Nine schools and community programs across North York, from Bathurst & Sheppard to Steeles Avenue East, with the ages they take, how to try a class, and what it costs where a price is published.
For kids, Toronto Kids Karate (3199 Bathurst St) and Krudar Muay Thai (1335 Lawrence Ave E) both take children from age 4. For adults who want self-defence, House of Combat (15 Hove St) teaches Krav Maga and BJJ from $145/month with no annual contract. For the lowest cost, the North York YMCA (567 Sheppard Ave E) runs karate in 9-session blocks.
Prices below are only those a school publishes. Where a school lists none, the cell says so, and the school's own page is the place to ask.
| School | Discipline | Kids / adults | Trial | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toronto Kids Karate | Shotokan karate, judo, kickboxing | Kids from 4 (some 3+) | Free trial | Not published |
| Northern Karate Schools — Willowdale | Karate, BJJ | Kids and adults | Trial classes | Not published |
| Gracie Barra North York | Brazilian jiu-jitsu | Kids and adults | Free first class | Not published |
| JCCC Judo Kai | Judo | Confirm with club | Confirm with club | Confirm with club |
| Krudar Muay Thai | Muay Thai, boxing | Kids 4–14; adults | $10 first class | Promo: buy 3 months, get 1 free |
| Grant MMA & Boxing Gym | Boxing, Muay Thai, kids striking | Kids under 12; adults | Free first class | Not published here |
| House of Combat | Krav Maga, BJJ | Kids 4–15; adults 16+ | First class booked online | From $145/month, no contract |
| North York YMCA | Karate | Intro ages 6–14; adults 22+ | None listed | 9-session block: $99 member / $198 non-member |
| Prosserman JCC | Krav Maga | Adults (confirm) | Confirm with centre | Confirm with centre |
Rates change by term. Confirm on each school's site before registering.
Karate suits kids who need structure: belts, forms and a clear progression. Two dedicated schools sit on the Bathurst and Steeles corridors.
📍 3199 Bathurst St, North York — Bathurst & Lawrence
Toronto Kids Karate teaches Shotokan karate and recognizes Karate Ontario standards, with judo, kickboxing, MMA and BJJ also on the programme. Parent-and-child classes make it one of the youngest entry points in the area.
📍 1515 Steeles Ave E, North York — Steeles Avenue East
Northern Karate Schools traces back to 1972 and runs 15 GTA locations; the Willowdale school teaches karate and BJJ to kids and adults.
The street address comes from a third-party listing and a Google Places match; the official site did not list this location, so confirm before you go.
Grappling arts teach control rather than strikes, which many parents and adult beginners prefer. Two options: a Gracie Barra academy near Yorkdale and a judo club at the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre.
📍 100 Bridgeland Ave, North York — Lawrence West / Yorkdale area
Gracie Barra North York teaches Brazilian jiu-jitsu, including a Little Champions programme for kids, and offers a complimentary first class.
📍 6 Sakura Way, North York — Don Mills, at the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre
JCCC Judo Kai runs judo at the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre. The only club document we could find is a 2023 handbook, so treat this as a lead rather than a confirmed fall schedule.
Current-season status was not confirmed on October 4, 2026. Check the JCCC programs page first.
Striking classes double as serious cardio. Both gyms below take kids and adults and welcome beginners.
📍 1335 Lawrence Ave E, North York — Lawrence & Don Mills
Krudar Muay Thai has operated since 2002 and offers adult classes, kids classes, boxing, bootcamp and a competitive fight team. As of October 4, 2026 the site advertises a $10 first class and a "Buy 3 Months, Get 1 Free" back-to-school promotion.
📍 Unit 6, 4884 Dufferin St, North York — Dufferin Street corridor, north of Sheppard
Grant MMA & Boxing Gym teaches boxing, Muay Thai and kickboxing, plus a kids striking class for children under 12 and strength-and-conditioning sessions. The first class is free.
Krav Maga is built around real-world scenarios rather than sport competition. House of Combat is the clearest North York option; the Prosserman JCC below also lists a Krav Maga class.
📍 15 Hove St, North York — Bathurst & Sheppard
House of Combat has taught Krav Maga and BJJ since 2010, with more than 25 weekly classes and a women's self-defence stream. The site advertises memberships from $145/month and no annual contract.
The site invites you to register and book a first class but does not describe it as free. Ask what it costs when you book.
Community centres suit people who want to try a style without a monthly membership. The City of Toronto also runs registered martial arts programs; which North York centres offer karate or taekwondo this term should be checked on the City's registration portal or the info line at 416-396-7378.
📍 567 Sheppard Ave E, North York — Bayview subway station
The North York YMCA lists karate in Intro, Novice, Intermediate and Advanced levels. YMCA GTA's 2026 listing shows 9-session Intro blocks for ages 6–14 at $99 for members and $198 for non-members.
Block prices come from the YMCA GTA activity listing and can change by term. Confirm at registration.
📍 4588 Bathurst St, North York — Bathurst Street, Sheppard area
The Prosserman JCC turned up in searches for a Sunday Krav Maga class, listed as 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. We could not confirm the class is running this term, its ages or its price.
Unconfirmed for fall 2026. Call before you go.
These schools market themselves to North York but sit outside its boundary. Listed for people willing to travel; none are counted in the nine above.
Most schools start at age 4. Toronto Kids Karate (3199 Bathurst St) accepts some children from 3 in parent-child classes, Krudar Muay Thai (1335 Lawrence Ave E) takes kids 4–14, and House of Combat (15 Hove St) runs kids 4–15.
Published prices are limited. House of Combat lists memberships from $145/month with no annual contract, Krudar charges $10 for a first class, and the North York YMCA lists 9-session karate blocks at $99 for members and $198 for non-members (all checked October 4, 2026). Most other schools ask you to enquire.
Yes. Gracie Barra North York, Grant MMA & Boxing Gym and Toronto Kids Karate offer a free first class or trial, and Krudar offers a $10 first class. House of Combat takes first-class bookings online; confirm the price when you book.
Krav Maga, BJJ and Muay Thai are the most common choices. House of Combat (15 Hove St) teaches Krav Maga and BJJ and runs a women's self-defence stream, and Gracie Barra North York (100 Bridgeland Ave) teaches BJJ.
The North York YMCA (567 Sheppard Ave E) lists karate blocks from $99 for members, and the City of Toronto runs registered programs through its recreation portal (info line 416-396-7378). The City's Welcome Policy can subsidize fees for eligible households.
Karate and taekwondo are striking arts with belt progressions; BJJ is grappling with no strikes. Toronto Kids Karate (karate) and Gracie Barra North York (BJJ with a kids programme) let you try each with a free class.
Yes. Krudar Muay Thai, Grant MMA & Boxing Gym and Gracie Barra North York all take adult beginners, and House of Combat accepts adults from 16.
Not usually. Ask before buying. Yorkdale Martial Arts Academy, just outside North York, includes a uniform or gear in its new-member rate; confirm what each North York school provides.
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Venue photos via Google Maps.