Karate Instruction in Frederick MD

Ralph F. Kreimer began teaching in 1976 and opened his first school in 1978. From 1980 through 1989, he was the Chief instructor of the YMCA's karate program until the Spring of 1989, when he opened Kreimer's Karate Institute, Inc. in Frederick, Maryland.

Grandmaster Kreimer provided his facility in 1995 to train the recruits of the Frederick County Criminal Justice Academy. In doing so, he was presented with a certificate of appreciation for his continued support of the men and women and mission of the Frederick County Sheriff's Office.

Grandmaster Kreimer's reputation for quality instruction, sharp self-defense skills and well-managed tournaments has made him well-known in Maryland and the surrounding areas. Special guests at his tournaments and seminars have been martial arts legends such as the late Joe Lewis, Bill "Superfoot" Wallace, and Jeff Smith.

Grandmaster Kreimer has made his mark on the ratings circuit and is the first senior in the history of Karate World Ratings to hold all 3 titles of Weapons, Forms, and Fighting.

1989 Professional Karate League - P.K.L. #2 Sr. Fighter and #2 Sr. Forms North American Sport Karate Association Top 5 - N.A.S.K.A. Karate World Rating #1 Sr. Weapons and #1 Sr. Forms

1990 Triple Crown - P.K.L. #5 Nationally - Sr. Weapons #1 Sr. Fighter and #1 Sr. Forms #2 Sr. Weapons - Karate World

1991 Triple Crown - Karate World #1 Sr. Weapons, #1 Sr. Forms and #1 Sr. Fighting P.K.L. #1 Sr. Weapons - Top Ten Nationally #2 Sr. Forms and #2 Sr. Fighting N.A.S.K.A. - #2 Sr. Weapons and #2 Senior Forms

1992 Induction in to the World Martial Arts Hall of Fame as Sr. Fighter of the Year.

2000 Karate World #2 Sr. Weapons and #2 Sr. Forms

2001 Karate World #3 Sr. Weapons and #3 Sr. Forms Master of the Year Award He was recognized as an honored professional in the 2001 edition of the National Registered Who's Who

2002 Karate World Excellence in Teaching Award

2004 Induction in to the Sport Karate Living Legends Hall of Fame For Golden Lifetime Achievement for his accomplishments In 30 plus years in the martial arts. The ceremony was held in Lynchburg, Va.

Garry Holman of Karate World Ratings states that GrandMaster Kreimer, his wife Linda, and daughter Janel were the first and only family to hold all title belts at the same time.

Kreimer's Karate offers programs for all ages from 3 to 93, with 20 different classes to choose from during the week. Private instruction is also available. We offer programs to help with self-confidence, self-discipline, respect and self-control. The certified black belt instructors at Kreimer's Karate take personal interest in the students--always praising them for academic grades and at-home accomplishments, as well as their promotions in the martial arts.

Kreimer's Karate is a 3,600 square foot facility with 2,000 square feet of open workout area on a suspension floor. The lobby area includes a pro shop with a complete line of martial arts supplies. The facility offers locker rooms for both men and women. There are speed bags, heavy bags, striking balls, focus mitts, and kicking shields, as well as blockers and other equipment to help with your training. As busy as GrandMaster Kreimer is, he always seems to find time to help others. Whether it be a few extra minutes to assist a student, or simply to lend a hand for whatever reason, you know that Ralph can be counted on to give his time.

GrandMaster Ralph F. Kreimer's motto is, "You can learn to do anything if you are patient, take your time and work hard. No time is wasted."

I was very active on the tournament circuit for about a year and a half, earning many trophies and medals. In 2006, I was a Top 10 competitor for my age group. I am trained not only in weapons, (nunchaku, bo, escrima, kama, sai, tonfa, and sword) but have also spent many hours studying street smart self-defense, as well as kali, knife defenses, and grappling.

I started my training in 1988 on a dare that Martial Arts was something that “girls” did not do. I set out to prove them wrong. I went on to become not only regionally, but also nationally ranked in Forms, Weapons and Fighting. I was even twice named “Competitor of the Year” with Karate World Ratings and inducted into the World Martial Arts Hall of Fame.

My greatest joy in the Martial Arts is seeing the smiles on the faces of those who are learning. I love to help with the many different karate camps that we offer, as well as our annual tournament that we hold at the studio for our students. I also enjoy seeing the students that we have trained come back to us with their children and we are now training them. That gives you a real feeling of accomplishment.

