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Dr. Kim's Taekwondo & Martial Arts
4.8 ★★★★★ 56 Google reviews · Taekwondo school in Lexington, Kentucky
Style / system: 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
- 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
- Sparring sparring classes, from Olympic-style to point sparring — controlled, gear-on training that builds timing and confidence at your own pace
- Poomsae & forms forms (poomsae) practice — the patterns at the heart of taekwondo and your belt testing
- Competition & demo team a competition and demonstration team for students who want to test themselves at tournaments and events
- Today see hours ·
- Website & schedule tigerkimtaekwondo.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone +1 859-296-0088
Hours
| Monday | 3–8:30 pm |
| Tuesday | 3–8:30 pm |
| Wednesday | 3–8:30 pm |
| Thursday | 3–8:30 pm |
| Friday | 3–7:30 pm |
| Saturday | 9 am–1 pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
The classes they run
“Dr Kim, Camden, and the rest of the instructors take such great care of the kids and help them to really understand their forms and routines.”
“Our daughter is about to graduate from Little Tigers & our son is continuing through his belt progression.”
“Kim's World Taekwondo Academy since my freshman year of high school.”
“Dr Kim and his staff and student leaders worked with our son these past couple months to prepare him for his black belt forms competition.”
“Kim's help, I have significantly improved on forms, self defense techniques, and sparring, which has also made me feel a sense of empowerment as a young girl.”
“Now my daughter is involved with the demo team, has competed at a tournament, and even started sparring classes (something that she was fearful of before).”
“The academy also has several other talented instructors who are great with children and provide excellent one-on-one attention during class.”
“Kim's help, I have significantly improved on forms, self defense techniques, and sparring, which has also made me feel a sense of empowerment as a young girl.”
“I have also been impressed with the testing for belts as having outside instructors come in for Black Belt testing made our family feel that the belt was earned and not bought.”
Other martial arts here
“Kim's help, I have significantly improved on forms, self defense techniques, and sparring, which has also made me feel a sense of empowerment as a young girl.”
What students say
“Kim and Master Camden (who has over 10 years of experience himself) create an engaging, disciplined, and supportive environment where students of all ages can excel.”
“I have also been impressed with the testing for belts as having outside instructors come in for Black Belt testing made our family feel that the belt was earned and not bought.”
“Kim places great importance on correct technique for strikes, blocks, and stances, ensuring that students understand both the form and purpose of each movement.”
“Kim’s World Taekwondo Academy has been an incredible experience for both me and my kids. I love attending classes with them and having the chance to assist during sessions.”
“Now my daughter is involved with the demo team, has competed at a tournament, and even started sparring classes (something that she was fearful of before).”
“Kim's for proximity purposes, we now understand we are working with an award winning Grand Master who is focused on proper methods & form.”
From the reviews
My daughter has attended Dr. Kim’s Academy for over 4 year. We asked around before we started her in Taekwondo and were told by several people that Dr. Kim’s academy was the best. I can’t say they were wrong. There are several things that we see that we don’t know is going on anywhere else in town. Dr.
I started training in Taekwondo over 20 years ago and earned a 2nd degree black belt from an independent (non-Kukkiwon) school. Coming back to training after so long was definitely an adjustment, but Dr. Kim made the transition seamless.
Grand Master/Dr. Kim continues to improve and prove that he is one of the best in Kentucky. His training ability, that of his student trainers and Masters from South Korea have trained and led the students to excel and show respect and strength.
My daughter has been attending Dr. Kim's Taekwondo for about five years. We started coming here when she was 5 yo to get her involved in a physical activity, learn confidence and teamwork, and to experience working hard to achieve a goal. Five years later, we can say that she is thriving in these areas and more.
New to taekwondo? Start at Dr. Kim's Taekwondo & Martial Arts
Dr. Kim's Taekwondo & Martial Arts 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 Dr. Kim's Taekwondo & Martial Arts
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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