About Us

Kicks Karate was founded in 1994 by Master John Bussard (8th Degree Black Belt). For well over twenty five years, Kicks Karate has been the Family Martial Arts Academy of Maryland’s I-270 corridor. With locations stretching from Bethesda and Rockville, through Gaithersburg and Clarksburg and into Urbana and Frederick, there’s sure to be a school near you. Our mission is to help people of all ages develop important life skills, including in the areas of self-confidence, self-discipline, self-defense, fitness, mental focus, emotional awareness, and more. We achieve this through our certified instructors who have achieved advanced belt levels and are exceptional coaches and motivators. Join over 2,000 martial arts students who are now benefiting from the exceptional training at Kicks Karate.

Who We Serve

Kicks Karate’s martial arts programs are available for children – as young as 3 years old – learning basic techniques, through adults acquiring advanced skills. Students are grouped by age and experience for the best quality of instruction. We also offer kickboxing classes for adults seeking a fitness building workout that incorporates many martial arts elements.

Why Choose Kicks Karate?

At Kicks Karate, you will meet highly qualified, highly proficient black belt instructors who care about your needs as a student. Our emphasis is always on bringing out the best in each individual student as they progress through their own journey in the martial arts. There are no bench warmers in our classes, and each student is encouraged to do his or her absolute best. Our approach has helped us become not only the top choice locally but one of the best martial arts schools in the country.

About Master John Bussard

Master Bussard began training in the martial arts in 1979, studying directly under the legendary Grandmaster Ki Whang Kim (1920 -1993). Master Bussard credits both his martial arts skill and the Kicks Karate “Never Give Up” philosophy to Grandmaster Kim. As a competitor in the1980’s and 1990’s, Master Bussard captured 18 Grand Championships and won hundreds of trophies. He holds a B.S. in Kinesiological Sciences from the University of Maryland, which helped him formulate and develop the various programs Kicks Karate now offers its students. In addition, Master Bussard is an Alumnus of the Harvard Business School, completing the prestigious Program for Leadership Development in 2016. He is on a constant and never ending quest for improvement for himself, his students, his staff of talented instructors, and Kicks Karate.