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Impact Martial Arts

5 ★★★★★ 20 Google reviews · Taekwondo school in Pelham, Alabama

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

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 5–18) — 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
  • Competition & demo team a competition and demonstration team for students who want to test themselves at tournaments and events
  • Today see hours ·
  • Website & schedule impactmartialartstkd.com — book classes and see the live schedule
  • Phone +1 205-664-4422

Hours

Monday 4–8 pm
Tuesday 12–8 pm
Wednesday Closed
Thursday 12–8 pm
Friday 4–7 pm
Saturday 11 am–1 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 Impact Martial Arts, confirmed in students' own reviews and the school's own info — not guessed from the sign out front.

🧒 Kids Taekwondo 30 mentions

“We have celebrated several birthdays at Impact Martial arts and all the kids overwhelmingly agreed they were "the best parties ever".”

All schools that run kids taekwondo →

🐲 Little Dragons

“There are also students of all ages, from about age 4 or 5 all the way up to 65!”

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🥊 Sparring 2 mentions

“Since we’ve introduced sparring into his routine at taekwondo I’ve seen him improve greatly on the field.”

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👤 Private Lessons 3 mentions

“The entire class was being instructed on techniques for the first 30 minutes, then they were separated & beginning students received one on one training and guidance.”

All schools that run private lessons →

🛡️ Self-Defense 2 mentions

“Mitchell has an unparalleled passion for teaching self-defense because of her amazing story.”

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Other martial arts here

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

🛡️ Self-Defense 2 mentions

“Mitchell has an unparalleled passion for teaching self-defense because of her amazing story.”

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 20 Google reviews — in their own words.

🤝 friendly, family atmosphere 7 mentions

“The family atmosphere is very positive and all of the students are fun to watch, especially at tournaments.”

📘 strong forms & technique 2 mentions

“The entire class was being instructed on techniques for the first 30 minutes, then they were separated & beginning students received one on one training and guidance.”

🧒 strong kids program 2 mentions

“Incredible place for our children to develop discipline, self control, confidence, respect for others.”

competition & tournament success 5 mentions

“We have been to two tournament events and all of our students stand out in the crowd of studios from all over the country.”

💵 good value / fair pricing 2 mentions

“Plus, Impact Martial Arts is reasonably priced so that families can afford it.”

🧠 builds confidence & discipline 16 mentions

“She and her staff possess the unique ability to see each student's potential and strike a wonderful balance between challenging students, discipline & encouragement.”

From the reviews

Impact Martial Arts has been my three boys' home for Taekwondo for several years now. The owner, Karen Mitchell, is amazing, tough, and has a heart of gold. She is definitely not in this for the money and she cares about each and every student.

★★★★★ — Andra, Mar 2025

Both my son (8) and my daughter (16) have attended Impact Martial Arts for 3 years now. In that time they have both flourished. Their mental and physical strength are thriving. Martial Arts focus greatly on respect and discipline which all children need additional support in. My son is also active in soccer.

★★★★★ — Heather, Mar 2023

My daughter was offered a free class so that she could decide if taekwondo was truly what she wants to do. My daughter really enjoyed the class. What I liked was that there were two instructors.

★★★★★ — Eeek, Sep 2017

Our family started taking Taekwondo classes at Impact Martial Arts in September 2016 after having participated in the awesome drop-in PE homeschool classes for the previous 2 years. Mrs. Mitchell has an unparalleled passion for teaching self-defense because of her amazing story.

★★★★★ — Amanda, Jul 2017

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 20 reviews →

New to taekwondo? Start at Impact Martial Arts

Impact 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.

See their beginner class info

Your first taekwondo class at Impact 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.

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 Impact Martial Arts

3186-G Pelham Pkwy, Pelham, AL35124

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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.