Welcome

Traditional Martial Arts

Learn More Today

Welcome to you & your family!

Grandmaster Craig Balliette invites you and your family to join one of the most complete and professional Martial Arts Facilities in the country!

Lakewood Ranch Taekwondo proudly serves Lakewood Ranch, Bradenton, Sarasota and beyond.

Manatee County Best Teaching Award -Martial Arts 2023

How we’re different

Grandmaster Craig Balliette invites you and your family to join one of the most complete and professional Martial Arts Facilities in the country! Lakewood Ranch Taekwondo proudly serves Lakewood Ranch, Bradenton, Sarasota and beyond. Grandmaster Craig is only one of five non-Korean certified Grandmasters of Taekwondo in the world. Children 5 years through adult can benefit from his 44 years of teaching experience. 

Lakewood Ranch Taekwondo Academy is a World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) School and includes Hapkido, the Korean art of self-defense5

Taekwondo

Taekwondo

Taekwondo is a powerful, methodical Korean Martial Art that emphasizes physical training and mind body discipline.

Hapkido

Hapkido

Hapkido is the Korean Martial Art of self-defense that employs joint-locks, grappling and throwing techniques.

Kids Martial Arts

Kids Martial Arts

Lakewood Ranch Taekwondo is honored to train children as young as 5 years old all the way  into adulthood.

Adults Martial Arts

Adult Martial Arts

We welcome all ages and skill levels. Whether you are a beginner or advanced, our training will help reach new heights.

Family Martial Arts

Family Martial Arts

Practicing martial arts as a family is a wonderful way to connect with your loved ones and grow together! 

Lakewood Ranch Taekwondo Martial Arts Sarasota Bradenton

Our Mission

Growth & Honor

Martial Arts strengthens both mind and body in profound ways. At Lakewood Ranch Taekwondo, our mission to provide you with an authentic, traditional taekwondo martial arts experience that will be of benefit to your life for many years to come. 

Worldwide Accolades & Certifications

The World Taekwondo Federation
USA Taekwondo
World Taekwondo Chang Moo Kwan
Global Taekwondo Association

Testimonials

Student Reviews

At Lakewood Ranch Taekwondo, we take your martial arts experience here very seriously! Please feel free to browse through reviews left by many happy students or feel free to leave us your testimonial. We love hearing from our students!

Lakewood Ranch Taekwondo Google Reviews
Lakewood Ranch Taekwondo Yelp Reviews
Lakewood Ranch Taekwondo Facebook Reviews
Craig Vandergrift Jr
Craig Vandergrift Jr
The Taekwondo Academy you've been looking for!
Signed both of my daughters up last July. I can’t say enough about Lakewood Ranch Taekwondo. Master Craig is one of 5 Grandmasters and a 9th Degree Black Belt. He teaches by the book - very disciplined. If you are looking for someone to teach your son or daughter self-defense, discipline and respect - this is the place for you!
Sherri Amber Dandrow
Sherri Amber Dandrow
The best martial arts school around! For serious students only.
My 5 yr old daughter recently began a program at LWR Taekwondo and loves it! Master Craig takes Taekwondo seriously. This isn't day care - but a class for students dedicated to learning martial arts. Master Craig demands respect and runs a very structured class. The only speaking the students do is to say "Yes, Sir." Master Craig still teaches the forms. (Apparently, many schools don't). There are NO contracts. You pay month by month. He teaches every class himself whether you're a white belt or black belt. Master Craig is an incredible teacher and we are so happy with Lakewood Ranch Taekwondo.
Marisela Santiago
Marisela Santiago
My homeschoolers love Lakewood Ranch Taekwondo
My 2 kids are homeschooled, so when it came time to choosing Martial Arts school, I needed the best! We looked around for months until we found Master Craig. His classes are for kids that WANT to learn. They are serious, structured, disciplined and respectful. My kids are rapidly learning their forms. His school is also part of the World Taekwondo Federation, which was a big deal for us because Master Craig was taught by the original masters!
Jennifer Patitucci
Jennifer Patitucci
Discipline, Personal Growth & Structure
My two children, ages 8 and 9 now, have been attending LWR Taekwondo with Master Craig for over two years now and love it. The students in this academy work very hard to earn their belts. It is not a "belt factory" nor is it a day care. Kids that go here are serious about mastering and excelling in Taekwondo. Master Craig is very disciplined & structured. He holds his students to the same standards. If you're looking for the real deal, this is it!