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Barrington Tiger Academy

4.9 ★★★★★ 42 Google reviews · Taekwondo school in Barrington, Illinois

Taekwondo school Free trial Affiliated Beginners welcome Kids & teens Private lessons

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 — 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
  • Private lessons private, one-on-one instruction available — a focused way to start or to work around a busy schedule; ask about availability and rates
  • Today see hours ·
  • Website & schedule barringtontigeracademy.com — book classes and see the live schedule
  • Phone (847) 772-1543

Hours

Monday 9 AM–9 PM
Tuesday 9 AM–9 PM
Wednesday 9 AM–9 PM
Thursday 9 AM–9 PM
Friday 9 AM–5 PM
Saturday 9 AM–5 PM
Sunday Closed

Hours shift for holidays, belt tests, and tournaments — worth a quick check before a special trip.

The classes they run

Taekwondo classes on the schedule at Barrington Tiger Academy, confirmed in students' own reviews and the school's own info — not guessed from the sign out front.

🧒 Kids Taekwondo 22 mentions

“My daughter has been in for about a year, she gained confidence, flexibility, balance and I really believed it helped her not need physical therapy any longer.”

All schools that run kids taekwondo →

🛡️ Self-Defense 2 mentions

“I highly recommend Barrington Tiger Academy for anyone who loves to learn self defence techniques and have a great Team to help!”

All schools that run self-defense →

Other martial arts here

Taekwondo schools are often multi-discipline. Here's what else students mention training under the same roof at Barrington Tiger Academy — mined from their reviews and the school's own info.

🛡️ Self-Defense 2 mentions

“I highly recommend Barrington Tiger Academy for anyone who loves to learn self defence techniques and have a great Team to help!”

Other schools that also teach self-defense →

Disciplines are mined from reviews and the school's own info — they show what students have trained, not a formal class guarantee. If you specifically want hapkido, karate, or judo alongside your taekwondo, confirm the current schedule with the school.

What students say

The things reviewers bring up again and again across 42 Google reviews — in their own words.

expert masters & instructors 4 mentions

“Master Garrison is a fantastic, patient, but firm instructor, and his teachings have had a profound effect on my son.”

🌱 welcoming to beginners 3 mentions

“The environment is welcoming, clean, and a great place for beginners like myself.”

🤝 friendly, family atmosphere 7 mentions

“We recently joined The Tiger family and We love to be a part of an amazing Team of an excellent experts!”

🧒 strong kids program 5 mentions

“They have taught self confidence, motivation, respect, dignity, and perseverance to our daughter. She loves attending and bettering her skills as she rises in the belt ranks.”

certified & recognized school 18 mentions

“"Heart of Warrior and Patience of a Saint" is how I describe Master Garrison and the other instructors at Barrington Tiger Academy.”

🧼 clean, well-kept dojang 3 mentions

“The environment is welcoming, clean, and a great place for beginners like myself.”

From the reviews

My son had been having problems with being physically bulliedin school (He was in the 4th grade at the time), and told me that he felt weak; an easy target. After searching around for a solution we decided to have a look at Tiger Academy.

★★★★★ — Marc, Jul 2024

Master Dave is amazing. My son didn’t like most sports we made him try, wasn’t always thrilled to be around other kids and wanted to do it with us. Dave spent time both privately and in group and now my kid love it and does it with the other kid all the time. Amazing teaching and so much patience with kids !

★★★★★ — Fabio, Jan 2024

The Barrington Tiger Academy is amazing! Super modern and clean facility, great for both kids and adults. Master Garrison is a wonderful instructor. Found them through a local deal for a free class, and I'm hooked!

★★★★★ — Agnieszka, Feb 2024

Cannot say enough nice things about this program. Master Garrison is amazing! My daughter has been in for about a year, she gained confidence, flexibility, balance and I really believed it helped her not need physical therapy any longer. She loves going which is wonderful for a mom to see.

★★★★★ — H, Oct 2023

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 42 reviews →

New to taekwondo? Start at Barrington Tiger Academy

Barrington Tiger Academy comes up as a beginner-friendly school — noted on their own site. 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.

Check beginner classes on their site

Your first taekwondo class at Barrington Tiger Academy

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.

Taekwondo is a martial art and a contact sport. Ease in, listen to your instructors, and if you have any injuries or health concerns, mention them before class and check with a doctor if you're unsure.

Where to find Barrington Tiger Academy

762 W Northwest Hwy, Barrington, IL60010

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Listing verified July 2026 from public business records and student reviews. Something out of date? Report a correction. Own this school? Claim your listing — it's free.