Beginner martial arts classes in Des Moines, United States
Browse 9 martial arts gyms in Des Moines. Compare styles, prices, free trials, kids and beginner classes. Open a gym for its timetable and contact details.
Des Moines Jiu-Jitsu Academy
A Brazilian jiu-jitsu academy on 11th Street, just west of downtown Des Moines, affiliated with Caique Jiu-Jitsu. It teaches gi and no-gi classes, with fundamentals and intermediate sessions, and students start from age 8.
Renzo Gracie Des Moines
A Brazilian jiu-jitsu academy on University Avenue, affiliated with Renzo Gracie since 2019. It runs a four-month fundamentals curriculum and all-levels classes for adults, kids classes from age 5, a Friday women-only class and a Friday open mat.
Elite Edge MMA and Jiu Jitsu
An MMA and jiu-jitsu gym on SE Lorenz Drive in Ankeny, part of the Cesar Gracie team and coached by former UFC fighters. The timetable has gi and no-gi jiu-jitsu, kickboxing and MMA kickboxing classes, pro sparring, beginner classes and kids jiu-jitsu and kickboxing.
RoundKick Gym
A Muay Thai gym on 112th Street in Urbandale, with a second club in Carroll. Urbandale runs morning and evening beginners and all-levels Muay Thai, a ladies-only Muay Thai class on Monday and Thursday evenings, junior Muay Thai for ages 7 to 13 and Kinder Kickers for ages 4 to 6.
No Coast Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
A Brazilian jiu-jitsu gym on Douglas Avenue in Urbandale with gi and no-gi classes most days, including early-morning and lunchtime sessions. It also runs Muay Thai classes, a women-only no-gi grappling class, teens classes and kids jiu-jitsu from age 4.
Porcelli's Training Center (Des Moines MMA Academy)
A combat sports gym on NE 12th Avenue in Pleasant Hill, home of the Des Moines MMA Academy and the Team Porcelli wrestling club, with a boxing ring and an MMA cage. Adults have beginner and advanced classes in wrestling (Monday), boxing (Tuesday), no-gi jiu-jitsu (Wednesday) and Muay Thai (Thursday), and there are youth programmes.
Nakata Dojo
A traditional Shito-Ryu karate dojo on NW Urbandale Drive, led by Sensei Kenji Nakata and affiliated with the World Shito-Ryu Karate-Do Federation. Adults train Monday to Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings, and there are kids, youth, homeschool and 55-plus mobility classes.
Shadow Fist Kung Fu & Tai Chi
A kung fu and tai chi school on Hickman Road in Windsor Heights teaching Eagle Claw (Ying Jow Pai) Northern Shaolin kung fu and Wu-style tai chi chuan. It has beginner to advanced kung fu, tai chi, teens and Little Eagles kids classes, plus tumbling and yoga.
Des Moines Judo Academy
A judo school on 86th Street in Urbandale, running for more than 30 years. Adults have judo classes four days a week, including 5 am sessions and Monday and Wednesday fundamentals classes; there are also kids judo, kali-silat and weapons classes and several open mats.