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Berkeley Cuong Nhu Karate
“Fantastic martial arts dojo with classes for kids, teens and adults.”
Best Martial Arts Classes in Berkeley, CA
24 gyms listed · 8 in Berkeley · 19 open weekends · 22 rated 4.5+
Data verified October 21, 2026
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Aikido of Berkeley
- Community
“Out of all the dojos I visited in the Bay Area, this dojo led by Kayla Feder Sensei is the jewel - just the right combination of tradition and flexibility, bad-ass aikido and warmth, both silence and authentic dialogue.”
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Nishi Kaigan Iaido Dojo
“Through the practice, you would learn not only physical but also mental techniques that apply to your everyday life”
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West Wind Kung-Fu and Karate
“Great place, great people, great Martial Arts!”
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Aiki Arts Center
- Sensei
“Nick Walker sensei balances the beautiful formality of Aikido with practicality, so that you really understand how and why the pieces of a technique fit together.”
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Emeryville Martial Arts
“Lol Good place”
The 24 gyms listed for Berkeley, CA teach martial arts and combat sports. Styles taught, kids' programs and class times come from each gym's own pages, with star ratings from public reviews.
Area overview: Berkeley, CA
8 of the 24 gyms we list are based in Berkeley; the other 16 serve Berkeley from towns including San Francisco (12 mi), Oakland (7 mi) and Richmond (6 mi). 23 of the gyms on this page have a rating, from 4.4 to 5.0 across 1,038 reviews; 8 have 50 or more reviews and 22 are rated 4.5 or higher. When students and parents rate these gyms on specific qualities, they most often praise professionalism (95%), quality (90%) and communication (75%). The topics that come up most in reviews of the gyms on this page are "skills", "confidence" and "atmosphere". 17 are open on Saturdays and 5 on Sundays. 2 have a BBB rating of A or A+. 18 have ten or more years of experience, the longest 42 years. 1 is family- or locally-owned and 5 list coupons or special offers. We have a website on file for all 24 of the gyms on this page; 21 publish a contact page; 19 list a public email and 5 take bookings online. We count these figures across the gyms on this page; distances are straight-line, and hours and prices change, so confirm the details with the gym before you enroll.
Why are some gyms here outside Berkeley?
8 of the 24 gyms sit inside Berkeley. The rest come from other towns inside 20 mi, each shown under the city it belongs to. Distance is measured straight-line, so check the route before you plan a class you would drive to twice a week.
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Capoeira Arts Foundation
“One of the best Capoeria schools”
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Berkeley Capoeira
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One Martial Arts
“The curriculum and instructors have been excellent with a terrific dual focus on learning age-appropriate life skills in combination with introductory martial arts.”
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Mixed Martial Arts Bravo Zulu
- Striking
- Shape
- Confidence
“In about two months, I wound up losing about 25 solid pounds (went from roughly 195 down to a steady 170 pounds), sharpened up my striking and grappling to keep up with the elite members of the gym, and went on to earn silver in the U.”
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Ralph Gracie Jiu Jitsu
“The best gym I've trained in, it's a place where I feel happy, with much less stress, really the best thing that's happened to me in a long time, everyone is very friendly, they behave like a true family to me”
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DO Martial Arts
- Happy
- Son
- Taekwondo
“For the past 18 months, our family has been deeply engaged with DO Martial Arts' Little Warriors program, and we couldn't be happier with our experience.”
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Romulo Melo Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
- Culture
- Mat
- Environment
“The amount of knowledge and experience in the gym is amazing, every person is a great training partner and I always leave feeling better at BJJ and with a smile on my face!”
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Pallen's Martial Arts
“They kept the kids safe, the parents informed, and the doors open (or as open as they could be ;-)) during the entire pandemic and to this present day.”
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Alameda Aikikai
“Few schools in the US have such life, creativity, and openness in their practice as they do, and NONE as far as I've seen the depth and rigor in their children's program.”
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Hapkido-Gracie Jiujitsu-Muay Thai-Eskrima
“Weather you are looking for a place to learn Hapkido yourself, for your child, or as a family I definitely recommend this place.”
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Norcal Mudo
- Self Conscious
- Taekwondo
- Kickboxing
“His experience with traditional and non-traditional styles give his students a diverse pool of techniques to learn from that can really encourage creativity and adaptability in their execution.”
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AB Mixed Martial Arts Academy
- Learn
“Only down to earth good people who are there to learn and help others do the same”
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Colhado Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy
- Barbecues
- Learn
- Atmosphere
“When two of our members had a child, Matheus set up a crib to encourage families to come train--knowing how difficult it is to get out and take care of yourself as a parent.”
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Empire Jiu Jitsu
- Evening
- Technical
- BJJ
“The wrestling class on Tuesday taught by John is also an excellent class, with a key focus on using wrestling within the context of Jiu Jitsu which has helped me develop my game a lot!”
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Bay Area Martial Arts
- Train
- Sensei
- Confidence
“After 2 or 3 yrs, I could see my progress while I was growing up and overall, I was more mature, street-smart, and more fit than the other kids in my Elementary school.”
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Essence BJJ Walnut Creek
“Aside from jiu jitsu, they also off Muay Thai kickboxing classes, day care/camps around the holidays and summers, parents night out events on Friday nights, and private lessons if you desire.”
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Okinawa Karate Academy
“Instructor was awesome!”
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Sama Academy of Martial Arts
“I struggled at first to keep up with the program, but after a couple of months I felt much better about myself, I've lost weight, and I sleep much better.”
Martial Arts Training Services in Berkeley, CA Cost Estimates
Minimum cost
$89
Maximum cost
$451
National Average
$143
Avg Per Hour Rates
$60
$119
$178
Typical price range is based on 399 cost profiles
Why these companies made our list
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Martial Arts Classes near Berkeley
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