Best martial arts centres in Adelaide: find options near you

My son an I (he’s 16 an I’m 48) have just started with training here, we heard good things so we came an tryed a couple of lessons ….. unbelievable from the second lesson Sarah an Adam remembered our names an levels an made us feel like we had been part of this club for months, the rest of the crew we trained with not only helped us but also welcomed us.
Each week we have been there since we stepped foot in the door everyone has been fantastic, we are getting better and better anfd it’s friendly an FUN.

We (Mitch and Trev) will see you there, so don’t be afraid to say G’day!.

BEST JIU JITSU GYM IN THE SOUTH Tom is a incredible teacher very knowledgeable and a great communicator. My partner and I started our bjj journey and he made comprehension very easy to understand. The team is equally special on our first day having 20+ people come introduce themselves, felt at home the second we walked in the doors. Team south coast keep it up thank you for everything

High level BJJ instruction permeated by a welcoming and friendly academy culture. I get to experience both progressive modern techniques and battle tested, old school BJJ. Professor Tom and supporting coaches are highly knowledgeable, dedicated and supportive. Love my academy.

Where do I start.. I am from Sydney and started watching/following Professor Tom on their YouTube channel ‘The Grappling Academy’ when I started my jiu-jitsu journey in 2016. You just know a good coach/teacher when you see one. I told my wife that I would love to visit his school one day and learn from him. This week, my awesome wife flew me to Adelaide for a short trip and got me a bunch of private lessons from this amazing teacher. All I can say is, all his current students are very lucky to have someone like him teach, be available to them and absorb his wisdom. For anyone thinking of learning a great self-defense art or just want to get healthier, you need to try South Coast BJJ & MMA. You will not find a better teacher and he is world class level in my opinion.

My son started going to South Coast BJJ & MMA kids classes over 6 years ago.
From the first day at age 7 he was welcomed and encouraged by all at the club especially Coach Tom. At age 14 he is now taking adult classes and has competed in several kids tournaments along the way! His confidence and self esteem has grown and is continuing to grow. I would take my son to his lessons twice a week and watch and had a yearning to take to the mats but felt i was to old (63). I had a discussion with Coach Tom late last year and explained how i felt and he suggested i just give it a go and see how i felt. Bottom line is apart from being able to do something with my son that we both enjoy i have found a great group of people who all show so much respect and are so humble about their achievements . The fantastic people you meet there are all a reflection of the coaches and clubs genuine kindness and care for its members. I would and have recommended this club for anyone who is thinking of taking up a martial arts sport or just want to get fit while meeting really great people.

Tom is a excellent coach structuring each week with essential principles and themes. There is a strong second tier of knowledgeable and experienced students who’s selfless encouragement help all the students become better. The best part is the family atmosphere. It is a safe and happy place where students of all abilities, builds and ages can train. BJJ can be challenging for the new student. But you will be mentally more resilient the longer you keep going. Tom is there to guide you through that journey, which will be as unique as you are.

I’ve attempted to write this review several times but have struggled to find the words that best describe how amazing this club is. So I thought I would share my BJJ journey to show the impact these wonderful people have had on my progress so far. I started my journey roughly 5 years ago after a family friend brought me along to one of the many classes. This was a difficult part in my life as the year prior my father had passed away from cancer. He was a massive part of my life and martial arts journey up to that point. I was lost and very angry at the world for what had happened. After my first class I felt like I had found apart of myself I thought was lost, I was instantly hooked. Even though my journey has been inconsistent with old injuries, illness and processing grief I was always welcomed with smiles as if I’d never been away. The environment created by Professor Tom and the many members of South Coast is truly amazing. It has allowed me to heal from the loss of my father and find parts of myself thought lost. The hardest part about starting your BJJ journey is stepping through the door, I would encourage those to take that step as you never know of the possibilities created in doing so. Even reading back on this I still feel it doesn’t describe how amazing and welcoming this club is. I look forward to continuing my BJJ journey with South Coast for many years to come.

This Dojo is a place where your child will learn very valuable life skills whilst also having loads of fun! Our child loves their lessons each week and is improving their fitness while having fun and learning many valuable things they will use for many years to come.

Crocodile Martial Arts Australia is an excellent place for building confidence, discipline, and physical fitness. The instructors are incredibly supportive and knowledgeable, creating a welcoming environment for all ages. A fantastic school for anyone interested in martial arts.

