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Arch Taekwondo
5 ★★★★★ 16 Google reviews · Taekwondo school in St. Louis, Missouri
Style / system: ITF (Traditional) · Olympic / World Taekwondo · Kukkiwon-certified — based on the school's own site and student reviews. Taekwondo systems (Olympic/World Taekwondo, ITF, and ATA/Songahm) differ in forms, sparring rules, and tournaments; if lineage matters to you, confirm it with the school. ATA vs WT vs ITF, explained →
Affiliated school — reviews and the school's own info point to a recognized taekwondo organization or franchise (think ATA Martial Arts, Kukkiwon certification, World Taekwondo, or ITF). If credentials matter to you, ask which association the school belongs to and where the head instructor earned their black-belt (dan) rank and certification.
Plan your first class
- Free trial or intro class most schools welcome new students with a free trial or intro class — check their site or give them a call to book your first session
- Kids & teens classes kids and teens taekwondo classes (ages 7–16) — built around discipline, focus, confidence, and anti-bully skills
- Beginner-friendly all ages and levels welcome, including total beginners — you don't need to be fit or have any experience to start
- Competition & demo team a competition and demonstration team for students who want to test themselves at tournaments and events
- Today see hours ·
- Website & schedule archtkd.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone (314) 533-4999
Hours
| Monday | 5–7:30 PM |
| Tuesday | 6:15–7:15 AM |
| Wednesday | 5–7:30 PM |
| Thursday | 6:15–7:15 AM, 5–7:30 PM |
| Friday | 4:30–6:30 PM |
| Saturday | 9–11 AM |
| Sunday | Closed |
The classes they run
“My son has been coming here for over a year now, and it has been so good for him.”
“” Members range from age 6 to age 65 and come from all walks of life.”
“Whether your interest is in earning a black belt, learning practical self-defense, or just getting in shape and meeting other great people, Arch Taekwondo is worth a visit.”
“I am now soon testing for a 2nd degree black belt…all due to the training and environment at Arch TKD.”
Other martial arts here
“Whether your interest is in earning a black belt, learning practical self-defense, or just getting in shape and meeting other great people, Arch Taekwondo is worth a visit.”
What students say
“Master Thimangu is a world class teacher and the members of Arch Taekwondo encourage, challenge, and support one another as a true family would.”
“The Arch Taekwondo dojang welcomes adults of all ages and abilities, and the flexibility of the classes fits with a tight working schedule.”
“We found Arch Taekwondo through a strong recommendation from another family and I, in turn, cannot recommend Arch highly enough as well.”
“It has been an excellent experience, both in terms of overall fitness, as well as learning basic techniques and self-defense.”
“” As you improve your health and conditioning, you’ll find yourself having more energy and being less worn down at the end of the day.”
“Some Arch Taekwondo students have won National Championships, others have lost forty pounds.”
From the reviews
If you're looking for instruction in martial arts, look no further. But, be forewarned: This is NOT Taekwondo-Lite!! Master Thimangu is a focused and accomplished Taekwondo instructor who will elicit the very best from you. He expects nothing less from his students, as well as himself.
My son has been coming here for over a year now, and it has been so good for him. Master Thimangu is excellent with the kids and my son has really been challenged in a good way. My son enjoys going twice a week and he has learned so much. It has been wonderful to see the other students grow over the past year as well.
Many of us consider taking up martial arts at some point in our lives. But for one reason or another, we excuse ourselves from this wonderful opportunity. “I don’t have the money.” Master Thimangu’s passion is teaching. He will do his best to accommodate your financial situation.
Arch Taekwondo is an exceptional place to learn a martial art. The head instructor, Master Thimangu, has built a dojang that welcomes and trains adults of all abilities and helps them to meet their goals. Some of the people who train at Arch Taekwondo are accomplished athletes, military veterans, and firefighters.
New to taekwondo? Start at Arch Taekwondo
Arch Taekwondo comes up as a beginner-friendly school, going by their listing and students’ reviews. If you've never trained or set foot in a dojang, that's exactly who a good beginners program is for. A few things worth knowing before your first week. First, you don't need to be fit or flexible to start — you get in shape by training, not before it, and instructors scale the intensity to you. Second, you won't be thrown into hard sparring — reputable schools build fundamentals (stances, blocks, kicks, and basic forms) for weeks, sparring eases in gradually and with gear on, and instructors keep it controlled and safe. Third, all ages and all levels really are welcome — ask about a dedicated beginners or fundamentals class time so your first session is alongside others who are also starting out. Most schools are happy to let you watch or try a class first, so reach out before you commit.
Your first taekwondo class at Arch Taekwondo
Nervous about walking into a taekwondo school for the first time? Almost everyone is, and good instructors expect beginners to come through the door. Here's what to know. What to expect: a typical first class is a warm-up, then drilling basic stances, blocks, and kicks with a partner or on pads — not hard sparring. Rest whenever you need to; no one will bat an eye. What to wear: loose athletic wear you can move in (or a dobok if you have one); you'll train barefoot on the floor. What to bring: water and a positive attitude — many schools lend a loaner dobok for a first class, so it's worth asking when you call. As you keep training you'll get your own dobok and belt, and sparring gear (mouthguard, headgear, and guards) once you begin sparring. Sparring eases in gradually, once your fundamentals and forms are solid. Arrive 10–15 minutes early to sign a waiver and meet the instructor. It gets easier fast — most people feel far more at home by their third class.
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