Traditional Martial Arts Schools in San Francisco, CA
52 of the 115 martial arts schools we list in San Francisco have traditional styles. A basic map listing can't tell you whether a "martial arts" result teaches lineage-based traditional forms like karate, taekwondo, or kung fu, or runs a modern fitness-kickboxing class under the same label. Every school on this page has its traditional style confirmed from its own website or class listings, not inferred from the business name.
Academy of Tae Kwon Do Karate / taekwondo
988 Oak St, San Francisco, CA 94117
Aikido Center San Francisco Karate / taekwondo
1755 Laguna St, San Francisco, CA 94115
Aikido San Francisco Kids classesBJJ / grapplingKarate / taekwondo
141 11th St, San Francisco, CA 94103-2534
Alliance BJJ SF Bay Kids classesFree trial classBJJ / grapplingMuay thai / kickboxingKarate / taekwondo
1625 Bush St, San Francisco, CA 94109-5300
Andre Salvage and Associates Karate / taekwondo
1152 Gorgas Ave, San Francisco, CA 94129-1406
Barrios Martial Arts Kids classesBJJ / grapplingMuay thai / kickboxingKarate / taekwondo
1756 18th St, San Francisco, CA 94107-2343
Beliso Karate School Karate / taekwondo
3342 Cesar Chavez, San Francisco, CA 94110
Bujinkan San Francisco Dojo Karate / taekwondo
640 Stanyan St, San Francisco, CA 94117
Chi Wu Men Athletic Association Muay thai / kickboxingKarate / taekwondoMMA
910 Columbus Ave, San Francisco, CA 94133
City Aikido Karate / taekwondo
784 Geary St, San Francisco, CA 94109
🕒 Mon 12pm - 1pm
Colhado Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy Kids classesFree trial classBJJ / grapplingKarate / taekwondo
603 Taraval St, San Francisco, CA 94116-2513
Doc Fai Wong Martial Arts Center Karate / taekwondo
925 Taraval St, San Francisco, CA 94116
Enshin Karate BJJ / grapplingKarate / taekwondo
2031 Bush St, San Francisco, CA 94115-3206
Five Animals Kung Fu Academy Kids classesFree trial classMuay thai / kickboxingKarate / taekwondo
2408 19th Ave, San Francisco, CA 94116-2404
Five Styles School - Tai Chi and Kung Fu Karate / taekwondo
44 Page St, San Francisco, CA 94102-5972
Gingko Kyudojo Karate / taekwondo
1909 Bush St, San Francisco, CA 94115-3204
Golden Gate Kokikai Aikido Free trial classKarate / taekwondo
855 Sacramento St, San Francisco, CA 94108
Good Wolf Tang Soo Do Kids classesKarate / taekwondo
1329 7th Ave, San Francisco, CA 94122-2507
Hapkido Karate / taekwondo
603 Taraval St, San Francisco, CA 94116-2513
Hapkido Institute Karate / taekwondo
2125 Powell St, San Francisco, CA 94133
Health & Wellness Arts Center San Francisco Kids classesKarate / taekwondo
1437 Rivera St, San Francisco, CA 94116-1755
Heart of San Francisco Aikido BJJ / grapplingKarate / taekwondo
1622 Castro St, San Francisco, CA 94114
Ishinryu Karate SF Karate / taekwondo
736 14th St, San Francisco, CA 94114-1103
JKA San Francisco City Center Karate / taekwondo
30 Otis St, San Francisco, CA 94103-1292
Lama's Kenpo Karate Karate / taekwondoMMA
461 Cortland Ave, San Francisco, CA 94110-5553
Leung's White Crane Dragon & Lion Dance Association Karate / taekwondo
32 St Louis Alley, San Francisco, CA 94133
Manuel's Renshinkan Karate Kids classesKarate / taekwondo
740 Silver Ave, San Francisco, CA 94134-1053
Maru Dojo BJJ / grapplingKarate / taekwondo
736 14th St, San Francisco, CA 94114-1103
Paresh Martial Arts Free trial classKarate / taekwondo
447 Irving St, San Francisco, CA 94122
S F Taekwon-do Center Karate / taekwondo
3469 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110-5438
San Francisco Aikikai Karate / taekwondo
1625 Bush St, San Francisco, CA 94109-5300
San Francisco Judo Institute Kids classesBJJ / grapplingKarate / taekwondo
2455 Taraval St, San Francisco, CA 94116-2254
San Francisco Kakashi Iaido Dojo Karate / taekwondo
1909 Bush St, San Francisco, CA 94115-3204
San Francisco Shorin Ryu Shorin Kan Dojo Karate / taekwondo
934 Brannan St, San Francisco, CA 94103-4906
San Francisco Shotokan Karate Free trial classKarate / taekwondo
1350 Waller St, San Francisco, CA 94117
San Francisco Wing Tsun Karate / taekwondo
724 Commercial St, San Francisco, CA 94108
Shaolin Temple USA Muay thai / kickboxingKarate / taekwondo
5211 Geary Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94118-2817
Shorinji Kempo Karate Karate / taekwondo
1691 Sutter St & Laguna Street, San Francisco, CA 94115
Soko Joshi Judo Club Karate / taekwondo
1622 Castro St, San Francisco, CA 94114-3707
St. Clairs Tae Kwon Do Kids classesFree trial classKarate / taekwondo
3035 Taraval St, San Francisco, CA 94116-2106
Tat Wong Kung Fu Academy Karate / taekwondo
4801 Geary Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94118-2910
US Wing Chun Kung Fu Academy Kids classesKarate / taekwondo
1267 20th Ave, San Francisco, CA 94122
Ving Tsun Sito Karate / taekwondo
897 Folsom St, San Francisco, CA 94107-1122
World Oyama Karate Kids classesKarate / taekwondo
550 Taraval St, San Francisco, CA 94116-2510
YC Wong Kung Fu Studio Karate / taekwondo
819 Sacramento St, San Francisco, CA 94108
Yau Kung Moon Kung Fu Sports Association Karate / taekwondo
44 Waverly Pl, San Francisco, CA 94108
Zanshin Dojo Kids classesKarate / taekwondo
640 Stanyan St, San Francisco, CA 94117-1807
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Good to know
What's the difference between traditional and modern martial arts schools?
Traditional schools generally follow a set curriculum tied to a specific style's history, forms, and belt-ranking system, often with added emphasis on etiquette and philosophy. Modern or hybrid schools tend to blend techniques from multiple styles or focus more narrowly on fitness or competition.
How long does it take to get a black belt in a traditional martial art?
Most traditional styles take about 3-5 years of consistent training to reach black belt, though the exact timeline varies by style, school, and how often a student trains. A school that awards black belts much faster than that is generally worth a closer look before signing up.