Charleston Krav Maga & BJJ
“👏👏👏 And the coaches really know what they're doing”
Best Self-Defense Classes in Charleston, SC
10 schools listed · 6 in Charleston · 7 open weekends · all 10 rated 4.5+
Data verified October 16, 2026
We are still growing
There are too few quality options within 15 miles, so we have expanded area of coverage to up to 60 miles from you. This includes Charleston and several other cities.
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Charleston Self-Defense Academy & Martial Arts
“I have known the instructor here for many years and I have a ton of respect for him.”
Black Label Martial Arts
“If u want to compete or just get into shape I HIGHLY recommend this gym, boxing, bjj, Muay Thai, no gi grappling, they have it all!”
Holy City Jiu Jitsu
“We received some history and learned where the line of self-defense is.”
Daniel Island Jiu Jitsu
“Highly recommend and if I lived in the area would definitely train here!”
Monsters Ballroom
“I've been training with him since January and down 30lbs and gained strength at the same time.”
Short self-defense courses listed for Charleston, SC are spread across the 10 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: Charleston, SC
6 of the 10 schools we list are based in Charleston; the other 4 serve Charleston from Mount Pleasant (9 mi), North Charleston (9 mi) and Walterboro (42 mi). The schools on this page are rated from 4.8 to 5.0 across 423 reviews; 3 have 50 or more reviews. 5 are open on Saturdays and 2 on Sundays. 1 has a BBB rating of A or A+. 2 have ten or more years of experience, the longest 18 years. 1 lists coupons or special offers. We have a website on file for 9 of the schools on this page; 6 publish a contact page; 7 list a public email and 2 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.
Which course providers listed for Charleston describe their courses online?
9 of the 10 cards carry a website link. Look for a real outline, who teaches, and who the course is for. Stock photography of a woman throwing a man in a white studio is not an outline, and schools that keep their content vague are often selling the same session to every audience.
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Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Of Charleston
“Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned practitioner, this gym fosters personal development and fosters a love for the art of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu like no other”
Mount Pleasant Krav Maga
“The instructor Keith Klok is a great instructor, strong and sound person.”
Jezewski Defense Syndicate
“We met there with a small group of ladies and I was impressed by the outdoor space and the fact there were two other RSO's present.”
Karate SC
“Everyone in the family loves it here!”
Why these companies made our list
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