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Impact! Kickboxing Fitness
- Bags
- Self Defense
- Trainers
“I came here from ILKB and was looking for a friendly, approachable environment that would encourage me to keep coming back and it has far exceeded expectations.”
Best Self-Defense Classes in San Francisco, CA
24 schools listed · 9 in San Francisco · 23 open weekends · 23 rated 4.5+
Data verified October 16, 2026
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10th Planet Jiu Jitsu San Mateo
- Train
- Kickboxing
- Drill
“Sensei and gym owner Adam Sachnoff goes above and beyond every day with the help of his team to ensure each student is not only learning but growing, whether you're a world class fighter or it's your first day, they're willing to break down every tec...”
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Caio Terra Academy
“The incredible skill & detail of instruction in both the adults and kids classes, the cleanliness of the facility, the inclusive "One Team" environment and the commitment to working through the pandemic with members to ensure they had the support, tr...”
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Ralph Gracie Jiu Jitsu
“I can say they are all family they help you guide you in a way that I never had real life care and I respect the message they are putting out there when I first walked in there establishment they didn't judge me at all this is real vibes there peop...”
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Romulo Melo Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
- Train
- Vaccinated
- Learn
“What I love most is that Romulo still teaches the self-defense aspect of jiu-jitsu, while keeping a playful environment allowing all practitioners to incorporate the newer and innovative styles that have been sparking up in the competition scene.”
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Evolve Training Center
“I joined evolve 9 months ago and my life changed for the better, I met people who are interested in my health and physical condition and more important to learn disciplines such as jiujitsu, boxing , muay thai and more, the experience was incredible,...”
Short self-defense courses listed for San Francisco, CA are spread across the 24 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: San Francisco, CA
9 of the 24 schools we list are based in San Francisco; the other 15 serve San Francisco from towns including San Mateo (16 mi), South San Francisco (7 mi) and San Leandro (16 mi). The schools on this page are rated from 4.3 to 5.0 across 1,036 reviews; 7 have 50 or more reviews and 23 are rated 4.5 or higher. When students and parents rate these schools on specific qualities, they most often praise professionalism (86%), quality (86%) and value (64%). The topics that come up most in reviews of the schools on this page are "atmosphere", "community" and "skills". 23 are open on Saturdays and 8 on Sundays. 2 have a BBB rating of A or A+. 17 have ten or more years of experience, the longest 45 years. 1 is family- or locally-owned and 4 list coupons or special offers. We have a website on file for all 24 of the schools on this page; 19 publish a contact page; 17 list a public email and 12 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.
How do I get a course outline from schools listed for San Francisco?
By email, and 17 of the 24 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.
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Guerrilla Jiu-Jitsu Martial Arts Academy
- Train
- Injury
- Judo
“I'm very impressed with the trainers on how they try to give each person or kids their attention, They are always there to answer any questions at any given time that you may have No matter what the situation is Whether it's billing scheduling 1 on 1...”
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AB Mixed Martial Arts Academy
- Learn
“They're welcoming and they treat you like family”
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Empire Jiu Jitsu
- Train
- Competition
- People
“There's a bunch of fundamentals classes throughout the week where you learn the basic movements and concepts needed for the sport, then hop into the evenings/ nogi/ wrestling classes when you feel ready.”
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Colhado Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy
- Train
- Black Belts
- Community
“Profesor Matheus is like no other, his classes are always fun, always learning something new, the most important thing for me as female is feeling safe and confident, training at Colhado provides that, love the sense of community and positive attitud...”
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Aikido by the Bay
- Sensei
- Community
- Classes
“Besides classical martial arts Aikido, Daniel also teaches the self defense classes (like the one he gave to my daughter through girl scouts) and the real world core classes.”
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Peace of Mind
- Injury
- Back
- Boxing
“He noticed my previous experiences with Shaolin and Wing Chun by briefly watching my moves, and has been teaching me how to add what I had learnt before, which is one of the main principles of Jeet Kune Do.”
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Bay Jiu-Jitsu
- Learn
- Train
“The program focuses on basic things like lining up in belt order (amazing at what this does to help kids listen at school), then staying in order during the warmup, and finally learning the moves with partners respectfully.”
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Marco Nascimento Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
“There are lots of ways it can be bad fit: one who injures training partners consistently, who is not considerate, who doesn't listen to Marco's instruction or advice, or who doesn't follow the rules and guidelines of the gym - these rules are there f...”
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Charles Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy
- Confidence
- Adults
- Role Models
“Coach Alex, his dad, Giani (apologies for potentially butchering the spelling of your name) are all wonderful teachers, on the mat in terms of practical Jiu Jitsu skills, but also and maybe as importantly off the mat, with life lessons that my 2 kids...”
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510 Judo
- Sensei
- BJJ
- Learn
“I've been wandering around the bay area like a puppy, looking for a dojo to call home, and the minute I walked through the door and saw Jonah sensei teaching a kid's class with the biggest smiles on their faces I knew I had found it.”
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Team Santos Jiu Jitsu
- Train
- Competitions
- MMA
“When I asked Mike Bueno if it was ok to train with him and Team Santos in preparation for an upcoming fight, Mike and the fighters at Team Santos welcomed me with open arms.”
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Quantum Martial Arts
“But what drives me to train is not only the black belt master, Rachael Evans, who consistently shows me the beauty of the movement, but also the community we have here of advanced martial artists honing their craft, taking their athleticism to the ne...”
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Charles Gracie Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy
“If you live in San Mateo or are staying in the area for a while and you are interested in BJJ, I would strongly recommend you to at least make a visit to the gym, say hello and try a class.”
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Bill Grossman's School of Kenpo Karate
“I walked into the door 6 months ago at the age of 46 and feel like I have accomplished a lot.”
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Martial Arts America
“The discipline and conditioning my kids receive from martial arts (Taekwondo, Jujitsu, Eskrima, and Krav Maga) have helped them do well in school, sports, and community service.”
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East West Kungfu Academy
- Silver Medal
- Gold Medal
- Championships
“The oldest one participated a little bit over a year and when in the competition at 2024 Golden State Wushu Championships got his gold medal and silver medals.”
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Studio Naga Indo-American Martial Arts
“True, there are many disciplines to choose from, and no doubt some people might prefer a different style or tradition to Poekoelan Tjimindie Tulen.”
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Wingchun Berkeley
- Wing Chun
- Self-Defense
- Fitness
“The students and the instructor, Sije Yuka, were incredibly welcoming, and the hands-on techniques in class, then and ever since, have been incredibly accessible and practical, no matter your body size/type or level of fitness.”
Self-Defense Training Services in San Francisco, CA Cost Estimates
Minimum cost
$187
Maximum cost
$561
National Average
$287
Avg Per Hour Rates
$75
$250
$387
Fair price range is based on 484 cost profiles
Why these companies made our list
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