Park Slope Academy of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
“If you are on the fence about getting into the sport and not sure of what gym to join, this place is definitely your choice as a catch-all utilitarian grappling gym.”
Best Self-Defense Classes in Brooklyn, NY
15 schools listed · all 15 in Brooklyn · 13 open weekends · 14 rated 4.5+
Data verified October 29, 2026
Gleason's Gym
“So much history in a venue, so much sweat of champions, An honor to meet Bruce Silverglade, kind and close.”
Gregor Gracie Jiu-Jitsu
“Best in NYC, always welcoming, kind and courteous across their leadership team.”
Brooklyn Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
“Professor Ali and his team are excellent instructors who display a wealth of knowledge, patience, and great service to their students and community.”
Diamondheart Striking and Grappling/Pcc
“As someone who started here with zero martial-arts experience, I think this place is great for beginners, but also great for more experienced people looking for knowledgeable mentors and a safe+challenging gym!”
Lions Fight Kickboxing
“The best gym in the business, great coaches, great staff, recommending coach Styopa, and coach Argo.”
Short self-defense courses listed for Brooklyn, NY are spread across the 15 cards on this page. Who each course is aimed at, where it runs and how often it repeats comes from the school itself, with ratings drawn from public reviews.
Area overview: Brooklyn, NY
All 15 schools we list here are in Brooklyn itself. We have 21 schools in Brooklyn on file; this page shows the highest-rated 15. The schools on this page are rated from 4.4 to 5.0 across 1,395 reviews; 9 have 50 or more reviews and 14 are rated 4.5 or higher. When students and parents rate these schools on specific qualities, they most often praise professionalism (96%), quality (96%) and communication (73%). The topics that come up most in reviews of the schools on this page are "atmosphere", "community" and "confidence". 11 are open on Saturdays and 10 on Sundays. 12 have ten or more years of experience, the longest 44 years. 1 lists coupons or special offers. We have a website on file for all 15 of the schools on this page; 12 publish a contact page; 11 list a public email and 6 take bookings online. We count these figures across the schools on this page; hours and prices change, so confirm the details with the school before you enroll.
How do I get a course outline from schools listed for Brooklyn?
By email, and 11 of the 15 schools here publish an address. Write with the group you have in mind, the room you can offer and what worries the group, then ask for a plan of the session. A school that replies with a price and nothing else has told you something.
NY Martial Arts Academy Brooklyn
“I look forward to days that I train and am excited to see the progress I make here!”
Fight Factory
“Very helpful and friendly staff and more than enough space to train and use equipment”
Darfight Martial Arts
“Artur and his team are excellent at teaching from children to adults.”
Zero G Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
“My confidence level and physical fitness have been elevated significantly and I've absolutely fallen in love with the art.”
Aikido of Park Slope
“On top of all of that, the people there are great to work out with and have a good a strong sense of community.”
Zarko Academy: the Premier Mixed Martial Arts
“We love zarko academy, great classes, for kids & woman,ranann is amazing, treat each one personally, prices are fair for every pocket, highly recommended”
Hoteikan Dojo
“He would explain to me the rationale behind each moves he learns and would tell me what is incorrect and what is the correct way!”
Fury Combat Systems
“Since joining Fury Combat and training in Jiu Jitsu and Kickboxing, I wake up full of energy, my mood is always elevated and I feel that there is nothing that I can't accomplish.”
Bladed Body Fitness & Self Defense
“My friends and I left that good kind of exhausted and much more confident and knowledgeable about how to protect ourselves in varying situations.”
Why these companies made our list
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