October 7, 2026

Where to do taekwondo in Cotonou?

In Cotonou, you can do taekwondo at DojoLand, at two locations: Fidjrossè and Akpakpa. Classes are open to children and adults alike, from age 5, beginners included.

Class times

At Fidjrossè: Wednesday 4:45–5:45 pm and Saturday 10:45–11:45 am. At Akpakpa: Wednesday and Saturday 2:15–3:15 pm. The full schedule is on the Programme page.

What you learn

Taekwondo is a Korean martial art: you strike with the foot and with the hand, and kicks play a big part in it. You also practise poomsae, set sequences of movements that are also performed in competition, scored on accuracy and presentation.

A typical class

A class lasts one hour and always has the same shape: a warm-up, then new theory or technique, then practice.

Sparring, practice fighting with a partner, is for more experienced students and takes place regularly. Beginners are not thrown into it.

Who is it for?

Classes are mixed: men, women and children train together, and we often split the group by age or level when the gap is too big.

To start, comfortable sportswear is enough. Later you can buy a kimono (gi) and your equipment at the DojoLand shop.

We encourage parents to come and watch a training themselves: many later become members too.

For children, a randomised trial of 240 British primary pupils aged 7 to 11 found that 11 weeks of beginner taekwondo at school (two 45-minute classes a week) improved attention, as rated by teachers, and reduced conduct problems, compared with PE classes.

Belts and tournaments

We hold belt gradings 2 to 3 times a year: the belt and the certificate are handed over on the day. See the taekwondo belt ceremony. Our students also take part in tournaments.

Did you know?

The word taekwondo comes from Korean: tae means foot, kwon means fist and do means the way, hence "the way of the foot and the fist". The name dates from the 1950s; its link with older Korean traditions is contested by many historians.

Taekwondo has been an Olympic medal sport since Sydney 2000, with eight events: four for men and four for women. According to World Taekwondo, Côte d'Ivoire, Chinese Taipei and Jordan each won their first-ever Olympic gold medal, in any sport, through taekwondo.

Under World Taekwondo competition rules, the head may only be hit with the foot. Scoring rewards kicks: 2 points to the trunk, 3 to the head, and double for a valid turning kick.

Frequently asked questions

My child is shy, is that a problem? No. Classes are open to beginners, and you can come and watch a training before deciding.

Is taekwondo dangerous? In its 2016 report on youth martial arts, the American Academy of Pediatrics says that basic non-contact techniques may carry a lower risk of injury, while contact sparring, especially in competition, carries a higher one, including blows to the head. With us, sparring is for more experienced students.

I am an adult and have never trained, is it too late? No. Adult beginners are welcome.

First training is free

You can come and try: the first training is free. Book it in advance with the manager, at reception or by WhatsApp.

How much does it cost?

The 1 Class plan (one discipline of your choice, at one location) costs 10,000 FCFA for one month, or 8,500 FCFA a month with a 12-month commitment (102,000 FCFA). The Unlimited plan (all disciplines, one location) is 20,000 FCFA a month. All plans are on the Prices page.

How to join

Take the quiz8 questions · 2 minutes