I’m so glad I found this incredible martial arts school for my daughter! The instructors are truly amazing, teaching not just technique but also essential values like respect, confidence, and discipline. The inclusive and supportive environment they’ve created is unmatched — it’s a place where every child is encouraged to thrive. My daughter absolutely loves it and eagerly looks forward to each session. I couldn’t recommend this place more highly!

I have trained with CMAA for over 3 years along with my kids. We love the training environment. The trainers are absolutely wonderful. Along with being skilled they are very caring and compassionate. They encourage everyone – regardless of age and skill level. It has been a fantastic experience and I would recommend it to anyone wanting to learn Martial arts.

Highly recommend. Great training school!
Both my boys attend Crocodile Martial Arts and we are more than happy. The memberships are good value and flexible, with classes running 5 days a week. You don’t need to commit or book in to classes, which makes it easy and convenient for busy families. There are 2 beautiful dojos which are clean, spacious and use quality equipment. The halls are decked with memorabilia, which demonstrate the years of hard work, level of commitment, skill, experience and knowledge that goes in to making this academy so great! The trainers are kind, experienced with children and fair. The staff are funny, friendly and accommodating. The trainer to student ratio is excellent. Students receive regular progress recognition, which keeps them motivated and enthusiastic. My boys have come so far in just a year and I couldn’t be prouder! We love supporting small family businesses and feel privileged to be part of the crocodile community.

An outstanding, supportive, family-run martial arts academy that values its students. In the short time my daughter has been attending classes, we have seen a noticeable improvement in her attitude and self-discipline. As I sat and observed the classes, I was impressed by the instructors’ meticulous attention to detail and their consistent encouragement, which they provide to all students. The academy offers a wide variety of class times, and the presence of two training dojos ensures that there is always a convenient training option available. I highly recommend this academy to any family looking to enrol their children or adults who want to try it.

As an ex martial arts instructor myself I knew what I was looking for in a martial arts school for my daughter. We visited a number of dojos before finding Crocodile. After watching a lesson we knew this was the right place. Excellent instructors that mix fun with strong skills and understanding works really well for my daughter. Great curriculum design keeps it interesting. Outstanding facilities flexible timetable and options to branch out into other styles. Love the cafe and martial arts shop on site. Personalised written feedback on my daughter’s progress exceeds my expectations. Well done Crocodile!

I’ve been training here for almost half a year now! Wing Chun is the first martial arts I’ve practiced and I want to affirm that it has been extremely beneficial to my mindfulness, body and social life. I am very grateful for my Sifu, Prashan and the variety of skilled practitioners inside the club.

A great club. It doesn’t matter if you’ve been doing martial arts for 5 months or 15 years, everyone is made to feel welcome. I learned about the club through one of the instructors and have loved going since being invited along to try it out.

I have trained in martial arts schools in Australia, China,, Hong Kong and Japan and this is one of the best.
It is authentic Chu Shoong Tin lineage Wing Chun Kung Fu taught in a structured but supportive manner. I would strongly recommend to anyone interested in starting or reconnecting with Wing Chun King Fu.

Great Club!
Instructor Prashan has a great teaching technique , the club welcome’s all ages and has a great group of students to train with!
TY

After Jim Fung’s Wing Chun school closed. This group of teachers are trained from the same school. I am a proud student and would recommend to give this a go.

I am forever grateful to Prashan for starting this club and for making it a welcoming environment, as well as for all that I have learnt from the instructors. A genuine, friendly and supportive community!

Friendly and supportive learning environment with knowledgeable and caring tutors. Organised teaching programme.

I cannot rate Adelaide Taekwondo Academy highly enough. All instructors are amazing and cater to every child’s ability. My daughter’s confidence has grown so much. It’s more than just learning Taekwondo; it’s also about values, respect and discipline. ATA is more than a Taekwondo Academy; it’s a family.

i would totally reccomend this place to learn taekwondo!!! i’ve been learning for like 3+ years now at this place and i always look forward to my taekwondo lessons! even though like i barely level up belts (my fault, since i don’t practise my poomsae (hi sir kyle please dont come for me)) the staff here are like super chill and super nice! special shoutout to my previous teachers (i think you can probably tell who i am by this review) but idk yeah would reccomend 100% send ur kids here

Amazing instructors who are knowledgeable, supportive, have the credentials, and experience (both national and international). Genuinely cater for all learners and its programs are engaging pushing both mind and body. I have an ongoing injury, but they are great at managing this. Family run, great culture, and a real sense of belonging for all members. Ruth and Ben are awesome!

