Traditional Martial Arts Schools in Lexington, KY

13 of the 25 martial arts schools we list in Lexington 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.

Crawford's Tae Kwon Do Karate / taekwondo

258 Plaza Dr, Lexington, KY 40503-1945

+18594200295 Website Directions

Dr. Kim's World Taekwondo Academy and Martial Arts Kids classesKarate / taekwondo

3601 Palomar Centre Dr, Lexington, KY 40513-1153

+18592960088 Website Directions

Eagle Martial Arts Kids classesMuay thai / kickboxingKarate / taekwondo

3146 Mapleleaf Dr, Lexington, KY 40509-1258

+18592630033 Website Directions

Judo of Lexington Karate / taekwondo

1812 Oxford Cir, Lexington, KY 40504-1475

+18592525121 Website Directions

Karate For Kids Kids classesKarate / taekwondo

501 Darby Creek Rd, Lexington, KY 40509-1604

+18596940598 Website Directions

Kenpo Karate LLC Karate / taekwondo

2375 Professional Heights Dr, Lexington, KY 40503-3021

+18592663734 Website Directions

Kentucky Shudokan Karate-Do Kids classesBJJ / grapplingKarate / taekwondoMMA

1139 Tanbark Rd, Lexington, KY 40515-1819

+18592298655 Website Directions

Lexington Academy of Martial Arts Kids classesBJJ / grapplingKarate / taekwondoMMA

949 National Ave, Lexington, KY 40502-1488

🕒 Mon-Fri 11am-8pm, Sat 9am-11am

+18595233383 Website Directions

Lexington Aikikai Karate / taekwondo

1812 Oxford Cir, Lexington, KY 40504-1475

+18593616162 Website Directions

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

2160 Sir Barton Way, Lexington, KY 40509-2218

+18597853700 Website Directions

Ronin Karate & MMA Karate / taekwondoMMA

120 Payne St, Lexington, KY 40508

+18593126365 Directions

Shotokan Karate of Lexington Karate / taekwondo

3251 Beaumont Centre Cir, Lexington, KY 40513-1798

+18596217529 Directions

Sin The Karate School Kids classesKarate / taekwondo

282 Gold Rush Rd, Lexington, KY 40503-2905

+18592752148 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 Lexington

Traditional Martial Arts Schools near Lexington

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.