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City Boxing
“The community in the gym feels like a family, go there enough and you will learn peoples names and be greeted, this atmosphere makes it less daunting for newbies to come in”
Best Karate Classes in San Diego, CA
24 schools listed · 20 in San Diego · 23 open weekends · 22 rated 4.5+
Data verified October 18, 2026
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Full Potential Martial Arts Academy
- Feel
- Shape
- Karate
“In the studio, we are learning much more than Self Defense; we are learning Self Respect, Self Confidence, Self Esteem, and learning how to move our bodies in a powerful, nimble, and graceful way.”
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Swiftkick Martial Arts San Diego
- Class
- Parents
- Behavior
“Any difficulty your child may be having at home or at school the staff will do all they can to support your child as well as you as a parent to help your child be the best they can be”
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On Track Wellness
- Community
- Respect
- Jiu Jitsu
“They strive for a caring and supportive community, and care deeply about instilling and building responsible, thoughtful, and respectful students who carry their martial arts skills into every aspect of their lives.”
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U.S. Karate Academy
- Motivated
- Behavior
- Black Belt
“Karate Academy San Diego is an excellent place for kids and adults of all ages to learn Self-discipline and impulse control along with the skills needed for karate.”
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West Coast Martial Arts Academy
“Students are provided opportunities to develop character traits and positive social skills that will help them to be successful at school and in the community.”
Karate schools listed for San Diego, CA fill the 24 cards on this page. The style each one teaches, its junior classes and its grading schedule are taken from its own website, alongside public review scores.
Area overview: San Diego, CA
20 of the 24 schools we list are based in San Diego; the other 4 serve San Diego from San Marcos (21 mi). The schools on this page are rated from 4.3 to 5.0 across 1,213 reviews; 9 have 50 or more reviews and 22 are rated 4.5 or higher. When students and parents rate these schools on specific qualities, they most often praise professionalism (97%), quality (94%) and communication (84%). The topics that come up most in reviews of the schools on this page are "skills", "confidence" and "atmosphere". 23 are open on Saturdays and 2 on Sundays. 4 have a BBB rating of A or A+. Domain records put 22 websites of the schools on this page at ten or more years old; the oldest dates from 1998. 2 are family- or locally-owned and 4 list coupons or special offers. 1 has Spanish-speaking staff. We have a website on file for all 24 of the schools on this page; 18 publish a contact page; 17 list a public email and 7 take bookings online. We count these figures across the schools on this page; distances are straight-line, and hours and prices change, so confirm the details with the school before you enroll.
Can I book a karate trial online with schools listed for San Diego?
Bookings are taken through their own sites by 7 of the 24 schools. When you book, say your age and whether you have trained before, since the beginner group and the main class are often different hours. Confirm which one you are walking into.
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San Diego Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu & Mixed Martial Arts
“Much bigger and cleaner facility, multiple arts to train in, ALLOT more classes and opportunity to train, a fantastic kids program that my daughter is excited to go to, more passion for the community, and more experience.”
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Freestyle Martial Arts
“He is gaining so much more than just the physical skills and strength- the instructors focus on public speaking, paying attention in school and community involvement.”
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Traditional Martial Arts Center San Diego
- Belt
- Sensei
- Learned
“We were looking for a sport activity that would help our daughter build self-esteem and confidence and learn discipline while getting a good exercise and the Traditional Martial Arts Center and Sensei Halperin have exceeded all of our expectations!”
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Manna's Martial Arts
“Grand Master Manna molds the teens & adults with a strict but empowering protocol that makes any parent proud to witness what youth can accomplish when they set goals and desire to push themselves to achieve.”
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White Dragon Martial Arts
“All staff at White Dragon Clairemont have been respectful, understanding, and helpful from the beginning in navigating our family's complicated dynamic, enabling my hesitant 10 year old son to explore Kung-Fu and grow to love it.”
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North Park Jiu Jitsu Academy
- Environment
- Atmosphere
- Mat
“My journey at North Park Jiu Jitsu began a year ago when I was first introduced to BJJ as a means of managing my health, diabetes in particular, while learning the art of self defense.”
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Jing Institute of Chinese Martial Arts & Culture
“I highly recommend this program if you're interested in after-school care and want to give your kids a well-rounded day with extra socialization mixed in with educational-based programming!”
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Miramar Martial Arts Academy (Mira Mesa)
- Kickboxing
- Respect
- Confidence
“He's not only patient and focused but he's determined to make your kid push their boundaries and become more focused and strong (both mentally and physically)”
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Rebellion MMA (Muay Thai
- Environment
- Self Defense
- Son
“I was totally unfit & over weight but the instructors and the comraderie they teach was so supportive I learned to love exercise, my body and appreciate what I can learn!”
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Orion Martial Arts & Supply
- Son
- Adults
- Skills
“My son and I have been with Orion for 7 years now and this has literally changed my life and I have seen how martial arts can be so much more than just learning to fight.”
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Primal Jiu Jitsu
- Compete
- Black Belt
- Trains
“5 years ago and I have had a great experience - D is a true professional that truly cares about giving every one of his students the tools that they need to succeed at jiu jitsu.”
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Kenyon's Soo Bahk Do
- Learn
- Feel
- Discipline
“Not only do I leave each class feeling that I received a great work-out, but I also appreciate the sense of respect, focus, and positive mindset that the martial arts demands, and find I actively extend these principles of Soo Bahk Do to the other ar...”
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Oom Yung Doe
- Internal Energy
- Tai Chi
- Flexibility
“My wife and I wanted a school for our daughter to train martial arts and we loved the school and our daughter is happy in her training and learns many different things.”
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NRK Karate
- Adults
- Physical Activity
- Sensei
“I was searching for a physical activity my son and I could do together and was directed by friends to check out Renshi Mc Cammon's dojo that he and his wife, Denise, run.”
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Practical Karate
“I am new to the sport at 30, and learning very quickly how much i don't know, but Frank and all the experienced students there are super helpful and willing to pass on advice and technique.”
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Japan Karate
- Son
- Teaching
- Respect
“After looking for the perfect dojo we came across Sensei Shery & Alana they are the sweetest and after two years my son still enjoys coming to class, this has helped him so much.”
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Bushikan Karate Dojo
- Understanding
- Sensei
“I could tell you why after years of searching and trying other places I can't imagine training anywhere else, but its best for you to come see for yourself.”
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America's Youth Karate
- Motivated
- Taekwondo
- Belt
“Great instructor for some reason the girls look like they are trained much much harder then the boys they are stronk enough to defend from any sleezy dude they meet thanks to this organization”
Why these companies made our list
What students and parents say about schools in San Diego
- “Great karate program for young children, we’ve been going for 2 years and my daughter looks forward to attending her class every week.” — from a review of America's Youth Karate
- “I highly recommend this karate class for anyone seeking effective training in a supportive and welcoming setting.” — from a review of West Coast Martial Arts Academy
- “Super clean and organized dojo. Senseis Nate and Eric provide positive re-enforcement and have created the kind of community and atmosphere you want your children to be around.” — from a review of On Track Wellness
- “Our son has advanced steadily, with their tutelage, and we look forward to his achieving his black belt aspirations.” — from a review of Freestyle Martial Arts
- “Thank you Brian for the peace of mind and confidence you have given me through your self defense training.” — from a review of Full Potential Martial Arts Academy
Excerpts from public reviews of the schools listed on this page.
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