Best Online Karate Classes

Karate Academy’s Accelerated Black Belt Course is one of the most comprehensive black-belt training programs available online. After successful completion of the course, students are eligible for a black belt.

Karate Academy Online is the brainchild of Sensei Mark Roscoe, who designed this course that allows students to continue their studies and practice online and on their own time.

The Accelerated Black Belt Course is a comprehensive program appropriate for intermediate to advanced levels. During this class, you will explore karate through physical, mental, and spiritual development. The program includes written and detailed video lessons. It also comes with a belt-specific practice schedule and training plan that you can adapt to your space and pace. At the end of it, you will have access to an online belt test.

It costs about $79 per month to access the Accelerated Black Belt Course. This gives you immediate access to the program, which is self-paced. The average time to complete the course is about one year, and the terms you agree to state that you will pay around $79 per month for 12 months. The good news is you can cancel your membership within the first 30 days and receive a full refund.

The course costs $79 a month, with the goal of course completion within 12 to 14 months. The minimum out-of-pocket expense is $948 for the year; the maximum expense is $1,106 for the year. Students who wish to train with Karate Academy Online must enroll in a subscription package.

Additional plans with Karate Academy Online include: 

• Accelerated Black Belt Club
• International Students Accelerated Black Belt Club
• 2nd Degree Black Belt Course
• International Students 2nd Degree Black Belt Course
• Train Martial Arts at Home Skill Drill Library

Free classes cannot be scheduled, but a free online mini-course will be sent to your inbox upon completion of an online form.

We chose Global Martial Arts University's Shotokan Karate Stance Practice Class because it takes a deep dive into a critical karate technique that you must master before earning any belt: the stance.

One of the biggest challenges for beginners on their first karate test is their stance. So, to help white belts gain confidence and better understand how their stance impacts the practice, Global Martial Arts University created this Shotokan Karate Stance Practice Class.

In 35 minutes, Sensei Michael teaches students the importance of stances and how to strengthen their legs to improve stances. He then takes you through a series of warm-up activities and drills to practice the main stances, which include Zenkutsu-Dachi, Kokutsu-Dachi, and Kiba-Dachi. Although this class is designed with beginners in mind, it’s also an excellent refresher course for any level (belt) to run through a series of unique stance training drills.

If you enjoy this free lesson from Global Martial Arts University, head over to their website and check out the online subscription service. The school offers online courses in Shotokan karate, Krav Maga, Taekwondo, Muay Thai, and more. For about $40 per month, you’ll get access to a huge library of on-demand videos appropriate for all belt levels. You’ll also get full instructor feedback and support.

Subscriptions start at $39 a month. One-off classes are not available at this time. Students who wish to train with Global Martial Arts University can enroll in one of three packages.

• Monthly package: $39
• Biannual package: $180
• Path to Black Belt: Three payments of $195 

Before committing to becoming a full-time student, an introductory test drive offer is extended. This introductory class includes five hours of recorded beginner training and access to several 30- to 40-minute follow-along training classes.

Udemy’s Get My Black Belt Part 1 and Part 2 are designed to teach you the skills to earn an orange belt and pass a black belt test. The course is affordable and you can access the materials 24/7.

Udemy is an online learning platform that offers more than 130,000 video courses related to business, personal development, and marketing, among other topics.

One of its more popular verticals includes health and fitness-related topics like karate and martial arts training. That’s where you’ll find Get My Black Belt: Wado Ryu Karate, our top pick for the best intermediate online karate class. Senseis John Hurley and Ayushi Sharma will teach you the skills and techniques you need to master to earn an orange belt.

The course is divided into three sections: Basic Techniques, Kata and Bunkai, and Blocks and Counters. Because of the pace and knowledge base required to understand the concepts, this class is not a good fit for beginners. If you enjoy the content in part one, consider moving on to the next course—Get My Black Belt: Wado Ryu Karate (Part 2), Green Belt to Black Belt—which is the same format and cost as part one.

