Bares Taekwondo Fitness · Tyler, TX

About Bares Taekwondo Fitness

Bares Taekwondo Fitness is a family-owned martial arts school that has served Tyler and East Texas families since 2007. We teach traditional Taekwondo alongside Kickboxing and Jiu Jitsu, and we hold two things in the same hand: real standards and a real welcome.

Our Story

Taekwondo runs in the Bares family, and it started with Mom. She trained first, and in 1991 her husband Matt followed her onto the mat and never left. By 1993 he was a chief instructor in Lumberton, Texas, and in 1999 the family moved to Tyler to build something of their own. After a year of teaching out of the Vineyard Church, Bares Taekwondo Fitness opened its doors in 2007. Every Bares kid grew up on these mats and earned a black belt here.

Race Bares started training in 2000 at age 3, earned his black belt young, and kept going, reaching 4th degree nine years later. He took over management of the school in 2021 and ownership in 2023, and today he leads a growing team of instructors alongside his father. The goal hasn't changed since the church days: serious training, taught with care, in a room where your family is known by name.

What We Believe

Rank is earned here, never given. We hold every student to real standards because that's where confidence actually comes from, and we meet every student where they are, because that's how people actually grow. No politics, no bullying, no busywork. Just good training, good people, and a school your whole family can belong to.

Our Instructors

Meet the team. Full instructor bios coming soon.