TAC Karate & Fitness
TAC Karate & Fitness, 7223 South Stony Island Avenue, Chicago, IL 60649
About
TAC Karate & Fitness offers traditional Shorin-Ryu karate, Shorin-Ryu karate, Children’s Karate, Adult’s Karate, cardio kickboxing, fitness kick boxing, self-defense, and martial arts weapons training. Martial arts weapons training at this program includes work with the bo staff, nunchaku, and sai, with an emphasis on proper technique and safety. The program also includes a focus on practical self-defense skills designed to prepare students for real-life situations.
• Ages: 5–18 years old
TAC Karate & Fitness states that its mission is to support physical, mental, and spiritual growth through martial arts. The program offers comprehensive martial arts options that include Shorin-Ryu karate, cardio kickboxing, and weapons training, with classes described as tailored for all ages and skill levels. Classes are described as high-energy fitness sessions that incorporate martial arts techniques and cardiovascular exercises, with flexible class schedules and a variety of class times.
Larry C. Tankson, Hanshi, leads TAC Karate & Fitness as a 10th Degree Black Belt with over 40 years of martial arts experience. He began training in Chicago on September 10, 1969, at age 13 and studied Goju-Ryu, Shorei-Goju, Shorei Ryu, and Tae Kwon Do, earning multiple black belt ranks. His competitive record includes success in kata and kumite, becoming the No. 1 ranked junior fighter in the Midwest, and earning numerous national and international titles as a World Champion. In 1981, he opened Tankson Martial Arts Academy Ltd., which has produced top competitors. The dojo is described as a cherished place of learning and brotherhood, reflecting methodological, ideological, philosophical, and spiritual aspects of martial arts, and it serves the Chicagoland area.
The program is connected to Shobayashi-Ryu, explained as the “small forest school,” one of the three branches of Shorin-Ryu karate that originated in Shuri, Okinawa (Shuri-Te), and is characterized by high stances and quick, cat-like movements. The karate studio is described as state-of-the-art, clean, safe, and supportive, and is intended to foster personal growth and community spirit.
Last updated April 18, 2026.
• Ages: 5–18 years old
TAC Karate & Fitness states that its mission is to support physical, mental, and spiritual growth through martial arts. The program offers comprehensive martial arts options that include Shorin-Ryu karate, cardio kickboxing, and weapons training, with classes described as tailored for all ages and skill levels. Classes are described as high-energy fitness sessions that incorporate martial arts techniques and cardiovascular exercises, with flexible class schedules and a variety of class times.
Larry C. Tankson, Hanshi, leads TAC Karate & Fitness as a 10th Degree Black Belt with over 40 years of martial arts experience. He began training in Chicago on September 10, 1969, at age 13 and studied Goju-Ryu, Shorei-Goju, Shorei Ryu, and Tae Kwon Do, earning multiple black belt ranks. His competitive record includes success in kata and kumite, becoming the No. 1 ranked junior fighter in the Midwest, and earning numerous national and international titles as a World Champion. In 1981, he opened Tankson Martial Arts Academy Ltd., which has produced top competitors. The dojo is described as a cherished place of learning and brotherhood, reflecting methodological, ideological, philosophical, and spiritual aspects of martial arts, and it serves the Chicagoland area.
The program is connected to Shobayashi-Ryu, explained as the “small forest school,” one of the three branches of Shorin-Ryu karate that originated in Shuri, Okinawa (Shuri-Te), and is characterized by high stances and quick, cat-like movements. The karate studio is described as state-of-the-art, clean, safe, and supportive, and is intended to foster personal growth and community spirit.
Last updated April 18, 2026.
Is this your business? There is no cost, but you will be asked to sign up or log in.