Part 1 of the course costs $29; part 2 costs $17. The cost to train is a one-time fee, including all classes in the course. There are no plans available.

There are no free trials for these courses, but a 30-day money-back guarantee is offered.

The Karate Lessons Online Home Study Program gives kids a structured format to learn martial arts basics at their pace. Plus, the course is free, so parents have nothing to lose.

Do you need a fun, safe, and healthy way for your kids to stay active while at home? Karate Lessons Online offers a free online course that includes short lessons to teach kids the basics of martial arts. This is a great way for kids to stay in shape, learn self-defense, and build self-confidence, all from the comfort of their homes.

The Karate Home Study program is a combination of short videos with live feedback from Sensei David. Each karate technique is broken down and explained, along with videos on how to train and develop movements. Through its online dojo, you will have access to exclusive video lessons with bonus support for parents.

Plus, the program includes instructions and helpful training tips and techniques. It is self-paced, with 24/7 access to instructional videos. Students can complete a belt test online and get direct feedback from Sensei David. Karate Lessons Online is currently offering the Karate Home Study course for free. The school does not indicate how much it will cost if and when it discontinues free access.

The Introduction to Karate Class is free. Once your child is ready to take their talents to the next level, additional courses are available for purchase via monthly or annual plans.

• Annual tuition: $87
• Monthly tuition: $9.99

Dojo Go! How to Learn Karate At Home is a fun and fast way to introduce your family to the basics of karate. This 20-minute video engages kids ages 4 to 12 with interactive games and drills.

Families with young children will appreciate the energy, silliness, and fun that Master Kelley brings to this 20-minute virtual martial arts lesson. This beginner class is part of a six-week white belt martial arts program designed specifically for at-home practice. You can take this free class as a stand-alone or subscribe to the six-week program for $47. It includes a warm-up, basic martial arts terminology, and stances.

Master Kelley does an excellent job of teaching students the purpose of karate and the reasons to use it. He then takes them through a series of punches and kicks with interactive games and drills. And the best part? This introductory class is an excellent choice for anyone new to karate, regardless of age.

For about $47, you’ll get six weeks of lessons (about three videos each week) as part of the Online Transformation Martial Arts Program. Once you complete this series, you’ll be invited to join the intermediate program. For a sneak peek into the next level, check out this free 20-minute intermediate lesson on YouTube.

The beginner lesson is free. Additional courses cost either $97 (standard course) or $197 (premium) per 6-week package.

Mastering Krav Maga takes the self-defense tactics of the discipline and applies them to real-world self-defense scenarios.  It’s one thing to know the move; it’s another to know when to apply it.

Mastering Krav Maga focuses on combining the defense tactics of karate and applying them to real-life defensive scenarios. The emphasis on security and defense has made this online course a must for numerous government agencies, including the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard.  

Founded by David Kahn, United States Israeli Krav Maga Chief Instructor, Mastering Krav Maga offers a repository of over 500 lessons geared to individuals ranging from beginner to expert. A basic subscription package starts at $60 a month, with a more robust package offered at $70 monthly. A $50 discounted package is also available for military and law enforcement personnel.

All packages include a two-code login which allows access for both the registrant and a partner. While a partner is not listed as a requirement, having one is strongly encouraged.

The team at Mastering Krav Maga promotes the advancement of their students and their growth within the discipline. With that in mind, a remote certification testing program is offered.

Courses begin at $60 a month and are available by subscription only. There are three different enrollment plans to choose from:

• Recon: $60 a month
• Warrior: $70 a month 
• LEO/MILSPEC: $50 a month, available to military and law enforcement only 

 A two-day free trial period is available prior to committing to a subscription.

Rooted in and inspired by tradition, My Online Karate prides itself on training students in the art of authentic Japanese karate with roots that are planted all the way back to the origin of karate itself.

