mouthguard. None of the gyms we checked publish gear prices. CostHelper puts a sparring set (headgear, gloves, leg guards, mouthpiece) at $55 to $90, but its page is undated and its newest reader comment is from August 2023, so treat that as a rough, older guide. Ask the gym exactly what you need, by when, and whether you can borrow gear for your first few classes.
  • Belt tests. $30 to $50 per color belt at the schools above. CostHelper says some schools charge as much as $250 per test. Ask how often tests happen and what black belt costs.
  • Federation membership. $60 to $100 a year for USA Taekwondo or USA Judo, which is what lets you enter their sanctioned events. Bridgetown Judo requires one just to train.
  • Competition. Entry fees come on top. BJJ news site BJJEE put local, non-IBJJF tournament entry at about $100 to $150 in September 2025.
  • Fees in the small print. Card processing charges, hold fees, change fees and late fees all exist. The Philadelphia BJJ gym above lists all four.

Contracts and cancelling

Most US gyms in our table say they have no contracts or offer a month-to-month option. Several only need an email to cancel, though the timing matters: Juniper Muay Thai wants notice at least five days before the first of the month. A contract can buy a lower monthly rate, like the $40 a month saved on the Philadelphia BJJ gym’s 12-month plan, but you owe the payments if you stop going. London Fight Factory shows the same trade-off in the UK: £80 to £130 a month on a six-month minimum, or £160 for one month with no commitment.

Your legal rights depend on where you live. In July 2025 a federal appeals court threw out the FTC’s “click-to-cancel” rule, and in early 2026 the FTC had only restarted the rulemaking process, according to law firm Goodwin. Some states do protect you. New York’s health club law names martial arts, including judo and karate. There you can cancel within three days of signing, a contract can’t run longer than 36 months or exceed $3,600 a year, and you can cancel later if you move 25 miles or more away or a doctor confirms a disability that stops you training for more than three months. California’s health studio law gives five business days to cancel and caps contracts at three years. For other states, check your state attorney general’s website.

Ways to pay less

  • Use the free trial. Charlotte Jiu-Jitsu Academy gives two free classes, Bridgetown Judo a free week, The Jiu Jitsu Company a free trial week, and Minneapolis Boxing Club, Juniper Muay Thai and Denton Taekwondo Academy a free first class.
  • Ask about family rates. We saw discounts from 10% up to 50% for additional family members.
  • Try community programs. YMCAs and park districts run karate and taekwondo for a fraction of private-gym prices, usually in fixed sessions.
  • Look at college clubs if you’re a student. James Madison University’s club BJJ team charges $85 a semester and says everyone is welcome regardless of experience.
  • Pay for what you’ll use. If you’ll train twice a week, a capped plan ($125-$150 at the BJJ gyms above) beats unlimited.
  • Ask about other discounts. New England BJJ Academy offers 10% off for military and first responders and partners with a foundation that funds scholarships.

Questions to ask before you sign

  1. Is the price month to month? If not, how long is the contract, and what does it cost to leave early?
  2. How do I cancel, and how much notice do you need?
  3. Is there a sign-up, enrollment or annual fee?
  4. What’s included: how many classes, the uniform, open mats?
  5. What gear will I need to buy, and by when?
  6. How often are belt tests, what does each one cost, and what does black belt cost?
  7. Do I need a federation membership to train or compete?
  8. Are there card fees, hold fees or price rises in the agreement?
  9. Can I try a class first, and watch an adult or kids’ class?

Price is only one part of the choice. Our guide on how to choose your first martial art covers goals, safety and how to judge a gym.

Common questions

How much does taekwondo cost per month?

The two US schools we found that publish prices charge $120 to $148 a month, plus one-off costs such as a $75 enrollment fee at one of them and $30 to $50 per belt test. Park district sessions cost less, for example $100 for a six-week kids’ session in Skokie, Illinois.

What is the cheapest way to start martial arts?

Take the free trials first. Then look at YMCA, park district and college club programs, which in our checks cost $26 to $44 a month or $85 a semester.

Do kids’ classes cost less than adult classes?

Usually, but not always. New England BJJ Academy charges kids the same as adults; at the other gyms that list both, kids paid $15 to $85 a month less. Family discounts can bring a second child’s cost down further.

Sources

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