Traditional Martial Arts Schools in Arlington Heights, IL

11 of the 17 martial arts schools we list in Arlington Heights have traditional styles. A basic map listing can't tell you whether a "martial arts" result teaches lineage-based traditional forms like karate, taekwondo, or kung fu, or runs a modern fitness-kickboxing class under the same label. Every school on this page has its traditional style confirmed from its own website or class listings, not inferred from the business name.

Arlington Heights Park District Karate Kids Kids classesKarate / taekwondo

500 S Fernandez Ave, Arlington Heights, IL 60005-1746

+16302939989 Website Directions

Arlington Heights School of Martial Arts Karate / taekwondo

660 E Golf Rd, Arlington Heights, IL 60005-4061

+18479811760 Website Directions

CMOFIT312 Shidokan Karate Karate / taekwondo

950 W Northwest Hwy, Arlington Heights, IL 60004-5345

+12243477120 Directions

DK Fitness Arts Taekwondo Kids classesFree trial classMuay thai / kickboxingKarate / taekwondo

1714 E Northwest Hwy, Arlington Heights, IL 60004-6772

+18477492819 Website Directions

Lion's Taekwondo Kids classesKarate / taekwondo

272 W Rand Rd, Arlington Heights, IL 60004-3145

🕒 12:00pm - 8:30pm

+18472531161 Website Directions

Northwest Aikido Kids classesKarate / taekwondo

3407 N Ridge Ave, Arlington Heights, IL 60004-1427

+17736762235 Website Directions

Premier Martial Arts Downtown Arlington Heights Kids classesFree trial classBJJ / grapplingMuay thai / kickboxingKarate / taekwondo

27 S Evergreen Ave, Arlington Heights, IL 60005-1427

+12244041414 Website Directions

Revolution Taekwondo Free trial classKarate / taekwondo

557 W Golf Rd, Arlington Heights, IL 60005-3904

+18472281940 Website Directions

Still Water Martial Arts Kids classesFree trial classKarate / taekwondo

2300 E Rand Rd, Arlington Heights, IL 60004-5124

+18472207117 Website Directions

Total Impact Martial Arts and Fitness Kids classesFree trial classMuay thai / kickboxingKarate / taekwondoMMA

1426 E Hintz Rd, Arlington Heights, IL 60004-2207

+12242488692 Website Directions

U.S. Shidokan Karate Karate / taekwondo

950 W Northwest Hwy, Arlington Heights, IL 60004

(847) 253-7509 Website Directions

Ask exactly which style and lineage the school teaches before your first class. "Traditional" covers very different systems — striking-focused styles like karate and taekwondo, grappling-focused styles like judo and aikido, and internal styles like tai chi — so the right fit depends on what you actually want to train.

Also in Arlington Heights

Traditional Martial Arts Schools near Arlington Heights

Good to know

What's the difference between traditional and modern martial arts schools?
Traditional schools generally follow a set curriculum tied to a specific style's history, forms, and belt-ranking system, often with added emphasis on etiquette and philosophy. Modern or hybrid schools tend to blend techniques from multiple styles or focus more narrowly on fitness or competition.

How long does it take to get a black belt in a traditional martial art?
Most traditional styles take about 3-5 years of consistent training to reach black belt, though the exact timeline varies by style, school, and how often a student trains. A school that awards black belts much faster than that is generally worth a closer look before signing up.