About
TM Martial Arts Academy offers kids’ martial arts classes that include Karate for Kids, Tae Kwon Do, and Combat Hapkido. The program also offers Reality Based Self-Defense, kickboxing programs, and self-defense programs and seminars for youth and adults. Training to Black Belt and beyond involves attending classes twice a week for 45–60 minutes per class.
• Ages: 3–18 years old
• Schedule: Class options Monday through Friday during daytime and evening hours, and Saturday morning to early afternoon; typical training is twice a week for 45–60 minutes per class
• Price: Special Offer: Get 2 Weeks FREE
TM Martial Arts Academy states that it is committed to unlocking the full potential of every individual through the transformative power of martial arts and focuses on teaching character development, self-defense skills, and developing strong leadership skills, including among the youngest students. The academy describes its programs as one-of-a-kind character-building programs and a specialized martial arts program for every member of the family, with a world-class curriculum that has character-building built into every technique. Students work on their character and leadership development at the studio, at home, and at school, and all instructors came up through the programs at TM Martial Arts and became well-developed young adults. TM Martial Arts Academy is described as a school, not a recreational activity, with training to Black Belt as a developmental process.
Grandmaster Timothy S. Harrison, the instructor and owner, started studying martial arts in 1972 and opened TM Martial Arts Academy on February 3, 2003. He is an 8th-degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do, a 7th-degree black belt in Combat Hapkido, a 1st-degree black belt in the Joe Lewis Fighting System, and a 1st-degree black belt in Superfoot Fighting Systems. He is a certified instructor with the International Police Defensive Tactics Institute, the Military Combatives Association, and C.O.B.R.A self-defense, and is certified by the International Combat Hapkido Federation in Ground Survival and Anatomical Targeting Strategies, as well as Tactical Jeet Kune Do Principles by Grandmaster Joe Lewis. The leadership team includes Grandmaster Timothy S. Harrison and Program Director Vanessa Scahill.
TM Martial Arts has been awarded the Go2 Karate Distinction Award for Plainfield-Joliet. Grandmaster Harrison has been inducted into the Action Martial Arts Hall of Fame in 2007 and 2011, received the Budo International Magazine Outstanding Achievement Award, was named Combat Hapkido 2006 Hapkido Instructor of the Year by the USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame, and was awarded Master of the Year Combat Hapkido 2019 by the World Head of Family Sokeship Council. He received the American Martial Arts Alliance Who's Who Legends Award in 2020 and 2022, the International Combat Hapkido Federation Founder's Hall of Honors Award in 2022, and was inducted into the International Spartan Hall of Warriors Society in 2024.
TM Martial Arts has received the Go2 Karate Distinction Award for Plainfield-Joliet for its dedication to community enrichment and states that its martial arts training strengthens the local community and its members. The academy welcomes families and students from Plainfield, Minooka, Crest Hill, Braidwood, and surrounding areas, with a stated goal of helping kids and their families within the community. First-time VIP visitors can download a free white paper titled “A Child's Character In The Community” and a free e-book titled “7 Sure Ways To Build Strong And Successful Children,” both authored by Timothy S. Harrison. For a first class, participants are advised to wear something comfortable, bring water, and ensure that all minors are accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Parent and student testimonials describe the program director as fantastic and say the staff really care about their students, note weight loss and feeling healthier after consistent adult training, and describe improvements in an eight-year-old’s speed, reflexes, balance, and participation in lessons. A student testimonial from an 11-year-old states that TM Martial Arts has helped her speak up to others, that the Instructor Training Program has made her want to help other kids reach their goals, and that she felt shy and nervous before joining but now feels brave and confident about talking with people.
Last updated February 5, 2026.
• Ages: 3–18 years old
• Schedule: Class options Monday through Friday during daytime and evening hours, and Saturday morning to early afternoon; typical training is twice a week for 45–60 minutes per class
• Price: Special Offer: Get 2 Weeks FREE
TM Martial Arts Academy states that it is committed to unlocking the full potential of every individual through the transformative power of martial arts and focuses on teaching character development, self-defense skills, and developing strong leadership skills, including among the youngest students. The academy describes its programs as one-of-a-kind character-building programs and a specialized martial arts program for every member of the family, with a world-class curriculum that has character-building built into every technique. Students work on their character and leadership development at the studio, at home, and at school, and all instructors came up through the programs at TM Martial Arts and became well-developed young adults. TM Martial Arts Academy is described as a school, not a recreational activity, with training to Black Belt as a developmental process.
Grandmaster Timothy S. Harrison, the instructor and owner, started studying martial arts in 1972 and opened TM Martial Arts Academy on February 3, 2003. He is an 8th-degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do, a 7th-degree black belt in Combat Hapkido, a 1st-degree black belt in the Joe Lewis Fighting System, and a 1st-degree black belt in Superfoot Fighting Systems. He is a certified instructor with the International Police Defensive Tactics Institute, the Military Combatives Association, and C.O.B.R.A self-defense, and is certified by the International Combat Hapkido Federation in Ground Survival and Anatomical Targeting Strategies, as well as Tactical Jeet Kune Do Principles by Grandmaster Joe Lewis. The leadership team includes Grandmaster Timothy S. Harrison and Program Director Vanessa Scahill.
TM Martial Arts has been awarded the Go2 Karate Distinction Award for Plainfield-Joliet. Grandmaster Harrison has been inducted into the Action Martial Arts Hall of Fame in 2007 and 2011, received the Budo International Magazine Outstanding Achievement Award, was named Combat Hapkido 2006 Hapkido Instructor of the Year by the USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame, and was awarded Master of the Year Combat Hapkido 2019 by the World Head of Family Sokeship Council. He received the American Martial Arts Alliance Who's Who Legends Award in 2020 and 2022, the International Combat Hapkido Federation Founder's Hall of Honors Award in 2022, and was inducted into the International Spartan Hall of Warriors Society in 2024.
TM Martial Arts has received the Go2 Karate Distinction Award for Plainfield-Joliet for its dedication to community enrichment and states that its martial arts training strengthens the local community and its members. The academy welcomes families and students from Plainfield, Minooka, Crest Hill, Braidwood, and surrounding areas, with a stated goal of helping kids and their families within the community. First-time VIP visitors can download a free white paper titled “A Child's Character In The Community” and a free e-book titled “7 Sure Ways To Build Strong And Successful Children,” both authored by Timothy S. Harrison. For a first class, participants are advised to wear something comfortable, bring water, and ensure that all minors are accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Parent and student testimonials describe the program director as fantastic and say the staff really care about their students, note weight loss and feeling healthier after consistent adult training, and describe improvements in an eight-year-old’s speed, reflexes, balance, and participation in lessons. A student testimonial from an 11-year-old states that TM Martial Arts has helped her speak up to others, that the Instructor Training Program has made her want to help other kids reach their goals, and that she felt shy and nervous before joining but now feels brave and confident about talking with people.
Last updated February 5, 2026.
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