Seinfeld - there is an episode late in the series where Kramer studies Karate.  He uses his new gained self-confidence to advise Elaine how to approach a challenge.  Elaine loses all confidence when she finds out Kramer is fighting children. Season 8 episode 1 - The Foundation

Saved by the Bell - in an episode of The College Years Kelly and her roommates are in Karate class and find themselves competing for the attention of the sensei who all three are attracted to. Season 1 Episode 7 - The Poker Game

Frasier - Niles is excited to show off what he has learned in kickboxing but an attempt to impress his father goes horribly wrong.  Season 7 Episode 16 Something About Dr. Mary

Home Improvement- two episodes, first one is early in the series when Mark is not included by his brothers, so his parents encourage him to take up an activity of his choosing, which is Karate.  Mark gets bullied in Karate class which leads to a fight in the dojo between parents.  Season 2 Episode 19 - Karate or Not Here I Come.  Another episode years later is where Mark and Randy are at the mall, and Randy accidentally steps on the shoes of another teenager who confronts him.  Mark uses his Karate to defend his brother. Season 6 Episode 14 - The Karate Kid Returns

Perfect Strangers - there is an episode in season three where Larry and his cousin Balki get beat up in a bar fight.  Feeling humiliated and defenseless, the two sign up for Karate so they can learn to defend themselves. Season 3 Episode 7 - Karate Kids

In Living Color - not a sitcom but there is that famous scene where Jim Carrey plays an incompetent Karate instructor.  While teaching a defense technique against a knight attack, Jim's character is stabbed by one of the students. 

 

What are some other sitcoms that you have seen that have a martial arts episode? 

Edited July 15Jul 15 by KarateKen
updated information

I vaguely remember an episode of The Flintstones where Wilma takes up judo, and the portrayal of the judo instructor was, shall we say… “controversial” by today’s standards (i.e., very similar to Mr. Yunioshi from Breakfast at Tiffany’s).  She also had a strange kiai where she shouted “hoochie coochie HA” when she used her judo.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer

the master 

Walker Texas ranger

Martial Law

and the one that got me into martial arts , Kung Fu (original series)

there was an episode of the old Andy Griffith that had judo in it

Green Hornet

Longstreet

Not a TV sitcom but I believe the first American movie to have martial arts in it was Blood on the Sun from 1945

 

 

>Sanford and Sons—Season 3—Episode 19–Lamont Goes Karate

Lamont is hit in the nose over the affections of a girl, he decides to take Karate lessons. 

>The Office—Season 2—Episode 6—The Fight

Jim signs Dwight up for karate; Michael demands dojo respect, sparring an eager Dwight; and office bragging rights hang on a flailing bout that humbles both boss and beet farmer, bonding Pam and Jim ringside.

>The Fresh Prince of Bel Air—Season 5—Episode 9—Love Hurts

While Will and Lisa are on a date, another guy starts to pick on them. Lisa steps in and uses self defense techniques to get rid the heckler. Will is embarrassed and takes tae kwon do lessons.

As a MAist I need to learn how to laugh at myself because oftentimes I can be overly serious whenever it comes to the MA. The tv sitcoms shared in this topic so far were funny and I laughed my head off.

 

 

The TGIF sitcom Step-by-Step had a martial artist in it, the odd brother Cody that lived in a camper on the property. Cody was played by Sasha Mitchell, who went on to star in some of the "later" Kickboxer movies.

I recall an episode of Family Matters where Steve Urckle used a machine he built to become like Bruce Lee and did a fight scene. Side note, he was named an "honorary" black belt by the ATA.