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American Institute of Kenpo
5 ★★★★★ 16 Google reviews · Muay thai gym in Tucson, Arizona
Plan your first class
- Beginner-friendly all levels welcome, including total beginners — you don't need to be fit or have any experience to start
- Kids & youth classes kids and youth muay thai classes (ages 4–14) — built around discipline, focus, and confidence
- Women's classes dedicated women's muay thai classes — a welcoming space to train and start out in
- Sparring & clinch sparring and clinch sessions for members ready for controlled contact — always optional and coach-supervised
- Fight team a competition team for members who want to test themselves as amateur fighters
- Today see hours ·
- Website & schedule americaninstituteofkenpo.com — book classes and see the live schedule
- Phone +1 520-744-9004
Hours
| Monday | 4:30–8:30 pm |
| Tuesday | 4:30–8:30 pm |
| Wednesday | 6:30–7:30 pm |
| Thursday | 4:30–8:30 pm |
| Friday | 4:30–8:30 pm |
| Saturday | 11:30 am–2 pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
The classes they run
“We originally chose Karate for my daughter who has ADHD; which I think has helped.”
“They also have fun games like belt-sparring and dodge ball in all Little Dragons classes which keeps my children wanting to come back every week.”
“I would highly recommend AIK to anyone interested in learning martial arts—whether for personal health, discipline, or self-defense.”
Other martial arts here
“We originally chose Karate for my daughter who has ADHD; which I think has helped.”
What members say
“This school is like family!”
“What stood out most was AIK’s emphasis on ensuring students truly understand the techniques and forms they’re learning.”
“It's been over a year since we stopped and I really miss going to his classes everytime I come across Martial Arts or anything to do with fighting.”
“I would highly recommend AIK to anyone interested in learning martial arts—whether for personal health, discipline, or self-defense.”
From the reviews
My children and I have been attending AIK twice a week for 6 years. They train All-Ages, incredibly well, for a very reasonable price. The instructors are INCREDIBLE to say the least, and above all, patient, kind and genuine with the children (and adults!).
After retiring from a 35-year career in the aerospace industry, I began working through my bucket list—which included taking martial arts lessons. Without much experience in choosing a school, I tried two other Kenpo schools before finding AIK.
We originally chose Karate for my daughter who has ADHD; which I think has helped. My husband has done a form of Martial Arts growing up and was itching to get back into it. He then convinced me to join as well. I absolutely love this location...of course the instructors are the reason!
This school is like family! All of the instructors are phenomenal and bring a joy to teaching that really makes class enjoyable. When my son started we were new to Kenpo, now the whole family does it.
New to muay thai? Start at American Institute of Kenpo
American Institute of Kenpo comes up as a beginner-friendly gym — noted on their own site. If you've never thrown a punch or a kick, 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 to start — you get in shape by training, not before it, and coaches scale the conditioning to you. Second, you won't be thrown into sparring — reputable gyms build fundamentals (stance, footwork, and the basic strikes of the "art of eight limbs") for weeks before any contact, and sparring stays optional. Third, 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 gyms are happy to let you watch or try a class first, so reach out before you commit.
Your first muay thai class at American Institute of Kenpo
Nervous about walking into a muay thai gym for the first time? Almost everyone is, and good coaches 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 the basics on pads and bags — not fighting. Rest whenever you need to; no one will bat an eye. What to wear: shorts or athletic wear and a t-shirt; you'll train barefoot on the mats. What to bring: water and hand wraps if you have them — many gyms lend gloves for a first class, so it's worth asking when you call. As you keep training you'll add your own gloves, wraps, a mouthguard, and shin guards. Sparring is optional and comes later, once your fundamentals are solid. Arrive 10–15 minutes early to sign a waiver and meet the coach. It gets easier fast — most people feel far more at home by their third class.
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