Stanley Combatives
“This is the place to train for a competitive competition or just to be ready to defend yourself and your family very easily.”
Best Self-Defense Classes near Ellicott City, MD
These schools serve Ellicott City from nearby bases in towns including Baltimore, Columbia and Reisterstown.
15 schools listed · all 15 open weekends · 14 rated 4.5+
Data verified October 19, 2026
Shaddock Mixed Martial Arts Fitness
“I have made valuable progress in my athletic journey here as well as being introduced to a great community of people.”
Shonen Jiu Jitsu
“Whether your goal is to learn martial arts or get into shape, this is the place to go!”
Baltimore Martial Arts Academy
“They speak to the children about their behavior in school and interacting with others.”
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Kanjizai Academy of Jiu-Jitsu
“My 10 year-old son has been attending for almost a year and I am continually impressed by the quality of instruction.”
Noel Smith Brazilian Jiu Jitsu & Fitness
“I currently help out with the Kids boxing class and the instructors are both amazing and really keep the kids motivated as well as teach them core values such as respect and perseverance.”
Short self-defense courses listed for Ellicott City, MD 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: Ellicott City, MD
The 15 schools on this page are rated from 4.3 to 5.0 across 1,810 reviews; 14 have 50 or more reviews and 14 are rated 4.5 or higher. The topics that come up most in reviews of the schools on this page are "skills", "atmosphere" and "facilities". 14 are open on Saturdays and 7 on Sundays. 3 have a BBB rating of A or A+. Domain records put 10 websites of the schools on this page at ten or more years old; the oldest dates from 2001. 2 list coupons or special offers. We have a website on file for all 15 of the schools on this page; 11 publish a contact page; 12 list a public email and 7 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.
Which course providers listed for Ellicott City describe their courses online?
All 15 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.
2nd Gear Jiu Jitsu
“Kenneth was a great host and I can tell he is teaching high level jiu jitsu and fostering a positive environment for people to learn.”
Victory Martial Arts
“My kids have been training with Master Kameron for almost 2 years and they love it, learning the forms, kick combos, sparing, with a helping of discipline.”
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Rising Tide Hi Tech
“Everyone is pleasant to be around and overall a great atmosphere to learn!”
No Limits Training Facility
“Man but 12lbs in 42 days which I could not lose with out Matt and Ryan thank you so much on to the next challenge!!!!!”
Watchdog Krav Maga
“Brian is an incredible instructor that takes the time to help you hone your technique and be the best practitioner you can be.”
Ground Control MMA Owings Mills
“Even in group setting classes they have helped me to recognize and understand my own individual strengths and weaknesses so I can set goals around things that I am beginning to progress in and things I need to work on.”
Krav Maga Maryland
“If you are even the slightest bit interested in Krav Maga, I highly recommend this virtual academy.”
Zenyo Jiu Jitsu
“If you've ever heard those nightmare stories about going to a new gym, not getting taught properly, then getting mauled by all the more experienced ones, rest assured, Zenyo is the furthest you can get from that.”
B-More Jiu-Jitsu
“The school's 'keep it playful' mindset significantly lowers the risk of injury compared to more competition-oriented gyms, which allows you to train consistently as a hobbyist and improve long-term.”
Why these companies made our list
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