How much do Taekwondo classes cost? How cheap is TKD?

Taekwondo is one of the more mainstream, popular forms of martial arts. The art began in Korea but has since spread across the world and is practiced by all demographics. In short, Taekwondo is a striking-based martial art that focuses heavily on kicking. Sometimes referred to as TKD for short, it has been popularised by various celebrities over the years.

Particularly, the likes of podcaster Joe Rogan was one of the most famous TKD artists who has spoken in length about his training. Due to its appeal, Taekwondo is also commonly taught to children. Because it offers striking in a safe, controlled environment it is an attractive proposition for parents of little ones.

However, one question asked by many is how much does Taekwondo cost? Even though it may provide happiness, there is always a cost in life which we shall analyze in further detail below. From looking at kids’ lessons to adults and buying the correct gear, we shall look at it all. With this said, your answers and queries should be solved by the end of this article.

The cost of Taekwondo for kids

As mentioned, TKD is a popular activity for children. Due to this, most TKD schools will offer lessons for your children. Of course, these classes will be toned down to avoid injuries as safety is the main priority. Not only this but generally there are fewer classes for kids compared to adults. For instance, if a gym has 5 classes per week for adults, then it may have 2 for children. This is typical in most forms of martial arts and isn’t exclusive to TKD.

With this said, typically kids’ classes will cost around $20 per week on average. This works out at around $80 per month but differs per gym. In some, smaller venues you may be able to pay per class which would be around $10 per child. Usually, this is with gyms that are held within a school or hall, rather than their own, standalone building.

The cost of Taekwondo for adults

Following a similar system to the kids, adults usually pay a bit more but this is based on more classes. The typical cost per month for adults is around $100-150 per month. Although this may sound a little pricey, you have to factor in the number of lessons available. For instance, if you are doing 5 classes per week then that means 20 per month. If you trained for one month at $120 then that would equate to $6 per class. When put like that, it is actually a fantastic deal.

Having said this, most practitioners typically train around 2-3 classes per week. This means classes are priced closer to $10 per class. Again, when looked at like this the cost isn’t particularly bad for over one hour of training. This means there’s an incentive to train as much as possible when looking at this payment model as otherwise, each class rises in cost per week.

Monthly vs yearly cost

As mentioned, most gyms will either charge per individual class or per month. Typically you will get a discount for paying for the month as opposed to a single lesson. Similarly, it may be possible to pay for an entire year to get a bigger discount. For example, if it cost $120 per month, you may get a deal at $100 per month if you pay for a full 12 months in advance.

This should only be considered if you are truly dedicated to Taekwondo. Sometimes, it’s common for newcomers to jump the gun and pay for the entire year due to the novelty factor. However, if you then decided to quit a couple of months later then you would financially regret it.

Due to this, it’s only suggested to pay for a yearly deal if you’re completely committed. Until then, it’s ideal to use trial lessons as a taster. This means you may get a free class as a first-time deal, or you may have to pay $10 per time. However, as a newcomer, it is not advisable to pay for a year upfront. For obvious reasons, this has clear negatives. It is also a sign of a bad gym that try to pressure new students into long-term contracts as once you’re locked in, you’re forced to pay.

Equipment cost

Away from class costs, there are other finances involved with Taekwondo. One example of this is the dobok which is the jacket, or gi. This isn’t too expensive compared to other arts such as Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Typically a dobok (jacket and pants) will cost around $40. If you’re brand new you may be able to borrow a dobok for a while. Nonetheless, $40 for a piece of specialist clothing is not a bad deal. You can find good brands too such as Adidas and Mooto which are of good quality.

Remember, if you plan on competing to check out the dobok is WTF approved before making the purchase. Other costs such as headgear, mouthpieces, shinpads, and gloves are also a consideration. All of these items will generally cost up to $40 combined, so once again it’s not too expensive when looking at the bigger picture.

Sometimes it’s better to pay more

This is a concept that applies to life and not just Taekwondo. In brief, there’s such thing as a false economy that can be deceptive towards your finances. One example of this could be buying a dobok. You could choose to buy a low-quality one from eBay from an unknown brand. This may cost half the price of a better quality dobok yet lack longevity. Due to this, it may wear away quickly and need replacing. This concept should also be applied to each gym that you consider. Of course, the quality of gyms is a much bigger factor than the cost of a dobok. If you’re after a good quality, cheap dobok then check out this Adidas one which has great reviews.

In short, you may be tempted by a sports hall that charges $8 per class. However, it may not be as good as a full-time gym which costs $12 per class. Although cheaper, it may lack in quality and have bad instruction. For example, if the teacher is not as qualified as they make out then they may be in it for the money. However, if you can see the more expensive school has a teacher with a good reputation and solid lineage, then it may be the better option. Of course, this isn’t always the case and you may be able to get a bargain. Nonetheless, it’s definitely something to consider and you should always trial a gym before fully committing.

Summary

Overall Taekwondo is a fairly average costing martial art. Whilst it’s certainly not the cheapest, it’s not the most expensive either. Not only this but compared to other art forms, it generally has a better reputation in terms of its effectiveness than others. Overall it should cost around $100 per month per adult. This may differ per location and reflect on the wealth of the city or town, but as a general rule it is a good one to follow. In conclusion, whilst the price should be a large part of your decision – you should also try and find the best quality gym available which you enjoy and can learn from as easily as possible.