Highly recommended ATA! Both of my boys trained there for 6+ years and both achieved the black belt. During the years, they have gained physical fitness, flexibility, perseverance, friendship and lots more. They enjoyed this journey very much! The instructors are so professional and of high standards.

The reason I enroll my daughter for martial art lesson is for physical fitness, confidence, self-defense and self regulation. Thanks God I choose the right place, my daughter really love it. Instructors are professional, know how to motivate young children and positive environment.

My son has been attending ATA for the past three years. He has learnt skills and gained confidence with each grading and most importantly had fun. The environment here is friendly and encouraging and one that our family has been happy to be part of. Thank you to Ruth, Ben and the team.

We would love to say thankyou for teaching our daughter from 2018 to 2021! We highly recommend Sir Ben from ATA as he taught our daughter amazing skills over the past 3 years

This club is really awesome. Made me feel welcome immediately and ten months into the club I am practising karate regularly. Made many good friends too. Instructors are friendly and helpful for people of all karate levels. They also have high quality bags, which we should definitely use more.

Absolutely love the club!

My first time here was warmly welcomed by every club members. They were kind of scary at first, which you can expect from serious martial art practitioners, but they are really nice and having their own unique things to learn from.

Perfect for stress relieving and meditating. You can scream as loud as you want while focusing on practising, which make you forget overthinking about other things of life for a while.

Always looking forward to the next training.

This club is really the prime karate experience, with patient and kind instructors, a passionate group of people and a great dojo with a smooth wooden floor and great lighting. I will second a review left by another person in saying that working more with bags will definitely spice the classes up.

Great people, great trainings! I joined Karate club few weeks ago, really love this great exercises. Member there are so nice, instructors are so professional. they take care of everyone here!

The club provides formal and proper training that is suitable for everyone, which is way beyond what I expected from a University club. We also spend time for defense training, and some fun outdoor activities once a while. Really love the club and everyone here!

The UniSA karate club is one of the most welcoming clubs I have ever been a part of. Starting at a new club can be daunting but everyone from the head Sensei to the other white belts made me feel comfortable and at ease from my first class. The instruction is fantastic and there is plenty of opportunity to receive valuable 1 on 1 time with the Sensei. If you are considering joining a traditional Goju Kai karate club, i have no hesitation in recommending the UniSA karate club. 10/10

Another fantastic year of training with Sensei, Senpai’s and fellow karateka. Made to feel very welcome, and learn an incredible amount. Practicing the art of Goju Kai is a tremendous learning curve but highly rewarding.

Best karate school in Adelaide. Classes are always different. Very experienced teachers and a great community. I love the focus on self defence and body conditioning. As a woman, these classes have helped me to feel strong and confident on the street. Highly recommend 🙂

Very good dojo. Would highly recommend to anyone continuing or commencing their Kyokushin journey. I have know Sensei Pete and Sempai Margaret for many years and must say its hard to find better more experienced and caring instructors.

Great school to learn both the traditional aspect of Karate and its practical use in self defence. The teachers and the other students make the school a very good place to train.

I love my karate family. They make you feel welcome and this is one of the few places where you get to learn “old school” karate.

It’s great value for money and a great escape to the everyday “grind” of life. Give this a try for sure!

Great Karate school for everyone; regardless of gender, race or creed! Very welcoming instructors who are passionate about the discipline, fellow students are also very welcoming and genuinely good people!

I joined Kyokushin Bushido Karate 5 years ago, and it was one of my best decisions. Since then the dojo has become a big part of my life. This is a very authentic place, deeply rooted in tradition and focused on practical self-defence and holistic development of body, mind and spirit. The dojo is very supportive of new students.

After trying multiple martial arts clubs around adelaide this one stood head and shoulders above the rest. Very friendly and welcoming, with extremely knowledgable instructors. Highly recommend this club to anyone wanting to learn martials and to experianced martial arts too.

The Adelaide Wing Chun Academy is an exceptional place to not only learn and grow in the art of Wing Chun but also to gain life lessons that extend far beyond the training floor. The masters and instructors possess an incredible depth of understanding, and their passion for teaching is truly inspiring. What stands out most is their ability to tailor their approach to each student, ensuring that even the deeper and more intricate aspects of Wing Chun are both accessible and meaningful. Their dedication and adaptability create a learning environment that is both challenging and deeply rewarding. It’s an honour to be a part of this academy.

Really great school and would rate them highly. Nothing better than having several instructors taking a class and hearing different angles of perspective on the same topic. All the students are warm and friendly and supportive would recommend this school if your looking to learn self defence quickly.

