American Institute of Kenpo (AIK)

American Institute of Kenpo (AIK) offers Kenpo Karate, Tactical Sparring, and Smart Girl Self Defense. Kenpo Karate is listed for ages 4 and up, Tactical Sparring is for teens and adults, and Smart Girl Self Defense is for women and girls ages 12 and older. The schedule lists Youth classes on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 4:45-5:30pm, Teen/Adult classes on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 6:00-7:00pm and 7:30-8:30pm, Wednesday from 6:00-7:00pm, and Saturday from 11:30am-2:00pm.

Programs

• Kenpo Karate — Ages 4 and up; kids, teenagers, adults · Youth classes: Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 4:45-5:30pm; Teen/Adult classes: Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 6:00-7:00pm and 7:30-8:30pm; Wed 6:00-7:00pm; Sat 11:30am-2:00pm · $195–$380 per month · Structured classes. New Student Special available through Groupon includes orientation, uniform, and six weeks of classes. Standard one-year enrollment pricing listed for one to four people.
• Tactical Sparring — Teens and adults · Wed 6:00-8:00pm; Sat 11:30am-2:00pm · $10 per week · Separate program focused on sparring. New Student Special: first 4 classes free. Safety gear required after the first four classes.
• Smart Girl Self Defense — Women and girls ages 12 and older · Offered several times a year; class schedule lists January, June, and October 1:00-5:00pm · $89 · The Distance, Time, Safety class. First class includes an SGSD Bandana. Free refresher classes by reservation, as space allows.

At a glance

• Ages: 4–18 years old
• Price range: $10–$380
• General schedule: Class schedule lists Youth classes on Mon, Tue, Thu, and Fri from 4:45-5:30pm; Kenpo Sparring on Mon and Tue from 7:05-7:20pm; Beg. & Inter. on Mon, Thu, and Fri from 7:30-8:30pm; Advanced on Tue and Thu from 6:00-7:00pm; Sr. Black on Mon, Tue, and Thu from 5:30-6:00pm and 8:30-9:00pm; Tactical 101 on Wed 6:00-7:00pm and Sat 1:00-2:00pm; Tactical 201 on Sat 11:30am-12:30pm; Tactical 301 on Fri 7:00-8:00pm; Smart Girl on Jan, Jun, and Oct 1:00-5:00pm.

About the provider

AIK was co-founded in 2005 and has served Tucson since 2005. The school says Master Andrew Pilch founded AIK and assumed full leadership in 2022. He is described as a 9th Degree Black Belt, and the site says he was inducted into the U.S. Martial Arts Hall of Fame in 2007, recognized for Tucson’s "Best Martial Arts and Combat Sports Classes" in 2024, promoted to 9th Degree Black Belt in 2024, and named a Physicist of the Paxtial Arts in 2023.

Kenpo Karate standard enrollment is a one-year program. Tactical Sparring requires a class participation waiver before training. Youth (4–7) belt testing is every 2 months. No regular classes on test days. Late arrivals must reschedule for standard belt testing. Parent signature required for youth testing.

Last updated October 19, 2026.