My Online Karate is grounded in the history, lessons, and art of traditional karate. 

The originating club was founded in 1972 by Sensei Glenn Moulds, whose training pedigree is six degrees of separation from the very founder of karate himself. 

My Online Karate boasts over 200 modules taught by high-ranking Black Belt 5th Dan instructors. Black Belt 5th Dan is a part of the black belt ranking structure. As 5th Dan Black Belts, My Online Karate instructors have risen in the ranks and are on their way to becoming a 9th Dan Black Belt. My Online Karate has club members from over 40 countries and offers membership levels ranging from individual monthly packages (about $15) to annual family subscriptions (about $275). As an added bonus, there are no membership contracts, and membership can be canceled at any time.

Even the most seasoned athlete can feel like a beginner with My Online Karate. The school encourages participants to begin at the same level, with the option of advancement and testing whenever a participant feels ready. For some athletes, this format may feel a bit cumbersome, especially if you’re eager to earn your Black Belt at an accelerated speed.  

Training is open to athletes from ages 4 to 100 and is designed for a variety of fitness levels.

Classes cost about $15 a month. Subscription packages are available:

• Individual: About $15/month or about $165/year
• Family: About $25/month or about $275/ year

At this time, free classes are not available, but free training videos are accessible via My Online Karate's YouTube Channel.

LesMills BODYCOMBAT emphasizes exact karate and martial art moves, but with a focus on using those moves to create an intense and high-energy workout.

LesMills BODYCOMBAT’s full body workout takes karate and various other martial arts disciplines and weaves them together into one heart-stomping, calorie-burning workout.  

LesMills began as a family gym in Auckland, New Zealand, in the late 1960s, and has since ballooned into a global fitness powerhouse.

BODYCOMBAT classes are sure to make you sweat, but they are also sure to test your ability in a variety of martial arts disciplines. If you are looking to stay true to karate in its purest form, this might not be the workout for you.  

With a LesMills virtual subscription, you gain access to BODYCOMBAT workouts and the whole LesMills catalog of fitness classes, which includes over 1500 workouts ranging from yoga to cycling.  

While gym BODYCOMBAT classes range from 30 to 40 to 55 minutes, online classes are available in only 30- to 60-minute increments. BODYCOMBAT classes are also a solo affair, so if you’re looking for a martial arts-style workout incorporating sparring, this class might feel a bit limiting.  

Subscription plans are budget-friendly and start with a free trial.

Classes are not offered individually but as part of a subscription package. The options are:

• Monthly: $4 for the first four weeks, then $14.99 a month
• 3-Month: $11.99 a month, billed monthly
• Annual: $120

A 30-day free trial is available.

The Seichou Karate app is robust and well thought-out and provides access and insight at your fingertips.

The team at Seichou Karate put time and thought into this app, and it shows in core features including how-to videos, in-app gamification, and fitness and project tracking.

Founded in 1997 in Alexandria, Virginia, Seichou Karate keeps the roots of its training firmly planted in tradition. With the creation of the Seichou Karate App, students have tutelage at their fingertips and access to a wealth of additional content and fitness-tracking features.

The app is free to download via the Apple Store or Google Play. There is a $20-a-month cost to access the library of video content, though.

While the app is available for iOS or Android operating systems, it seems that iOS has the edge; the Seichou Karate App can be synced with the Apple Health app to help create a full fitness picture.

Unlike other online studios, Seichou Karate offers a variety of additional content beyond techniques and movements, such as how-to videos on Japanese calligraphy and more. The app will also keep you engaged and coming back with additional features such as progress gamification and fitness/nutrition tracking.

While not a game changer, it is worth noting that there appears to be a lack of updates for the app, with the last one for Google Play being in 2021.

Classes are accessed via a monthly subscription package. On-demand videos for adults are $20/month, and a kids' subscription is available for the same price.

A free trial class is available, but it is unclear website whether this class is to be used at the in-person location or online.