American States Karate

10/08/2026

No class today at Bethel Lutheran Church! See you next week. 🙂

10/06/2026

Next week is "Wear What You Want" week!

Make sure you can still move properly in whatever you're wearing, and be sure to bring your belt!

10/05/2026

This weekend! A great competition to check out for inspiration and making great connections.

Get ready for three days of elite competition, incredible talent, and unforgettable moments as martial artists from across the country come together for one of the biggest weekends of the year.

📅 October 8–10, 2026
📍 DoubleTree by Hilton | Bloomington, Minnesota
💻 DiamondNationals.com

10/03/2026

The Belt Progression

​Every belt represents time, growth, and hard work:

​⚪️ White Belt
​🟡 Yellow Belt
​🪙 Gold Belt
​🟠 Orange Belt
​🟢 Green Belt
​🔵 Blue Belt
​🟣 Purple Belt
​🔴 Red Belt
​🟤 Brown Belt
​⚫️ Black Belt & Advanced Degrees

Reaching Black Belt is a huge milestone, but it is really just the beginning of true mastery:

- ​Probationary Black Belt
- ​1st Degree Black Belt
- ​(1.5) Advanced 1st Degree
- ​2nd Degree
- ​3rd Degree
- ​4th Degree
- ​5th Degree
- ​6th Degree
- ​7th Degree (the "unachievable rank")

​⏰ The Time Requirement:
Testing for higher Black Belt degrees takes serious dedication. Every level requires a minimum of 1 year, and the waiting period matches the rank you are testing for — so testing for 2nd Degree takes 2 years of training, 3rd Degree takes 3 years, and so on. Black Belt ranks are indicated by a blue stripe-mark for every Degree they are.

​Uniform Colors (Gi):🥋🟥⬜️🟦
​Our uniform styles reflect a student's age, rank, and role within the school:

​Youth Students: All beginner youth students wear the classic White uniform. Once reaching Green Belt, youth earn the option to upgrade to a Blue or Red uniform!

​Teens & Adults: Teen and adult students can choose White, Blue, or Red right away (though most stick with the classic White).

​Black Belts: Upon reaching Black Belt, students can keep their full-color uniform, but tradition usually leads them to our signature Black Jacket + Blue Pants combo!

​Certified Board Members: The All-Black uniform is earned exclusively by our certified board members.

09/28/2026

Bloopers Pt.1

09/23/2026

All beginner blocks (white belt)

09/21/2026

Check out our YouTube channel!

More videos to come, so search us up, or copy and paste the link below, at "American States Karate"!

https://youtube.com/?si=B1xlcL6c_51dz7dC

09/20/2026

Some photos from Thursday's test!
2 new orange belts, a blue belt, and red belt 👊

Everyone did an amazing job! Great display of Black Belt Excellence 🥋

09/11/2026

ROCHESTER AREA 📢
Looking for a constructive sport/hobby for your teen?

Look no further than Thursday classes held at Bethel Lutheran Church at 7pm!

💪 Our martial arts classes will improve their fitness, coordination, fighting skills, discipline, and above all, character.

🙌🏻 Students love karate because it's a "sport" (if you will) that you can continue, well, forever! The self-defense applications you learn at every belt prepare you for real-world threats, but in a fun and safe environment.

♿ If your teen has a handicap that is unsafe in other sports, karate is the best option for them! Adjustments are made for all kinds of injuries, too.

We call it an "individual team sport" because classes are ran with everyone doing the same things, but progress and advancement is up to the individual. We run a merit-based belt system; meaning we don't base advancement based on number of classes attended or money paid. With that said, a committed student could make black belt in as few as 4 years.

Start their martial arts journey with American States Karate today! Send us a direct message or drop a comment below with any questions.

09/10/2026

Get Fit, Lower Stress, and Master Real Skills 🥋🔥

​Looking for a workout that challenges your mind as much as your body?

Our Teen & Adult Karate Class (Ages 13+) at Bethel Lutheran Church offers real-world self-defense training, high-level fitness, and mental clarity in a friendly, high-energy environment.

​Why train with us?

✅️​Practical Self-Defense: Learn proven techniques that build practical confidence.

🏋‍♂️​Full-Body Fitness & Stress Relief: Burn off the day's stress while improving strength and mobility.

🙌​Community & Growth: Train alongside supportive peers at your own pace—no prior experience needed!

​Whether you want to try something new, get back into training, or share an activity with your teen, there is a spot for you.

​📍 Location: Bethel Lutheran Church, Rochester, MN
⏰ ️Time: Thursdays @ 7pm-8:15pm

📩 Drop a comment or send us a message to ask about classes or how to sign up!