Adelaide’s OG wing chun school with a linage from yip man. Great instructors friendly atmosphere. The club is also flexible & understanding if you have any injuries to deal with while training.

This place is hands down the best place to learn Wing Chun Kung fu in Adelaide. The depth of knowledge and understanding is unparrelled. A great enviroment with friendly instructors.

A super positive and fun environment to learn Wing Chun. My kids and I thank you for your continuous support!!

The instructors are incredibly skilled in their practice and their ability to teach, they are also extremely friendly and patient.

Sifu Anthony, Damian, and all the Sihing are all helpful, welcoming, and friendly. Learnt so much from them.
Thank you so much for having us.
Rebecca

Nino came highly recommended from a friend who trained under him and he hasn’t disappointed. My teenage sons and myself are thoroughly enjoying the welcoming and professional environment Nino offers and his skills across numerous disciplines speaks for itself. The best!

Used to be great. One instructor is known to have favorites { something confirmed to me by other much more established members} and their covert antagonism toward those they don’t like is never addressed; it’s actually not even acknowledged even when you make a appointment to speak to the head of the school speak directly to them to discuss this. Of note is that there is not an incident that leads to this…they just decide they don’t like you and that’s it.
Additionally, when you get told what you can wear OUTSIDE of the training area and training times, and the reason given is that it somehow magically reflects on people half way around the world, you have to pause and wonder.
Of significant concern also is the way people are graded, {or not}. If you do something like decline to be told what you can wear outside of training times, you don’t get graded { go up a grade}. This means your paying for a membership whilst being denied access to knowledge which you should be given and have paid for.
There is much hype attached to the lineage of this school going back to Bruce Lee. That is true, but the dysfunctional undercurrent that runs here makes you realize that the many the many other martial arts schools out there are more than worth checking out.

Best club for those looking to learn JKD is Nino Pilla International Acadamy of martial arts. Nino Pilla is in direct lineage from Bruce Lee through Guru Dan Innosanto, Bruce Lee’s student who has continued Bruce Lee’s legacy. The clubs instructors having been training in JKD for many years by Nino are highly skilled only achieving instructor level after grueling Assessment after up to 10 years training or more. This is different to other Martial Arts Clubs clubs where instructors teach after only as little as 1 year experience. You will see the difference by looking at the quality of technique even from some students of Nino Pillas vs other clubs instructors. Its one of the only clubs to have instructors for Muay Thai assessed and graded by the Head of the World Muay Thai Assosiation, Arjun Chai.

Awesome lessons with nino. We did trapping, padwork and Kali. The students are all friendly and Nino knows all the arts he teaches inside out.

Great school with an amazing instructor. Very beginner friendly with students willing to help you learn

My hubby and I love the warm and friendly culture, and of course, Nino was brilliant! 🙂

For a great friendly environment to learn self-defence, increase self confidence, or to just appreciate various arts, I highly recommend NPIAMA.

I started Wing Chun with Grandmaster Leong a month ago, and it has been an incredible experience. Not only am I learning so much about this martial art, but I’m also getting a great workout for both my body and mind.

Grandmaster Leong is an exceptional teacher—his expertise and guidance are invaluable. The entire team is welcoming and supportive, creating a positive and encouraging atmosphere that makes every session enjoyable.

Whether you’re looking to improve your fitness, mental strength, or learn self-defense, I highly recommend Grandmaster Leong’s Wing Chun classes to everyone! 10/10 and a Koala bear stamp

I have been training for 9 months with Sifu Felix. He is absolutely amazing in all aspects, fantastic teacher, trainer and an amazing martial arts master. In my opinion he is second to none. If you want to learn there is no one better to be taught by.

If you want to learn martial arts this is the place to be. From Tai Chi to Kick Boxing to Wing Chun, he has a broad range. And he’s been training champions, some when I was learning with him. You’ve got to expect that though coz from memory he’s the president in charge of Wing Chun in an area outside of China/Hong Kong. He also has extraordinary knowledge of Eastern medicine and I’ve been to him many times for problems I was having.

I’ve been a student since 2001 and he’s the best there is, if you don’t trust me go and see for yourself

Best Wing Chun Muay Thai Wushu in Australia .
Yip Man to Yip Chun to Grandmaster Leong.
Best ive ever studied under .

I’ve been a member since 2014 and nothing I say could do the club or Sifu justice. An exellent club for both new and experienced martial artists.

Grandmaster is awesome, I like his personality and his way of teaching. I’ve learnt wing chun in many places but this place is the best. I really recommend it