Defense 360
“The ABSOLUTE BEST in the state of Maryland PERIOD!”
Best Self-Defense Classes near Towson, MD
1 of these schools is based in Towson; the others serve Towson from towns including Baltimore (6 mi), Timonium (4 mi) and Cockeysville (5 mi).
1 open 24/7 · 14 open weekends · all 15 rated 4.5+
Data verified October 21, 2026
Stanley Combatives
“Whether you just want to get in shape, try something new, or compete in combat sports, I would recommend and trust in Stanley Combatives to help you achieve your goals.”
Baltimore Martial Arts Academy
“Besides martial arts, the coaches have taught my son valuable lessons in discipline, respect, honor and more.”
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Infinity Jiu-Jitsu and Judo
“Not only has my son developed remarkable skills in Jiu-Jitsu, but his confidence, discipline, and overall outlook on life have improved dramatically.”
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Kanjizai Academy of Jiu-Jitsu
“Aside from his teaching, he is incredibly flexible and such a great guy, I've had two injuries and Kevin was more than willing to pause my account and give me all the time I needed to recuperate.”
Ground Control MMA Owings Mills
“I have been training at this gym for two years and I am extremely impressed with the level of professionalism and dedication of the instructors.”
Short self-defense courses listed for Towson, 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: Towson, MD
The 15 schools on this page are rated from 4.6 to 5.0 across 1,389 reviews; 9 have 50 or more reviews. The topics that come up most in reviews of the schools on this page are "skills", "atmosphere" and "confidence". 1 is open around the clock; 13 are open on Saturdays and 7 on Sundays. 2 have a BBB rating of A or A+. Domain records put 9 websites of the schools on this page at ten or more years old; the oldest dates from 2001. 1 is family- or locally-owned and 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; 9 list a public email and 5 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 Towson 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.
Zenyo Jiu Jitsu
“I have trained at various gyms before moving to Baltimore from New York and I have never felt more comfortable at a gym.”
Kells Karate Academy
“Karen makes the classes very fun via lots of different games to impart Karate skills and build their bodies as well.”
Ground Control Hunt Valley
“If you're in the area definitely check them out if you're looking for some solid rolls!!!”
Fightcamp Thai Boxing
“I am very happy with the instruction and the format of the training sessions.”
Grapple Academy Martial Arts LLC
“Can't recommend GAMA enough if you want to get in shape or want to seriously train jiujitsu.”
B-More Jiu-Jitsu
“Awesome gym, No intimidation, it was my first time trying this and Nick and Pete were great.”
Ground Control
“Went to morning no-gi classes with coaches Tim and John and it was by far the best instruction I've received out of the four bjj/mma gyms I've been at.”
Unboxed Boxing and Fitness
“Unboxed is a great place for anyone and everyone - I have seen them do great work with children, seniors, newbies, experienced boxers, and people with disabilities.”
Interactive Fitness Gym & MMA
“Reasonably priced and offers many independent personal trainers or do it yourself training.”
Why these companies made our list
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