My name is Scott Lewis, I am a 5th Dan Black Belt at Kreimer's Karate. I’ve trained at a number of other martial arts schools around the country and after nearly three decades at Kreimer’s Karate, I am more grateful than ever to be here. No matter how run-down or stressed I feel when I walk into the dojang, when I leave I have more energy, patience, and a better outlook. I also enjoy the camaraderie with other martial artists who are overwhelmingly people of good character.

The school is one of Frederick’s longest-tenured  and not only survived, but thrived through the 2020 lockdown. The Kreimers set high expectations for their instructors, who set high expectations for those coming up—of their skills as well as their character. Not all black belts make good instructors and only those who do have the opportunity to teach here. Our instructors model respect, enthusiasm and caring. When you join Kreimer’s Karate you are not just joining a school, you are joining what we call our “karate family”.

Several years ago the school encouraged me to develop and teach a women’s proactive self-protection class. In turn, which led to the worldwide publication of my comprehensive book on women’s safety, "Staying Safe for Today's Woman", that the school endorses. More recently, three of us instructors pooled our collective experience and created Tal Chul Do (Way of Escape), a self-defense training program that includes defending against attacks at very close range while standing, offensive and defensive ground fighting, escapes from being held on the ground, and defending against attacks with weapons. Both of these training programs include skills outside the school’s regular syllabus but the school embraces positive change, and our students enjoy broadening their abilities. Martial arts should always include continuous learning whatever our experience, and Kreimer’s Karate provides the foundation for growth.

You can make karate your hobby, sport, or a way of life. I don't' think there is a better way to get and stay flexible and in shape than martial arts. Before committing to years with a martial arts school, visit and observe both a Beginner’s class to see how they teach beginners and an Advanced/Black Belt class to see what their product looks like. Compare with other schools. Our training syllabus is very broad, both to develop wider skills and to keep students of all ages interested and motivated during the martial arts journey. Martial arts training is a significant commitment of time and resources: Don’t just pick the closest school. Be selective. Choose a school at which you or your child will become a black belt. You’ll be glad later. 

My name is Brian Bowers. I am a Veteran of the US Navy. I am married with three sons, each son is also a Kreimer's Karate Black Belt.

I started my martial arts journey at Kreimer's Karate as a young child alongside my sister, learning under Grandmaster Kreimer. During high school I joined the wrestling team, where my abilities as a wrestler and as a leader earned me a spot as Team Captain. As a team captain, I really developed a passion for the sport. I can attest that the dedication to the sport of wrestling is on a whole other level compared to "traditional" sports. As with any other fighting art, it requires hard work, tenacity, and commitment. Many skills that you learn and develop are honed through sweat and fatigue. I joined the Navy directly out of high school and spent the next several years serving overseas. 

When my sons decided that they wanted to study martial arts, Kreimer's Karate was the choice, naturally, after having received quality training in my youth. I decided to start back at White Belt so that I could take class with my sons, and come up through the ranks with them. Not only did give us the privilege of motivating each other, it also allowed me to refresh myself with relearned techniques. The four of us tested for our 1st Dan Black Belt in 2017. We each tested for our 2nd Dan in 2020. Since then, my oldest son and I have tested for our 3rd Dan Black Belts in 2025 and 2023, respectively.

I believe that all styles of martial arts can have an immensely positive impact on how a person lives their life. The discipline, dedication, and hard work necessary for mastery in any art, improves your ability to manage many different situations in regular daily activities. 

When approached to be part of a team teaching Tal Chul Do to the school, I was honored to add my experience to the mix. Tal Chul Do is a new style that we birthed within Kreimer's Karate, it features various influences and concepts from other styles with a common goal of close quarters self-defense from standing and grounded positions. My background in wrestling aligned well with the goals for the program and has allowed it to further blossom amongst the Advanced and Black Belts. It offers a new take on the realm of modern day self-defense for students of Kreimer's Karate. Classes engage students to not just memorize moves, but to think an understand the situations that make the moves effective. The mental aspect of that understanding is vital to any serious martial artist. A fitting quote that I've always enjoyed comes from General George S. Patton, "if everyone is thinking alike, then somebody isn't thinking.

I've been honored to be part of the Kreimer's Karate "family" as a longtime student and current Instructor.