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Zen Dragon Martial Arts Mercer Island
5 ★★★★★ 46 Google reviews · Taekwondo school in Mercer Island, Washington
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 3–5) — 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
- Competition & demo team a competition and demonstration team for students who want to test themselves at tournaments and events
- Today see hours ·
- Website & schedule zendragon.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone (206) 232-2723
Hours
| Monday | 12–9 PM |
| Tuesday | 12–9 PM |
| Wednesday | 12–9 PM |
| Thursday | 12–9 PM |
| Friday | 1–8 PM |
| Saturday | 9 AM–3 PM |
| Sunday | Closed |
The classes they run
“I can vouch for both adults and kids training because me and my daughter have been a part of Zen Dragon family (even before the awesome rebranding) for quite a few years now.”
“If you have kids, I've watched so many sleepy pre-teens become adults while training here.”
“As a woman I chose this dojo over others because of their diversity and have grown more confident, strong, and have made some good friends.”
“Little did I know that she’ll gain so much more than self defense skills.”
Other martial arts here
“Karate has helped my son to gain confidence, and I hope to stick with it for years to come.”
“Little did I know that she’ll gain so much more than self defense skills.”
What students say
“The atmosphere here is incredibly welcoming and grounded, a place where both kids and adults can train, grow, and truly unwind from the rush of everyday life.”
“The studio has a sense of community, and I’ve seen a positive change in my son, not only has his attention span improved, but his confidence and discipline have grown as well.”
“A special thank you to Chief Instructor Sensei Nikolay, who has been my son’s Sensei and mentor — his dedication, discipline, and genuine care for the students are unmatched.”
“They have goals to work towards, the chance to test for new ranks, compete in tournaments and a combo of private and fun group lessons.”
“As a woman I chose this dojo over others because of their diversity and have grown more confident, strong, and have made some good friends.”
“The studio has a sense of community, and I’ve seen a positive change in my son, not only has his attention span improved, but his confidence and discipline have grown as well.”
From the reviews
Our family has been part of the Zen Dragon Dojo community for the past 10+ years and I cannot express enough gratitude for the positive impact it has had on my son's life. The sensei are second to none.
This is an amazing school. Both of my sons and I are in this school. We enjoy the exercise and learning self defense. Sensei Nikolai is a great teacher no matter your capabilities. We recommend him and the program
Zen Dragon Mercer Island dojo is a great place with an amazing team of Senseis and students. I can vouch for both adults and kids training because me and my daughter have been a part of Zen Dragon family (even before the awesome rebranding) for quite a few years now.
I've been training at this dojo for almost a decade and have been shown nothing but respect from a multitude of instructors. So anxious and with a ton of embarrassment, I started martial arts in my 30's and have taken my time learning and advancing. I could say wonderful things about all of my teachers!
New to taekwondo? Start at Zen Dragon Martial Arts Mercer Island
Zen Dragon Martial Arts Mercer Island 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.
Your first taekwondo class at Zen Dragon Martial Arts Mercer Island
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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