Traditional Martial Arts Schools in San Mateo, CA
12 of the 18 martial arts schools we list in San Mateo 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.
Aikido By the Bay Kids classesBJJ / grapplingKarate / taekwondo
811 S B St, San Mateo, CA 94401-4205
All Stars Martial Arts Kids classesMuay thai / kickboxingKarate / taekwondo
1200 W Hillsdale Blvd, San Mateo, CA 94403-3124
Champions Martial Arts Karate / taekwondo
1878 S Norfolk St, San Mateo, CA 94403-1102
Core Taekwondo Kids classesFree trial classKarate / taekwondo
86 E 3rd Ave, San Mateo, CA 94401-4011
Eight Step Mantis Kung Fu & Taiji Kids classesKarate / taekwondo
1150 W Hillsdale Blvd, San Mateo, CA 94403
Golden State Taekwondo Kids classesMuay thai / kickboxingKarate / taekwondo
159 South Blvd, San Mateo, CA 94402-2446
KICK's Taekwondo School of Self-Defense Karate / taekwondo
1880 S Grant St, San Mateo, CA 94402
Oshiro Karate Dojo Kids classesKarate / taekwondo
743 Bermuda Dr, San Mateo, CA 94403-1401
Pure Shaolin Kung Fu Karate / taekwondo
596 S Norfolk St, San Mateo, CA 94401-3015
Shaolin Cultural Center Kids classesKarate / taekwondo
20 41st Ave, San Mateo, CA 94403-5106
Tat Wong Kung Fu Academy Karate / taekwondo
25 43rd Ave, San Mateo, CA 94403-5191
Team Tigers Taekwondo Academy Karate / taekwondo
16 42nd Ave, San Mateo, CA 94403-5176
Also in San Mateo
More in San Mateo and California
Traditional Martial Arts Schools near San Mateo
- Los Angeles101
- San Diego89
- San Francisco52
- San Jose48
- Sacramento30
- Irvine27
- Torrance22
- Bakersfield21
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.